Cumbria Library Service will be holding a range of virtual events for children to join during the school holiday.

From meeting authors to getting creative in crazy cartoon workshops, there is something for children of all ages.

The events will run from next Monday to Friday (April 12 to 16) and are free of charge.

For young football fans there will be live sessions with famous author and football enthusiast Dan Freedman on Tuesday, April 13. These sessions are aimed at the 8+ age group. Dan’s sessions always receive great reviews for inspiring and motivating young audiences into the world of writing and igniting a passion for reading.

Tune in on Friday, April 16 and join the hilarious illustrator/author Liz Million in a workshop all about human/animal cartoons, with sessions open to all age groups and running at 10am, 11am and 2.30pm.

Children 11+ and 14+ can join Jamie Normington from Cumbria Wildlife Trust as he hosts a session on climate change and the local environment on the Monday and Wednesday. And on Thursday, April 15, famous author and poet Paul Cookson delivers four virtual sessions on poetry to 5+, 8+, 11+ and 14+ age groups. Children 5+ can tune in for a bedtime story at 6.30pm.

Cabinet Member for public health and community services – Coun Deborah Earl said: “These events provide children with an opportunity to meet a variety of interesting and inspiring writers, poets and authors. Not only will the events help to keep your little ones busy throughout the school holidays (when travel is still restricted), but they will also provide a great opportunity to inspire children to love reading and writing.

"There are vast benefits to this from helping our youngsters to improve their vocabulary and language skills, to helping our early teens to become confident young authors; there are a wealth of advantages in igniting a passion for reading in the next generation.”

To book visit Cumbria Libraries Events on Eventbrite.