Why volunteer to be a BookFest Steward?

Being a steward for the Chichester Bognor BookFest is a highlight of my year. Why?

For years as a teacher Headteacher I did my best to enthuse every child with a love of the transforming power of narrative to enlighten your own life and take you on magical journeys with characters that become friends; whether as a reader or writer themselves.

The BookFest does just this; the invited authors enthuse and excite the children as they enter the world the writer has created. I have watched children’s faces a glow with the thrill of the encounter, chattering with their friends animatedly as they queue to meet the author, waiting to hold their own book.

For many, this is the first time, they have had their own book. I vividly remember early on as a steward, a little girl looking up at me, thanking me for the book she held tightly and saying quietly,” I’ve never had my very own book before.” “Treasure it,” I replied.” Oh, I will!” She said. More recently a boy held his signed copy with his name in it to his heart- “I’m so excited to read it “he said. He returned ten minutes later to tell me, “I’ve read the first eight pages and I love it.”

At these moments, you see the impact of the Chichester/ Bognor BookFest as a steward, and you feel positively “joyful”. It is an honour to have shared the moment when a child “falls in love “with books.

Katharine Amaladoss