The Moomin books, first published sixty-five years ago, are rightly loved the world over, and not just by children. Author Tove Jansson was also a renowned painter, illustrator and cartoonist. At this rare event, presented in association with the NICE Festival of Nordic Art and Culture, Tove Jansson’s niece, Sophia Jansson visits Manchester to read extracts from some of her favourite Moomin stories and talk about her aunt’s work. There will also be a competition for younger members of the audience to invent their own Moomin character. So bring the children along to introduce them to the Moomins or rediscover your own inner child.

 

MLF and Poets & Players present one of the most popular and acute of young British poets, Daljit Nagra. His poems relate to the experience of British-born Indians and often employ language that imitates the English spoken by Indian immigrants whose first language is Punjabi. His collection, Look We Have Coming to Dover! has been featured on television and radio, and won the 2007 Forward Poetry Prize for best first collection. He will be joined by Li Lu, an extraordinary young Chinese cellist, at this very special event against the beautiful backdrop of the Whitworth’s South Gallery.

 

Why do women make the most prolific crime writers? Are women too often portrayed as victims within the genre? We’ve invited Sophie Hannah and Val McDermid to bring an eloquent and expert perspective to a discussion on gender roles in crime fiction, female protagonists (on either side of the law) and the ongoing debate about women as authors and originators of crime fiction. Val McDermid is one of Britain’s leading crime writers with numerous awards to her name. Her latest book is Trick of the Dark. Sophie Hannah is a leading psychological crime writer and also an acclaimed poet. Her latest bestseller is A Room Swept White.

 

Come and enter the magical, musical wonderland of The Princess’ Blankets. Poet Laureate, Professor of Poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University and festival patron Carol Ann Duffy will be performing her eco-fairy-story and other poems with music from John Sampson. Carol Ann’s adult collections include the TS Eliot Prize-winning Rapture and The World’s Wife. Her New and Collected Poems for Children brings together work from her four award-winning collections for children. Carol Ann will be signing books after the event and John will introduce audience members to his amazing range of musical instruments from the Far East and the Middle Ages. Don’t miss this Sunday afternoon treat for poetry lovers aged 6 upwards.