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maidenhead's big read poster. Outer space theme

Maidenhead’s Big Read: Outer Space

Maidenhead’s Big Read festival will return to Maidenhead for its fifth year from 1st March to the 10th March – to coincide with World Book Day on 2nd March 2023. Storytellers, authors and illustrators will hold sessions to local schools around Maidenhead. And over the weekend of Saturday 4th March and Sunday 5th March, there will be some exciting FREE events taking place in the town and in the library.

This year the theme will be ‘Outer Space’ with talks and story telling all about space. The weekend will be jam-packed with exhibitions, quizzes and activities  – which include having a Planetarium and telescopes for solar viewing.

Organised by the Maidenhead Community Book Festival, the Big Read is all about bringing the community together to share a love of reading, stories and activities – and inspire adults and children to visit their local library and read more books.

What’s on over the weekend of 4th and 5th March

Everyone is welcome to experience the immersive planetarium dome at the Maidenhead library and explore outer space through telescope viewing.

There will be book signings, a pop-up book shop at the library, a quiet reading corner for parents and toddlers and the Once Upon a Bus will be there for space storytelling and a presentation on how to encourage your child to read.

There is also a fancy dress costume competition with prizes for the most imaginative costume!

Saturday 4th March

Author Presentations, Riverview Corner, 40 minute sessions:

  • 10am Sue Palmer: Could you be an Astronaut? (KS2 and family)
  • 11am Sue Palmer: From the Moon to Mars (KS2 and family)
  • 12pm and 1pm Ali Sparkes: Destination Earth (age 9+ and family)
  • 2pm Libby Jackson: Space explorers (Age 7+ and family) sponsored by Highfield Preparatory School

Storytelling, Children’s Corner: 25 minute sessions (families)

  • 10:30am Riyaz Bhaiyat: Rhyme Time
  • 11:30am Library Volunteer: Outer Space Story
  • 12:30pm Library Volunteer: Planetary Story
  • 1:30pm Sue Palmer: Outer Space Poetry

Sunday 5th March

Author Presentations, Riverview Corner, 40 minute sessions:

  • 10am Sue Palmer: Could you be an Astronaut? Workshop (KS2 and family)
  • 11am Sue Palmer: From the Moon to Mars workshop (KS2 and family)
  • 1pm Catherine Barr: Planet Spinning Stories about Space (KS2 and family)

Science Presentation, Riverview Corner, 40 minute session:

  • 12pm Lillian Hobbs: Eye Spy the Moon in the Telescope (KS2, KS3 and family)

Storytelling, Children’s Corner, 25 minute sessions (families):

  • 10:30am Riyaz Bhaiyat: Rhyme Time
  • 11:30am Library Volunteer: Outer Space Story
  • 12:30pm Library Volunteer: Planetary Story
  • 1:30pm Sue Palmer: Space Adventures
  • 2:30pm Sue Palmer: Outer Space Poetry

Quiet Reader’s Corner, 20 minute sessions:

  • 11:30am and 12:30, Saturday: Jeanette Kemp: How to Encourage Your Child to Read
  • 10am – 3:30pm, Saturday and Sunday: Quiet Reading – Outer Space Books

Library, Central Area

  • 10am – 3:30pm, Saturday and Sunday: Spaceport Cornwall Exhibition
  • 10:30am, 11:15am, 12pm, 12:34pm, 1:45pm, 2:30pm, Saturday and Sunday: Planet Gazing sessions in the Planetarium Dome

Library First Floor

  • 10am – 3:30pm, Saturday and Sunday: Astronomy exhibits, activities and telescopic observations at the library’s South Balcony (subject to weather). Prize of a telescope for the quiz winner

Outdoors

  • 10am, 10:45am, 11:30am, 12:15pm, 1:15pm, 2pm, 2:45pm, Saturday and Sunday, 25 minute sessions: KS1 and KS2, Once Upon a Bus (on the High Street by the Bardot Lounge)
  • 10:30am – 3:30pm, Sunday: Space Store (on the High Street by the Bardo Lounge)