Happy Book Day to ya, Happy Book Day to ya, Happy Booooook Day! Today’s the day my first picture book A World For Me and You hits the shelves. It’s such a delight to see photos of people and especially kids reading the book and the early reviews are making me weep tears of joy. Get your copies at your local bookshop or online at Amazon, Bookshop.org etc and do leave a review if you can. I’m so thankful to be able to spread this message of kindness, inclusivity and self-celebration far and wide. Today’s London Kids Weekend Scoop features book news, family theatre, a festival in Greenwich, another festival in Dulwich and a baby-friendly rave. Get in.
10 Cool Things to Do with Your Family in London This Weekend
Thu: A World for Me and You, out in bookstores (UK-wide)
A World for Me and You is out TODAY! The early reviews are coming in and they are fantastic and I can’t stop crying! I wrote this book as a companion to Bringing Up Race, to encourage parents and educators to have positive and life-affirming conversations with children about diversity, empathy and kindness. The book is a glorious celebration of colours, cultures, foods and languages and thanks to the brilliant work of award-winning illustrator Jennie Poh, it’s absolutely gorgeous! Jennie and I will host a Meet the Author & Illustrator chat on Zoom next Wednesday 12pm-1pm (details soon). Read this emotional letter I wrote to my childhood self last night, ahead of publication. A World for Me and You is on sale in all good bookshops and online HERE (out May 12)
Thu-Sat: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Duke of York’s Theatre, 104 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4BG (Covent Garden tube)
LAST CHANCE: This weekend is your last opportunity to see the acclaimed adaptation of Neil Gaman’s bestselling novel. Katy Rudd directs an edge-of-your-seat adventure about a man who flashes back to his 12 birthday, when his friend Lettie told him the pond at the end of his farmhouse was actually an ocean. Best for ages 12+ (content warning: some scenes might be distressing). 7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu, Sat & Sun); from £18 (until May 14)
Thu-Sun: Glisten: A show for Babies at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
Bring your tiniest ones along to Polka Theatre for an imaginative experience in the company of performer
Daniel Naddafy. This popular show for toddlers and crawlers features colour, sounds and surprises using reflective materials to create a multi-sensory landscape. A gentle intro to theatre for ages 0-18 months. 10.45am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm; adult + baby £20 (£1.50 booking fee) (May 11-15)
Thu-Sun: Our Time on Earth at The Curve Gallery, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
I’m currently reading Oliver Burkeman’s 4000 Weeks which gets you thinking about how little time we have on earth and how best to use it. So this huge new exhibition at Barbican Centre delves further into this idea, but looking closely at how we inhabit the planet. Using technological, immersive and futuristic ideas and insights, Our Time on Earth is an invitation to explore dynamic responses to the climate emergency. 10am-6pm (Sun-Wed), 10am-8pm (Thu-Sat), 12pm-8pm (Bank Holidays); from £18/Young Barbican £5 (May 5-Aug 29)
Fri: Kinder at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Highbury & Islington tube/rail, Angel tube)
Watch a poignant and charming production all about the Kindertransport train during wartime. A Czech-Jewish girl embarks on the biggest adventure of her life, discovering tiny acts of kindness along the way. Table top puppetry, cinematic shadow play and an immersive set from award winning theatre company Smoking Apples. For ages 11-16. 1pm & 4.45pm (Fri, last remaining tickets); adult £13.50/child £11.50 (May 11-14)
Fri-Sat: Legally Blonde the Musical at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, Inner Circle, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube)
A massive vehicle for Reese Witherspoon on the big screen, the musical version of Legally Blonde has been a global smash hit. Now for the 90th anniversary of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, this sizzling new production plans to bend and snap its way into the hearts of audiences from all over. Directed by Lucy Moss (SIX) and starring Courtney Bowman as Elle Woods. Suitable for ages 12+, parental discretion advised for younger kids – under 4s not admitted. 7.45pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.15pm (Thu & Sat); from £12.50-£65 (May 13-Jul 2)
