Entertaining the children – and grown-ups – at the Clitterhouse FolkFest

Rounding off the summer, Jason was invited to read his books at a rain-delayed FolkFest at Our Yard at Clitterhouse Farm in northwest London.

It was one of the biggest events yet to be held at the venue, with multiple stages showcasing local folk and jazz musicians, craft stalls, food, drink, reiki, reflexology and children’s book readings – which is where Jason came in.

Seated on a circle of tree stumps in the woods, children and their grown-ups were treated to readings of Jason’s pre-school rhyming book What Can You See? – for the younger ones in the audience – and the more anarchic rhyming fun of I Like To Put Food In My Welly and its follow-up, A Zoo In My Shoe for primary school-aged children.

The toddlers enjoyed pointing at Hannah Rounding’s illustrations of birds, sandcastles and fleas, while older children – and parents – found themselves laughing at characters swimming in trees and eating slippers for breakfast.

Having previously used a bit of juggling to draw in young readers, Jason worked some magic tricks into this session, to add an extra little bit of – well – magic to the afternoon.

“There was so much going on that it felt all the more special that so many people came to enjoy my books,” Jason said. “Reading against a background of folk music was a new experience, but it all made for a very rewarding afternoon – I hope for the young book lovers, as much as for me!”