Jacqueline Wilson’s characters let young readers be angry, hopeful, funny and determined, sometimes on the same page. Her events draw families discovering those voices and adults returning to books they grew up with. The festival programme offered both a new character and a wider look at the imaginative world of her writing.
Wilson has written more than a hundred books, with young people’s voices at the heart of her fiction. Her characters live through changes in family, home, school and friendship, making room for the practical difficulties of growing up as well as the pleasures. For many readers, a visit begins with wanting to hear the writer who understood a feeling they had not found elsewhere.
Her professional milestones include serving as Children’s Laureate and being appointed a Dame in 2008. The continuing appeal of the stories lies in the characters themselves: a child can recognise an emotion even when the circumstances are different from their own. Adults who first read the books years ago may bring that same connection into an author conversation.
Puffin published her latest novel on 13 August 2026, with illustrations by Rachael Dean. Its young heroine faces foster care, a new school and changing relationships. That was the new-book focus for the Ilkley visit; the Edinburgh sessions opened out to identity, the wider career and the worlds that readers had already made their own.
Where to start with their books
The Story of Tracy Beaker
Tracy tells her own story from life in a children’s home, mixing fierce hopes with an imagination that refuses to stay quiet. Start here to meet one of Wilson’s most recognisable voices and a child who wants a family of her own.
Hetty Feather
A girl born in Victorian London is left at the Foundling Hospital, spends time with a foster family and must later return to the institution. Her determination and imagination carry the reader into a different period of childhood.
Katy
Inspired by What Katy Did, this is Wilson’s version of an adventurous young heroine whose life changes after an accident. It gives readers another story about resilience, with a contemporary child at its centre.
Festival appearances
For tickets, use the host festival’s official box office. Confirm the date, venue and access details before paying.
Edinburgh hosted Picture Imperfect in Venue T on 23 August, alongside Who Am I? with Jacqueline Wilson that day. The Brilliant World of Jacqueline Wilson followed on 24 August. Those sessions gave readers more than one way to hear her, including a conversation reaching beyond one new story.
A family can enjoy that difference. The adult may arrive remembering an old favourite while the child has a new one in mind. There is no need to make both readers begin in the same place before going to hear the author.
Where to see them next
No 2027 appearances announced yet. Check the festival guides for programme dates.
Plan your trip
Let the young reader choose which book to bring, if they want one with them. Read a little together beforehand and ask which character they would most like to hear Wilson talk about. That conversation can make the outing feel like theirs, without turning preparation into homework.
For a child’s first author visit, tell the box office about seating or access support that would make listening comfortable. Check whether accompanying adults need their own tickets. A little time for a snack and a chat afterwards can matter more than packing another session into the same afternoon.
Which festivals featured Jacqueline Wilson in 2026?
The 2026 programmes featured Jacqueline Wilson at Edinburgh International Book Festival, Ilkley Literature Festival; follow those guides for event information and practical visit details.
Will adults who grew up with her books enjoy a visit?
A wider-career conversation can be a lovely way to return to a writer you remember. For a family ticket, let the younger reader’s interests and the organiser’s age guidance lead your choice. You can share different reading memories without having the same favourite character.
Do children need to finish a book before going?
Not necessarily. Reading a few pages together can give a child something to look forward to, but there is no need to turn the visit into a test. Choose a story that interests them and follow any preparation guidance attached to the session.
How do I book Jacqueline Wilson tickets?
Book with the festival running the event, using its official box office. Check tickets for children and accompanying adults together, and ask about access support before paying. The guide links below cover the rest of the day, from reaching the venue to where you might stay.
