600 Oxfordshire children to meet Adam Kay and Henry Paker at Wantage Literary Festival

DATE

August 24, 2026

Adam Kay and Henry Paker will entertain more than 600 schoolchildren this autumn at Wantage Literary Festival – and you could win a signed copy of their latest book.


Wantage Literary Festival is putting children centre stage, welcoming author and comedian Adam Kay and illustrator Henry Paker to The Beacon for a special schools event on Wednesday, 4th November.

More than 600 children aged nine to 11 from 11 primary schools across south Oxfordshire will enjoy an interactive session with the duo, with performances at 10.30am and 1.30pm.

The free event is part of the festival’s schools outreach programme, which is particularly important during 2026’s National Year of Reading as the festival expands its work to nurture the next generation of book lovers.

Adam is perhaps best known for his best-selling memoir This Is Going to Hurt, but younger readers will know him for his wonderfully funny children’s books, created with Henry’s gloriously silly illustrations.

Their latest adventure, Dexter Procter and the Case of the Disappearing Doctor, sees the world’s youngest doctor investigating a mystery involving a missing doctor, an asthma epidemic, kidnappings and, naturally, a demolition ball.

Wantage Literary Festival will take place at The Beacon between 26th October and 7th November.

Find out more at wantageliteraryfestival.co.uk.

Enter our competition at roundandabout.co.uk/all-competitions.

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600 Oxfordshire children to meet Adam Kay and Henry Paker at Wantage Literary Festival

Adam Kay and Henry Paker are heading to The Beacon to inspire more than 600 young readers as part of Wantage Literary Festival.