Explore York Library Learning Centre has been selected for a special visit by children’s author Julia Donaldson (16 October) as part of her national Children’s Laureate library tour.

Explore York Library Learning Centre has been picked from hundreds of applications to be one of only 24 libraries on the English and Welsh leg of the Children’s Laureate Libraries Tour this autumn. As part of her Children’s Laureateship, Julia Donaldson – bestselling author of over 150 books including The Gruffalo (http://www.gruffalo.com/index.html), What the Ladybird Heard and Zog – will tour libraries in England, Wales and Scotland, from John O’Groats to Lands End, over six weeks.

Children from 16 York schools will be attending the invitation-only event, which will see Julia bringing some of her hugely popular stories to life through special dramatisations. They will also be invited to show off their acting skills during a short performance inspired by Julia’s poems which they will present at the event.

Julia Donaldson said: “Libraries are very close to my heart, and so is performance. This tour is my way of bringing the two together, by visiting fantastic libraries all over the country, enjoying children acting and singing, and sharing my own stories with them. I want it to be a huge celebration of libraries and of the benefits they offer to communities and especially to children.”