Families from across the borough are being invited to celebrate the birthday of the award-winning author of The Gruffalo this weekend.

Stoneclough Stories based at St Saviour's Church, Ringley, will be hosting a Happy Birthday Julia Donaldson pop-up event for all to enjoy for free.

The event will celebrate the 75th birthday of the much-loved author with activities including children’s crafts, story time, lots of cake and refreshments and a huge selection of books to read or take home on loan.

The activities will be themes on Julia Donaldson books including The Gruffalo, Monkey Puzzle and Room on the Broom.

At the event there will also be a storyteller, Charlie Ryan, from the Julia Donaldson Lowry Exhibition, who has done voiceover work for CCBC, who will tell the story of Room on the Broom and will also be taking props for the children to play with.

The event will be taking place tomorrow, Saturday September 2, between 10am and 11am.

Former councillor, Tracey Wilkinson is one of the organisers of Stoneclough Stories alongside another local resident Kerri Burbidge said: “Stoneclough Stories Pop Up Library was started for children in our community not only to access locally a wide range of books to loan but to encourage them to read more, inspire them to become our future authors, illustrators, and storytellers.

“It is a great place to make new friends, be creative with our monthly themed craft and listen to our animated resident storyteller.

“We are excited to celebrate one of our favourite children's author's Julia Donaldson which coincides with her 75th birthday and the recently opened exhibition at The Lowry.

“We have had interest in our pop-up library from the exhibition curators and hopefully all being well we will have a special guest storyteller from the exhibition.

“Everyone is welcome, and we have over 1,000 books for children of all ages.

“We have a cafe for grownups to sit relax and have a brew and cake whilst children can explore.

“The pop-up library is run on a monthly basis by a team of local volunteers led by Kerri Burbidge and I and we always welcome newbies to join the team.”

For more information about the Julia Donaldson Exhibition, go to: https://thelowry.com/summer/ 

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.