Julia Donaldson writes books that invite you to listen as well as look. Her rhymes, songs and stories are familiar to families who know the pleasure of joining in on a favourite line. A festival visit can celebrate that shared reading or open a door into how words and pictures become a book.
Donaldson’s work includes picture books, songs, plays and performance. Her collaboration with illustrator Axel Scheffler is central to the fictional world that many children know best, but she has also worked with other illustrators. The sounds of the words and the images on the page both give a child something to notice, repeat and remember.
For an adult who has read a favourite aloud many times, hearing the writer can bring a new pleasure to something already familiar. A child may be looking forward to meeting the voice behind a story, while an adult interested in making books may be thinking about collaboration. Both interests have a place in the range of festival events she takes part in.
Macmillan Children’s Books published her latest collaboration with Scheffler on 10 September 2026. The new story returned to the world of the earlier Gruffalo books. It gave families a fresh visit to look forward to that autumn, while the professional partnership itself also featured in her spring lecture.
Where to start with their books
Room on the Broom
A witch’s passengers help recover the things she drops, until the crowded broomstick breaks and a dragon appears. The growing group gives a family plenty to enjoy together as small acts of kindness turn into a shared adventure.
The Snail and the Whale
A tiny snail travels on a whale’s tail, seeing a world much larger than home before finding a way to help when the whale is in danger. It is a story to share with a child who enjoys a journey and an unlikely friendship.
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book
A child’s reading opens into an adventure full of other characters and stories. Donaldson’s rhyme and Scheffler’s pictures make this a fitting choice for a family looking forward to spending an afternoon among books.
Festival appearances
For tickets, use the host festival’s official box office. Confirm the date, venue and access details before paying.
The programme therefore offered different pleasures: hearing about the creation of books, celebrating a wider storytelling world and encountering the new publication. For a child who loves one story intensely, the familiar characters can be the reason to go; for an adult, the partnership behind them may be just as compelling.
Where to see them next
No 2027 appearances announced yet. Check the festival guides for programme dates.
Plan your trip
Before a family outing, read the child’s favourite aloud and let them choose the bits they would like to hear again. Enjoying the rhythm together is enough preparation. There is no need to make a small reader sit through a stack of books because their author is on stage.
Check the age recommendation and accompanying-adult ticket rules with the festival, then plan a comfortable arrival. For young children, a single conversation or performance followed by something to eat may be a happier day than several consecutive tickets. Ask about seating and access needs at the point of booking.
The 2026 programmes featured Julia Donaldson at Edinburgh International Book Festival, Henley Literary Festival, Oxford Literary Festival; follow those guides for event information and practical visit details.
Will every Julia Donaldson event suit a small child?
Use the festival links on Julia Donaldson’s profile for the event’s own ticket and audience guidance.
What can we read together before a visit?
Begin with the story your child already asks for. Joining in with familiar words can make the outing more exciting. If you want a different tale, the suggestions below offer adventures involving a witch, a small traveller and a child reading a book.
How do I buy Julia Donaldson festival tickets?
Use the festival links on Julia Donaldson’s profile for the event’s own ticket and audience guidance.
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