GUEST SELECTOR: VIVIAN FRENCH10:00- Are You Sitting Comfortably? 10:30 RBS Story Box, Free: Book in Advance All Ages Join us for a quick, magical dip into the world of words with our free morning events for children of all ages. It might be a story, a poem, songs and rhymes or a reading with one of our Festival authors. Appearing today: Sue Heap. 10:00 Claire McNicol RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 3 - 7 Claire McNicol tells Scottish and Irish stories all animated by her little puppets and props. She tells tales of the seal people, the wee folk and the giants, all gathered from the many places she has visited. Join her for stories and songs - a perfect way to begin the day. Tickets admit 1 child and 1 accompanying adult. Adult supervision recommended. 10:30 Jan Fearnley RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 5 - 8 Jan Fearnley is a multi award-winning author-illustrator. Her Mr Wolf picture books are much loved as are her other works such as A Perfect Day For It, Arthur and the Meanies and Little Robin Red Vest. Join Jan as she tells her new story, Harry and the Jaggedy Daggers and revisits some old favourites. 11:30- Scots Rhymes 12:00 RBS Imagination Lab, Free: Book in Advance Age 0 - 3 Craigmillar Books for Babies returns with their ever-popular sing-along event stappit fu of Scots rhymes. A lovely, playful half-hour which helps to develop language, rhythm and co-ordination skills through motion and gesture. 12:00 Mio Shapley RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 3 - 10 Mio Shapley is a skillful storyteller who loves to tell stories which celebrate the wonder, mystery, wisdom and magic of the natural world in all its many colours and shapes, enriched by her playing of the clàrsach. 12:30- Magic Carpet Stories 13:00 RBS Imagination Lab, Free: Tickets available from the Box Office on the day of the event Age 0 - 3 The National Museum of Scotland's Magic Carpet will be flying in to Charlotte Square Gardens to introduce little ones to fantastic stories, songs and activities. Come and be transported to exciting places and meet a host of characters. Tickets admit 1 child and 1 accompanying adult. Adult supervision recommended. 13:30- Scots Rhymes 14:00 RBS Imagination Lab, Free: Book in Advance Age 0 - 3 Craigmillar Books for Babies returns with their ever-popular sing-along event stappit fu of Scots rhymes. A lovely, playful half-hour which helps to develop language, rhythm and co-ordination skills through motion and gesture. 14:00 Meet the Buttons Family with Vivian French & Sue Heap RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 4 - 7 Writer Vivian French and author-illustrator Sue Heap introduce their new series of six picture books all about the Buttons family. Each tale looks at a different first experience for little people from first day at playschool to staying with grandparents for the first time. Vivian tells the stories as Sue draws all the characters. The perfect event for a first-time visit to the Book Festival! 14:30- Magic Carpet Stories 15:00 RBS Imagination Lab, Free: Tickets available from the Box Office on the day of the event Age 0 - 3 The National Museum of Scotland's Magic Carpet will be flying in to Charlotte Square Gardens to introduce little ones to fantastic stories, songs and activities. Come and be transported to exciting places and meet a host of characters. Tickets admit 1 child and 1 accompanying adult. Adult supervision recommended. 15:30 Philip Ardagh & Axel Scheffler RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 7 - 10 Come and meet the Grunts, a slightly disgusting and very unusual family. The ridiculously tall and beardy author Philip Ardagh introduces his new stories while illustrator Axel Scheffler demonstrates how he came up with what they all look like. This event is guaranteed to be icky, entertaining and, as Philip would say, 'FUN just doesn't express it.' 15:30- Magic Carpet Stories 16:00 RBS Imagination Lab, Free: Tickets available from the Box Office on the day of the event Age 0 - 3 The National Museum of Scotland's Magic Carpet will be flying in to Charlotte Square Gardens to introduce little ones to fantastic stories, songs and activities. Come and be transported to exciting places and meet a host of characters. Tickets admit 1 child and 1 accompanying adult. Adult supervision recommended . 17:00 Patrick Ness RBS Corner Theatre, £7 (£5) Age 12 - 16 The multiple award-winning author Patrick Ness is one of our leading writers for young adults. His Chaos Walking trilogy is en route to the silver screen and his latest novel, A Monster Calls, has been shortlisted for both the Carnegie and the Kate Greenaway Medals. An incredibly versatile writer, moving with ease from fantasy to family drama, Patrick has a lightness of touch that goes deep, so that once read his novels are never forgotten. Chaired by Keith Gray. Thurs 16 August'Don't you want one of Gran's surprise breakfasts?' Mum asked. 'No,' said Charlie, 'I only like porridge.'Vivian French, The Buttons Family, Staying with Gran, 14:00Patrick Ness, 17:0068

10:00- Are You Sitting Comfortably? 10:30 RBS Story Box, Free: Book in Advance All Ages Join us for a quick, magical dip into the world of words with our free morning events for children of all ages. It might be a story, a poem, songs and rhymes or a reading with one of our Festival authors.Appearing today: Philip Ardagh. 10:00- Bookbug 10:30 RBS Imagination Lab, Free: Book in Advance Age 0 - 3 Sing along with traditional nursery songs and action rhymes. The event is hosted by Edinburgh City Libraries and is part of the Scottish Book Trust's Early Years programme. 10:00- Dr Book 13:00 RBS Children's Bookshop, Free & Drop-In All Ages Going to the doctor can be a ball and to prove it, here's Dr Book. This is how it works: you tell us what you like, Dr Book takes a moment to think about it, then writes a prescription for some wonderful and inspiring new books for you to read. A simple medical procedure for all - from babies to teens (and parents), courtesy of Edinburgh City Libraries. 