WORLD Book Day celebrates its 20th birthday this month, and The Children's Book Festival returns to Cumbria just in time to join the party.

Wray Castle, on the West shore of Windermere, will host the two-day event once again, with best-selling children’s authors, artists and characters all set to appear on Saturday March 4 and Sunday 5.

There will be themed activities throughout the festival, including a Harry Potter-themed fancy dress event, and a book launch for Philip Ardagh's new novel, The Secret Diary of John Drawbridge, Medieval Knight in Training.

The Saturday guest-list includes: Max and Bird creator Ed Vere; Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning author Philip Ardagh and Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler taking audiences on a new adventure with The Grunts; animal expert Nicola Davies and illustrator Petr Horacek; Mabel Jones author Will Mabbitt; joke book writer Andy Seed; the woman behind Puppy Academy, Gill Lewis; exhibiting animal artist Alison Limentani; and Fleurble Laffalott - the super-assistant to the Professor of Potter.
Wray Castle

Fleurble is back on the Sunday, and as too are Axel Scheffler, Nicola Davies, Petr Horacek and Will Mabbitt, as Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton entertain with comic rhymes about robber dogs Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam, The Young James Bond author Steve Cole, an interactive illustration workshop from Yuval Zommer, and picture book storyteller Jo Empson.

The festival shop will have souvenirs and books by the writers to browse. In addition, you can bring along a World Book Day token and pick out your free World Book Day book.

Guests can arrive at the Children's Book Festival in style on-board the specially-chartered Book Boat, sailing from Bowness Bay to the castle's own boathouse. Those sailing must have already purchased a day ticket for the Book Festival.

Individual events can be booked in advance through the National Trust website, www.nationaltrust.org.uk