Barbara’s Story Box Line-Up announced!
Wychwood Festival’s much-loved Children’s Literature tent returns for 2026.
Barbara’s Story Box, in loving memory of Barbara Pendrigh who masterminded the Story Box events for so many years, is filled with brilliant authors, captivating illustrators, and unforgettable tales.
We invite you to meet the heroes behind some of your favourite stories, dive into magical worlds, and spark your imagination all weekend long.
Friday 29th May
- – Poetry Pizza with Simon Mole
Has your dad ever filled up the bath with 48 two-litre bottles of lemonade? Have you ever seen a battle rapping badger? Have you ever heard of a spell for infinite football skills?
Join poet Simon Mole to celebrate the wonder of words, the joys of everyday life and the power of pizza!
A chance to see Simon perform his favourite poems from the book and join in with some fun (and quite silly) games.
This is a wonderful book packed full of beats, pizazz and rhythms, mingled with strong feelings.
Michael Rosen
- – Magpie And The Sparkling Words with Lucy Rowland
Come along for a magical picture book event celebrating Magpie And The Sparkling Words, a lyrical, vocabulary-rich story that shines with themes of kindness, sharing, and the beauty of language.
Award-winning, bestselling author Lucy Rowland (author of picture book favourites Wanda’s Words Got Stuck and Little Red Reading Hood) brings her signature rhyming style to this enchanting tale. A lively story telling session, a chance to explore your favourite sparkling words and even to SPARKLE yourselves! With face gems, tattoos and glitter, you'll soon be festival-ready!
- – Starlight Stables with Jo Cotterill
Join the multi-award-winning Jo Cotterill and discover the enchanting adventures of The Starlight Stables Gang, a fun and heartwarming series for animal-mad readers aged 7+ co-written with superstar equestrian influencer Esme Higgs. Jo will talk about the creation of the series and share a reading from the latest book, The Pony Whisperer. Which Starlight character are you? And can you help Jo create a brand-new horse-based adventure? Come and find out!
- – Best Dog Ever with Smriti Halls
Roll up and join in with bestselling, award-winning author Smriti Halls for a bouncy, rhyming storytime as she introduces you to BUN ON THE RUN and THE BEST DOG EVER. You can meet Bernard the iced bun who is being chased by a dog, a cat and a goose on the loose and find out all about Max the most perfectly imperfect pooch! Come along for storytelling, drawing, games and a chance to create your very own character!
Saturday 30th May
- – A Holiday For Bear with Duncan Beedie
Bear is back! And in his latest story he is off on a holiday. Fed up with his humdrum day-to-day existence in the forest, Bear decides that a change of scenery is needed and he ventures off to the seaside. Golden beaches, crystal clear waters, and glorious sunny weather - everything a Bear needs. But he can't ignore the feeling that something is missing.
Join author & illustrator Duncan Beedie for a story time session featuring A Holiday For Bear, then get your pencils and crayons ready to have a go at designing your very own Hawaiian shirt.
- – Bunnies In A Rocket with Philip Ardagh
Do you like bunnies, rockets and very tall authors with very big beards? Blast off with the marvellous Philip Ardagh for a story event and drawalong that’s out of this world.
The Sunny Town bunnies are BACK – and this time they’ve snuck aboard a rocket heading straight for the Moon! Expect high-speed space chaos, riotous fruity rhymes and laugh-out-loud silliness to delight young readers and their (slightly breathless) grown-ups. A full-throttle story… followed by a gentle landing and a well-earned rest.
- – Astrosaurs with Steve Cole
Blast Off with the Astrosaurs at Wychwood Festival with bestselling author Steve Cole! Join us for a laugh-a-minute, high energy, ukulele-accompanied event to celebrate Astrosaurs: Mission to Infinity, the all-new graphic novel reimagining the iconic Astrosaurs series loved by millions. Steve will share songs, stories and secret writing tips to help you leap into new adventures in creative writing!
- – The Butterfly House with Harry Woodgate
Join multi-award-winning author-illustrator, Harry Woodgate for a fun and interactive story time event. They’ll introduce everyone to the healing powers of nature and community with their latest picture book, The Butterfly House. Plus, they’ll share their brilliant picture book Grandad’s Camper , winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.
