A range of events to get children excited about books and reading is taking place in Sudbury next month.

The event on Wednesday 2 July 2014 has been inspired by Sudbury’s link with the famous children’s story 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith.

The festival will focus on events at St Peter’s Church in Sudbury and will involve a wide range of events and competitions featuring schools, libraries and other local organisations.

Many of the activities will have a 101 Dalmatians theme with an aim of encouraging 101 local children to dress up as Dalmatians on the day. Some of the original Johnstone Twins illustrations from the book will be on display having been kindly loaned by Ipswich Art School.  As well as the 101 Dalmatians illustrations, there will be an exhibition from Suffolk Libraries ‘Big Draw’ display of illustrations from children’s books, many of which have a local connection.

Helen Appleton, co-ordinator of the festival and teacher at Tudor Primary School, said: “Everyone is getting very excited about the events and there is a real buzz amongst our pupils. We have a wide range of events on the day itself and the build up to the day is involving many local organisations and school children. The aim is to provide something educational, engaging and fun and anything that promotes reading amongst young people can only be a good thing.”

The event is being funded by the locality budgets of county councillors John Sayers and Peter Beer and the Sudbury Society with several other local companies supporting projects. There is a long list of activities with all public events taking place on 2 July:

• There will be a series of competitions with schools designing their own banners to display at their schools and near St Peter’s, and schools will also be designing posters and stickers for the festival.
• The organisers are encouraging as many children as possible to dress up as a Dalmatian and gather for photos on 4.30pm on the day.
• The Mayor of Sudbury Councillor Robert Spivey will be at the event at 11am with the Deputy Mayor Jack Owen coming at 4.30pm.
• Primary school age children are also being encouraged to enter a 101 word story-writing competition with prizes for the winners. Ormiston Sudbury Academy are visiting visit local primary schools to support Year 6 students to take part.
• Three classes in Year 8 at Thomas Gainsborough School in Great Cornard have been working with local illustrator and author Rebecca Elliott and Great Cornard Library to explore children’s picture books.  They will be visiting Pot Kiln and Wells Hall primary schools to research and then produce their own picture books.  The six best stories will then be read to groups of children at the festival.
• Pot Kiln Primary School are organising a family project based on 101 Dalmatians and looking at stories from a pet’s perspective.
• St Gregory’s School have produced 101 Dalmatian models as part of an art project and are planning to work with former art teacher Lorna Hoey to produce to large Dalmatian models to exhibit at the festival.
• Glemsford Primary School are researching pet care and the anti-fur lobby, supported by local Pet Care company Purina.
• Purina are also co-ordinating a giant book swap with employees donating books for a stall where children can swap their books for new ones. Children are being encouraged to create bookmarks to go inside their donated books to recommend them to the next owner.
• Great Waldingfield Primary School are working on a black and white themed art project.
• There will be a screening of the 1961 animated 101 Dalmatians film at the Quay Theatre.
• Tudor Primary School will host an exhibition on the theme of villains in children’s literature with a quiz and the option to dress up as a villain.
• Local author Rebecca Elliott whose illustration for her book ‘Just Because’ has inspired Suffolk Libraries new children’s library cards will be giving two 30-minute talks and books readings on the day.
• Sudbury Library will also be working with several local schools who will be visiting the library to find out about this summer’s reading challenge and discussing their favourite books. They will also be helping to decorate the library like a Dalmatian, using black spots with their favourite book or character written on. There will also be a ‘101 silhouettes’ quiz which anyone can enter.
• There will be events, displays and stalls throughout the day at St Peter’s Church including Thomas Gainsborough students reading their picture books, the Friends of Great Cornard Library, Open the Book performing Bible Stories, Jolly Phonics Grammar, The Book People will be selling discounted books and WH Smith will be involved.

• Great Cornard Library are working closely with Thomas Gainsborough School on several projects including a 101-word poetry competition. The library is also running a black and white photography competition. The library’s Top Time group for older people will be discussing black and white films and watching film clips, plus there will be a black and white themed display of books and films.

The link between 101 Dalmatians and Sudbury is marked by a memorial plaque in Sudbury features an excerpt from the book:

‘Just before midnight they came to the market town of Sudbury. Pongo paused as they crossed the bridge over the River Stour. “Here we enter Suffolk,” he said, triumphantly. They ran on through the quiet streets of old houses and into the market square.

Egmont Publishers have also donated 20 copies of 101 Dalmatians as prizes for the event.

There will be various photo opportunities on 2 July or at local schools as they prepare for the event including hopefully children dressing as Dalmatians gathering on the day at 4.30pm.

For more information please contact James Powell but after 26 June please contact Helen Appleton at Tudor Primary School on 01787 372005 or Krystal Vittles at Suffolk Libraries on 07763 356424.

 

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