Three-time World Book Day illustrator Rob Biddulph is performing at Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival
HOME schooling, baking banana bread, doing Joe Wicks workouts – and Draw with Rob.
These were some of the common activities for people all over Britain during lockdown and if you were a parent you might want a chance to thank illustrator Rob Biddulph in person.
Mr Biddulph started ‘Draw with Rob‘ at the start of lockdown, posting-draw along videos on YouTube. It went on to become a sensation, with individual videos racking up hundreds of thousands of views.
“The videos have millions and millions of views now,” he said.
“I thought, ‘I can try and use this platform to try to get children reading and drawing’.
“I had lots of families that would sit at the dining room table, and they would draw pictures together. You would get grandparents and parents and kids, all drawing a sausage dog, or a dinosaur.
“I am most proud of when I do these live events, because I can meet all these people who show me what they did in lockdown, or bring along books that they have written.
“Everyone should come down and bring a piece of paper and a pencil. If anyone wants to show me their pictures that they did in lockdown or bring their books along for me to sign, that would be so exciting.”
Mr Biddulph is performing at Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival next month and will read from one of his books as well as staging a live draw-along at The Reardon Smith Theatre on March 29.
“I am so excited to come back and see all of my Welsh readers. It is going to be fun,” he said.
“The only thing is that all the parents cry. The story I will read is called I Follow The Fox, which I read whilst playing my guitar and with a little animaton behind me.
“The story is about a child who loses their little toy fox, which for some reason really connects with the mums and dads.
“Probably because we have all got the sheer trauma of our child losing their favorite toy, in the shopping centre or something, and it does really seem to strike a chord.”
As World Book Day illustrator from 2019-2021, Rob has worked with various literary charities to encourage children to read books.
“The biggest single indicator for future life success is if a child is reading for pleasure at a young age,” he said.
“So, reading for pleasure is unbelievably important.
Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival runs from March 24 to March 30 with free events for the city’s schools, as well as ticketed events at venues including the National Museum Wales, Cardiff Castle and Bute Park Education Centre.
“Whether your kids are just getting interested in books, or already avid readers, the festival has something for everyone and who knows, it might even inspire some of them to put pen to paper themselves someday,” said Councillor Jennifer Burke.
“Getting to hear directly from the authors and illustrators who create their favorite stories is a brilliant way to get kids excited and engaged with reading.”
- Tickets cost £5 and are on sale now.
