Sunday 26 October 2025
Join us at the National Museum of Australia for the first Canberra Writers Festival kids and young adult fiction day. From picture book magic to primary-aged series and teens, this day celebrates reading for families and kids of all ages!
Meet writing and drawing superstars and local heroes, with book signings to follow many events. Bookings are essential and costs apply for most events.
Special Museum events
11am to 12pm, ages 4–8 years
Sail the seas with Trim the cat and create your own book! Bring your imagination on this journey with author Ursula Dubosarsky and Trim, the star of an upcoming picture book from the Museum.
Various times, ages 2–6 years
Bring the little ones to hear animal tales from Stephanie Owen Reeder, Rhiân Williams, Sophie Gillies or Ursula Dubosarsky. Includes a play session.
Meet your heroes
9.30 to 10.30am, all ages
Join Craig Silvey for the latest adventures of Annie and Runt. Bring a drawing or photo of your special pet to share in this conversation with local vet and author Karen Viggers. Book signing to follow.
9.30 to 10.30am, ages 6+ years
Illustrators Bill Hope, David Conley and Eleri Harris face off in this interactive drawing showdown, with live and zany doodles and audience suggestions all part of the fun.
11am to 12pm, ages 6–12 years
Don't miss beloved author Andy Griffiths and illustrator Bill Hope for hilarious adventures, live drawing and you as the main character. Book signing to follow.
1 to 2pm, ages 9+ years
Get ready for thrills with Jack Heath as he cracks open the explosive world of his action-packed Minutes of Danger series. Book signing to follow.
Workshops for kids
9.15 to 10.30am, for ages 10+ years
Join Dr Judy Friedlander (The Bee Squad) to learn how to design a garden that will attract birds, butterflies and other pollinators to your backyard or balcony.
1 to 2pm, ages 10+ years
Get tips from cartoonists and illustrators Eleri Harris and David Conley. How do they free themselves to experiment and dare to get it wrong before they get something they like?
12 to 1pm
Celebrate new voices shaping the future of Australian theatre, as we hear excerpts from finalists before announcing the winner.
3 to 4pm
Maxine Beneba Clarke, author of Stuff I’m (Not) Sorry For, encourages budding young poets to share their experiences of the world in their own special way.
Young adult events
1.30 to 2.30pm
Lisa Fuller, Jasmin McGaughey & Sandy Bigna use fantasy to reveal truths about the world. Hear how they create worlds that give us the power to tell our stories.
3 to 4pm
Join Sasha Vey and Gabrielle Tozer as they dive into YA coming-of-age rom-coms and discuss how they explore the complicated, often chaotic experience of growing up.
The Museum is a proud Foundation Partner of the Canberra Writers Festival. We are delighted to welcome international bestseller Jane Harper for the sold-out CWF opening night event.
Join Friends, the Museum's membership program, to get a 10% discount on all standard CWF events.