- – Football G.O.A.T with Matt Oldfield and Seth Burkett
From global superstars to local legends, Matt Oldfield and Seth Burkett look at what makes some football players so spectacular – The Greatest Footballers of All Time - using big facts, stats and stories. In this highly interactive event, they’ll also host a live debate for the audience to get involved. This entertaining event will be unmissable for young football fans!
- – Happy Hills with Sophy Henn
Hooray! A brand NEW Happy Hills adventure for everyone! Enjoy a Disco Cat dance off, help Captain invent some new pants and meet the latest troublemaker - Cheesy Bob the evil monkey magician! Join award-winning author-illustrator Sophy Henn for a return trip to Happy Hills with plenty of interactive fun and fabulous character draw-alongs. All aboard for a barrel of fun!
- – Barbara’s Storybox Spectacular with festival authors and illustrators
Come and join our lovely Wychwood authors and illustrators for a session of fun and entertainment. Featuring a big Draw Off including illustrators Duncan Beedie, Sophy Henn and Harry Woodgate. Then join in for your own Children’s Draw Off! Bring along your favourite jokes to share with the audience too as long as they are not rude and join in the Ministry of Musical Marvels with Gareth P Jones. Plus music and mayhem from our marvellous musicians, Jo Cotterill, Steve Cole, John Dougherty and Gareth P Jones. There will be prizes!
Sunday 31st May
- – Kids’ Crafts with Chaz and Anthony
Step into the world of craft and creativity with Chaz and Anthony.
Chaz, from House of Chaz has over 20 years of experience crafting dazzling costumes and eye-catching props, Chaz brings a playful, hands-on workshop to Wychwood that’s perfect for all ages.
Joining her is her husband Anthony, a talented portrait artist whose signature style brings faces to life with bold, expressive pen and ink. He will be on hand to guide and inspire festival-goers as they get creative alongside Chaz.
Whether you're a seasoned maker or a total beginner, come and get stuck in and create something magical.
- – Clippa And Clawzo with Tim Ewins and Beth Bridger
Clipper and Clawzo love to build sculptures in the sand together, but when Clipper is swept away with the tide, Clawzo must find her friend. Join author, Tim, and illustrator, Beth, as they follow the two tiny crabs on their journey across the beach and out into the waves. Learn how to draw a crab before building a sculpture of your own!
- – Squirrel And Duck with Tom Percival
Join Tom Percival, the creator of the bestselling Big Bright Feelings series as he introduces his latest illustrated fiction heroes Squirrel and Duck in Quack to the Future. Join these unlikely friends on a mind-blowing adventure to discover why they're the only two talking animals in the world. Hilarity guaranteed.
Perfect for fans of Grimwood, Dog Man and Murray and Bun.
Hilarious… addictive
Guardian
- – The Turtle Who Turned The Tide with Rachel Bright
Join best-selling and award-winning wordsmith and author of The Lion Inside, Rachel Bright, for a storytelling and draw-along event with her latest book The Turtle Who Turned the Tide. An interactive session sure to inspire children with a heartwarming rhyming story of adventure and bravery, about how we ALL have the power to change things for the better.
- – Pia’s Pet Club with Serena Patel
Calling ALL pet fans! You’re invited to join Pia’s Pet Club with World Book Day author Serena Patel, creator of the multi-award-winning Anisha, Accidental Detective series.
Serena will introduce you to Pia, a girl who loves pets, but as she isn't allowed one of her own (maybe like you) she starts PET CLUB to help her friends look after theirs! In Pia’s latest adventure, Pia’s Pet Club: Secret Kitten, she finds a lost, lonely kitten and decides to secretly keep it!
Serena will tell you how a very long PowerPoint presentation from her son persuaded her family to get kittens Arlo and Bean and inspired the Pia’s Pet Club series. She will test your pet-based knowledge with a PAWesome quiz (do you know what percentage of the time cats spend sleeping?) and you’ll get the chance to create your own pet story character.
- – Chicken vs Egg with Gareth P Jones
Award-winning children's author, performer and musician GARETH P JONES presents his brand new show, inspired by his hilarious new picture book Chicken vs Egg. Egg-spect live music, sing-along songs, a fast rapping fox, puppets, clucking chickens, cracking egg puns… and the answer to some of life's biggest questions including 'Why did the chicken cross the road?' and 'Which came first, the chicken or the egg?'
