Wednesday 29th April 2026, 6.30 - 8.00pm
Kibworth Books, The Barn, 29 High Street, Kibworth Beauchamp LE8 0HS
Join us as we mark the relaunch of our newly renovated Children’s room in the National Year of Reading.
- Hear from expert speakers in our panel discussion: National Year of Reading – Creating a Lasting Legacy
- Be inspired to devise, deepen and develop your own plans to ‘Go All In’ in your setting
- Network with other educators, book experts, authors and illustrators and more
- Receive expert advice from the bookshop team on new releases and more
- Enjoy a glass of fizz and nibbles!
About the Panellists:
Hannah Gold, Author
Hannah Gold is a multi-award-winning and bestselling author known for writing heartwarming adventure stories. Her books – including The Last Bear, The Lost Whale, Finding Bear, Turtle Moon and The Lone Husky – have won several major awards, including the Blue Peter Book Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Translated into twenty-eight languages and with sales of over one million copies globally, her books are beloved by readers around the world. In 2026, she was a World Book Day author.
Hannah is a passionate advocate for reading for pleasure and is an ambassador for Empathy Lab, Bookmark Reading Charity and the National Year of Reading. She currently lives in Lincolnshire with her tortoise and her husband.
@HGold_author | www.hannahgold.world
Imogen Bond, Managing Director at Empathy Lab
Imogen joined EmpathyLab in 2024, after a role developing the impact and reach of the Royal Opera House National Schools Programme. Originally trained as a theatre director, and specialising in creating interactive theatre for young audiences, Imogen’s work has often placed empathy, curiosity and creativity at its heart. For 15 years she worked at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond as Education and Participation Director, up until the pandemic which prompted a step into being a school librarian to feed her love of children’s literature.
Jane Walker, Sales and Marketing Director at Barrington Stoke
Jane Walker is the Sales and Marketing Director of Barrington Stoke, an award-winning imprint, with over 25 years’ experience publishing top-quality short novels by the UK’s best writers, expertly edited and produced to ensure they are accessible to all – as a quick engaging win for confident readers and a satisfying achievement for those who have to work harder.
Libby Hamilton, Publisher at Rocket Bird Books
Libby Hamilton has spent 25 years editing and commissioning picture books. Her books have won the Waterstones Children’s Book Award, the Klaus Flugge Prize and the Carnegie Medal for Illustration. Libby is publisher of picture book imprint Rocket Bird Books, launched in 2023 with the aim of making children into booklovers before they can read a word.
RSVP to Kirsty@kibworthbooks.com by Wednesday 22nd April
Please feel free to share this event network with colleagues within your setting. We only ask that you RSVP with names of everyone who will attend so we know who to expect (and can cater accordingly!)
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Unfamiliar with us at Kibworth Books?
If you've received an invite to this event but you're not yet 100% familiar with us a bookshop, hit the link below and read about our 2025 highlights. We hope it will provide a bit of a flavour of who we are and what we stand for. Any further questions, drop us a line.
Our 2025 Bookselling Year – Kibworth Books
Who will be in attendance at this event?
- Educators from nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools, educational organisations, charities, authors, illustrators, contacts from Leicester City Council and Leicestershire Council, Leicester University and more...
What you'll gain from the evening...
- You'll leave inspired, energised and - we hope - with lots of ideas on how to harness the momentum of the National Year of Reading within your context.
- You'll have the opportunity to network with like-minded book-loving reading enthusiasts and chat over a glass of wine.
- You'll be able to enjoy and browse the new Children's Room and speak with the bookshop team about how Kibworth Books can support you with your National Year of Reading plans and more.