Ticket sales are through the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Click here to go to their website to buy tickets >
Note: scroll to the bottom of the events page to select the day(s) you would like to buy tickets for.
Your day ticket will allow you to choose on the day from any of the wonderful workshops below
There are parallel sessions in the morning and afternoon which you can select on the day or email ailie@mykindofbook.org.uk if you want to make sure of a place in a particular session.
For travel and access information for workshops in the Storytelling Centre see their Access Statement. For other venues or if you have further questions please email ailie@mykindofbook.org.uk
Download Saturday’s timetable here or read on for full details
Registration and workshop sign-up
10:00 – 10:30 in the Storytelling Centre Court
With tea and coffee
Welcome
10:30 – 11:00 in the Storytelling Centre Theatre
Featuring Imogen Kate: The Evolution of a Book Mouse.
Imogen will talk about her lived experience of being a book lover and storyteller who is blind and autistic.
Dreaming fingers: pioneering tactile books
11:10 – 13:00 in the French Institute
Please note this workshop is longer – one hour and 50 minutes – finishing at lunchtime.
The French publishing company LDQR (Les Doigts Qui Rêvent) has been a pioneer in the creation of tactile books for children with a visual impairment for the past thirty years. Their books are respected throughout Europe and the world for their inclusive design and artistic integrity. Solène Négrerie, creative lead at LDQR, will inspire participants to consider new ways of thinking about inclusive books and stories.
Many thanks to the Institut français d’Ecosse (French Institute in Scotland) for their generous support for this event.
Sensory stories and accessible books: reaching further
11:00 – 12:00 in the Storytelling Centre Theatre – parallel session
Sineag Blane (Area PT Learning Support Uist and Barra) and Linda Macleod (CBeebies ALBA presenter, Gaelic scriptwriter and storyteller) will talk about a Gaelic sensory story project on the Western Isles. We will broaden the conversation to discuss why it is important to reach out geographically, linguistically and culturally when sharing books and stories with children with disabilities and what we can do to ensure this happens.
Many thanks to Comhairle nan Leabhraichean (The Gaelic Books Council) for their generous support for this event.
Musical sensory stories
11:00 – 12:00 in the Storytelling Centre Library – parallel session
Discover how musical concepts such as rhythm, pulse and pitch can transform your sensory stories. Dr Amy Johnston is headteacher of a special school and a post-doctoral research fellow at University College London; she has developed her sensory storytelling practice over many years as a SEND music specialist teacher.
Sharing books and stories at home
12.00 – 13.00 in the Storytelling Centre Theatre – parallel session
How do we support our family members (both as children and adults) to enjoy books? How are books chosen, and how can they be used for moments of calm and connection at home? Parent expert Pat Graham will share her experiences of sharing books and stories with her daughter Lauren who has a profound learning disability. Developmental psychologist Katie Cebula will talk about her research into the home and school reading experiences of children with Down syndrome.
Dr Katie Cebula is Director of the Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre for neurodiversity research at the University of Edinburgh. Pat Graham is a lifelong picture book fan, as is her adult daughter Lauren. Pat is also an expert in the representation of people with disabilities in children’s books.
Fun with sensory stories
12.00 – 13.00 in the Storytelling Centre Library – parallel session
A relaxed session of sensory story ideas from Ailie Finlay with plenty of time to ask questions or share ideas. Discover how to have more fun with your props and stories! Ailie will discuss the role of props and objects in a sensory story and the art of the gentle surprise. If you have a favourite story or story prop that you would like to share then please bring it along!
Ailie Finlay has been telling sensory stories in schools, care settings and at festivals for 30 years. She is founder of My Kind of Book and director of the Accessible Book & Story Festival.
13:00 – 14:00: Lunch break
Lunch is not provided but there is a cafe on the premises
Inclusive books: an exploration
14.00 – 15.15 in the Storytelling Centre Theatre
It is important for all of us that we can ‘find ourselves’ in books. Discover where we have come from and where we are going when it comes to the representation and depiction of people with disabilities in children’s books. Pat Graham, a parent expert, will talk about why representation is so important to families. Author and inclusion specialist Alexandra Strick will share some trends and insights from new research. Expect lots of good picture book recommendations as well!
Creating meaningful tactile stories for children with a visual impairment
14.00 – 15.15 in the Storytelling Centre Library
How do we share stories and communicate meaning through objects and stimuli? Elizabeth Mccann will lead us step-by-step through the process of creating tactile/sensory experiences that are not only engaging but also meaningful for children who experience the world primarily through touch (and sound and smell).
Elizabeth McCann is a qualified teacher of visual impairment and now teaches at the University of Edinburgh and Scottish Sensory Centre. She has taught in a number of mainstream and special schools across Scotland.
An exploration of tactile books
14.00 – 15.15 in the National Library of Scotland
Which of us didn’t reach for a tactile book first as a child – with their fluffy, smooth and bumpy elements inviting us to touch the pages? Prepare to be charmed by the textures, colours and design of tactile books brought together from the NLS collection and beyond.
Lily Stone will be our guide through the history and design of these delightful books. Lily has just completed a PhD (funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council) which focused on tactile picture books for children with vision impairments.
15:15 – 15:30: Tea break
Closing panel
15.30 – 16.45 in the Storytelling Centre Theatre
Our expert panel will pull together the themes and issues from the two days of the festival. Imogen Kate is a blind and autistic artist, arts facilitator and occupational therapy postgraduate researcher. Alexandra Strick is a children’s author and inclusion expert in the children’s book world. Lily Stone recently completed a PhD which focused on tactile picture books for children with vision impairments. Katie Cebula, chair is director of the Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre.
And we want to hear from you too! What do we have to celebrate when it comes to accessible books and sensory stories? What do we have to campaign for? (Plus a wee gift to take home with you!)