Fri-Sun: Dulwich Festival, multiple locations around Dulwich (Herne Hill/West Dulwich/East Dulwich/North Dulwich rail)
There’s tons on for kids and families at the popular local festival. From dog shows to petting zoo, vintage funfair rides, live magicians, choir performances, brass bands, maypole merriment, and the London Fire Brigade showing off their engines. You can discover street art and hang out at the Dulwich Park Fair, and while you’re out why not visit the Dulwich Picture Gallery’s new landmark show, Reframed: The Woman in the Window. Various times from 10.30am; booking ahead advised, many events are FREE (May 13-22)
Fri-Sun: Get Dressed at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
Every parent is familiar with the struggle to get their kids dressed in time to go anywhere. In this playful and energetic show, we meet a young girl obsessed with wearing her best outfits (no matter the weather). Get Dressed! explores the relationship between a parent and child as they negotiate their world. Ages 2-5. 11am (Fri & Sun), 11am & 2.30pm (Sat); adult £12/child £10 – hurry, selling fast! (May 13-Jun 12)
Sun: Urban Village Fete, Greenwich Peninsula, 1 Green Place, SE10 0PE (North Greenwich tube)
It’s the eight edition of the Urban Village Fete, a free family-friendly festival that lights up Greenwich every year. Wander around and soak in the pop-up performances, live music, visual arts displays, arts and crafts workshops, face painting, and delicious street food on offer. If the weather stays good, it should be on exceptional day out for all ages. The trip there and back (you can ride the Dockland Lights Railway driverless trains, Emirates Airline cable car, and/or Thames Clipper boat) is huge fun for little ones. 11am-7pm; FREE (May 15)
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave at West Five Bar, South Ealing Road W5 4NT (South Ealing tube)
Our favourite family ravers are back on the dance floor this Sunday. Head down to West Five Bar for a stomping good time with DJ SAS (Scott Duncan) spinning the club classics and support from DJ PHIL:D (Ex Mixmag Live Music Editor. Also enjoy bubble, balloons, foam, parachute dance, Nifty Natty craft tables and Villa Pia baby chill space. All ages welcome, perfect for 0-8. 2pm-4pm; adult from £12/child from £9/pre-walking infant FREE (May 15)
Sun: Roald Dahl and the Imagination Seekers at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
What’s going on? It seems the words of Roald Dahl are vanishing from books, libraries and children’s minds all around the world! Can you help the Ancient Guild of Tale Tenders to preserve Dahl’s stories? A fun, interactive theatre piece with tales from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the BFG and The Twits. For ages 6-11. 11am & 2pm; from £9 (May 15)
We also like
The Florence Nightingale Museum is back open for business (from Thu); your little ones to see even teenier ones at the Kensington Dollhouse Festival (Fri-Sat); don’t miss Louise Bourgeois: The Woven Child at Hayward Gallery, closing this weekend (until Sun); or try to nab tickets for the epic audio-visual adventure Space Station Earth at Royal Albert Hall (Sun)
BOOKING AHEAD
To Kill A Mockingbird at The Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (now booking, best availability from Jun 6)
Acting for Others: West End Flea Market at St Paul’s Church, Bedford St, Covent Garden (May
Amy Adams in The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York’s Theatre (May 23-Aug 27)
Bring Your Own Baby Comedy at Arts Depot, North Finchley (May 26)
Sootyland at Crealy Theme Park & Resort, Devon (opens May 28)
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift at Southwark Cathedral (May 28)
FUN DMC May Half Term Special at Colours, Hoxton Square (May 29)
Superbloom at Tower of London (Jun 1-Sep 18)
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, nationwide (Jun 2-5)
Giffords Circus at Chiswick House & Gardens (Jun 16-27)
Windrush Day at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (Jun 22)
Sun and Sea at The Albany, Deptford SE8 (Jun 23-Jul 10)
Peppa Pig My First Concert: Mozart to Muddy Puddles at London Coliseum (from Jul 24)
The Golden Hinde Night Voyage, SE1 (Aug 28)
Dino Snores at Natural History Museum (Oct 1)
**NB: Please note that all event timings and prices are subject to change/cancellation at short notice, so always check ahead with the venue before making a trip!**
Dear Uju (A Letter to My Childhood Self)
