Seven Stories - The Centre For Children's Books

Saturday 13 February 2010 – Wednesday 1 September 2010.

Green Drops and Moonsquirtersis the first exhibition to bring Lauren Child’s ever so imaginative books to life. Lauren’s best-selling books have been captivating children and their parents for almost 10 years.

Her unmistakable illustrations are on display, artfully combining drawing, collage and photography with witty and irreverent text woven throughout. They include the hugely successful Charlie and Lola (who have gone on to become the stars of a CBBC and Disney Playhouse television series) as well as Clarice Bean, That Pesky Rat and Hubert Horatio Bartle Bobton-Trent.

A selection of 3D sets and dolls house furniture created for The Princess and the Pea are also on display. All combined with fun and engaging hands-on activities for all the family.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to sit at Charlie and Lola’s kitchen table, dress-up in Charlie and Lola’s favourite outfits and perform puppet shows to an audience of family and friends (in a theatre created from the four poster bed in The Princess and The Pea).

Lauren Child studied art in Manchester and worked as an artist’s assistant for Damien Hirst before embarking on her career in children’s literature.

Lauren Child, says: “I think I relate to just about all of my characters in some way or other but I suppose I am closest to Clarice Bean. The great thing about Clarice is that I can write about trivial things along side important things – show the funny side as well as the very sad which is what life is like.”

A Manchester Art Gallery touring exhibition – supported by Arts Council England. Exhibition runs from 13 February 2010 – 1 September 2010 at Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle.

Admission charges to Seven Stories apply, open seven days a week.

Seven Stories is supported by Arts Council England and Newcastle City Council.

Illustration © Lauren Child