10:30 Ron Fairweather & Fergus McNicol RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 3 - 7 Join performance storytelling duo Macastory, AKA Ron Fairweather and Fergus McNicol, for a fun-filled hour of stories, songs and rhymes. Come along to head off on fantastical journeys, through time and space. All you need to pack for the trip is your imagination and enthusiasm. 11:00 Magical Mice with Tracey Corderoy RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 4 - 7 Join picture book author Tracey Corderoy as she reads from her new book, Monty and Milli, a delightful tale of a big brother frustrated by his younger sister's determination to do everything he does. There will be magic tricks, stories, pictures and exciting things to make and do. 12:00 Pip and Posy with Axel Scheffler RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 4 - 6 Get to know Pip and Posy. They are the best of friends, well, most of the time! Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo, introduces his delightful new series about the dramas of toddler life. Join him for stories, drawing and the opportunity to meet Pip and Posy. 12:30- Bookbug 13:00 RBS Imagination Lab, Free: Book in Advance Age 0 - 3 Sing along with traditional nursery songs and action rhymes. The event is hosted by Edinburgh City Libraries and is part of the Scottish Book Trust's Early Years programme.13:30 Adam Stower RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 4 - 7 Come and meet Lily, a little girl who wants a pet. Unfortunately, first her doggy and then her kitty turn out to be quite different to what she expected. Join author-illustrator Adam Stower for a fun-filled hour of animal antics, stories and drawing and discover how things aren't always what you think they are. 14:00 What the Dickens! with Philip Ardagh RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 9 - 12 Philip Ardagh and his beard are on hand to disclose everything about Eddie Dickens, son of Mr and Mrs Dickens, nephew of Mad Uncle Jack and Even-Madder Aunt Maud. His tales describe Victorian Britain, a time of runaway orphans, blotchy yellow skin and stuffed stoats called Malcolm. Whilst these stories have no historical accuracy whatsoever they do, bizarrely, follow the life arc of another Mr Dickens we all know. 14:00- Dr Book 16:00 RBS Children's Bookshop, Free & Drop-In All Ages Going to the doctor can be a ball and to prove it, here's Dr Book. This is how it works: you tell us what you like, Dr Book takes a moment to think about it, then writes a prescription for some wonderful and inspiring new books for you to read. A simple medical procedure for all - from babies to teens (and parents), courtesy of Edinburgh City Libraries. 15:00 Man on the Moon with Simon Bartram RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 6 - 9 Simon Bartram is the talented author and illustrator behind Bob, the man on the moon and Dougal, the deep sea adventurer. If you are fascinated by the mysteries of the universe or the secrets of the deep, come and embark on exciting adventures with stories and pictures. 15:30 Ali Sparkes RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 7 - 10 Brothers Josh and Danny live next door to a mad scientist with a serum that has the ability to SWITCH them, first into insects and now into reptiles! Ali Sparkes, the creator of these madcap adventures brings us tales full of breathtaking action and animal facts, quizzes and games. 16:30 Michael Gerard Bauer RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 9 - 11 Australian author Michael Gerard Bauer brings us his novel from down-under, Don't Call Me Ishmael, a sensitive yet funny look at how one boy deals with being tormented by a school bully. How Ishmael copes, the friends he makes and the embarrassment, fear and the triumphs he experiences, combine to create a compelling story. Michael has created a truly authentic voice for Ishmael and his wry telling of the story shows a deep understanding of what it's like to be a bully's target. 17:00 Michael Morpurgo ScottishPower Studio Theatre, £4.50 Families & 10+ It's been a crazy couple of years for Michael Morpurgo, following the success on stage and screen of his acclaimed novel War Horse. Listen to Michael talk about his life, his work, Oscars and Spielberg. He also discusses Private Peaceful, the latest of his novels to be adapted and the process involved. Afterwards, you have the chance to receive a specially designed bookplate as Michael will not be available to sign individual books. 17:00 Paul Cookson & Roger Stevens RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 8 - 12 A brilliant poetry-packed hour with two leading performance poets. Paul Cookson is poet in residence at the National Football Museum and his latest book, Give Us a Goal, is a collection of funny and honest poems about football - playing it, supporting it, living it, breathing it. Beware! Low Flying Rabbits by Roger Stevens also has football inspired verse along with poems about everything from rabbits to friends, sunshine to love. If you think poetry isn't for you, come and be proven wrong. 18:30 Oliver Twisted with J D Sharpe RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 10 - 14 J D Sharpe has written a clever, authentic reimagining of Dickens' classic, Oliver Twist. In this pacy, horror make-over, Oliver is a powerful warlock and evil forces want to turn him to the dark side. There's action and gore and J D never strays from the original plot or key characters. Come along and find out why she was inspired to adapt the story and why she's a fan of Dickens. Keep your ticket as it entitles you to £6 off entry to The Edinburgh Dungeon; they provided the ghoulish props for this event (www.thedungeons.com).Fri 17 AugustDanny preened in front of the mirror. Even if he did say so himself, he was rather gorgeous.Ali Sparkes, SWITCH Lizard Loopy, 15:30See page 83 for booking detailsBook now: www.edbookfest.co.uk 0845 373 588869