Children’s Black Book Fair: The largest event ever held in a Hackney Library
The third annual Children’s Black Book Fair UK (CBBF UK), held in Dalston CLR James Library, was a great success; it has also made Hackney history. Over 2,500 people attended the fair, making it the highest attendance ever at a Hackney Library event.
The CBBF UK – Europe’s only free annual celebration of young Black authors and storytellers – took place at a moment of cultural significance. Data from Inclusive Books for Children reveals that just 1.9% of children’s books published in the UK in 2024 featured a Black main character.
Run by LIT Stars CIC – which was founded by former senior deputy headteacher Juliet Coley Bremmer and her son Romeo Bremmer BCyA – the CBBF UK was opened by legendary dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson to a packed library.
Children were able to take part in a host of activities at the CBBF UK that included:
- CBBC’s Dr Ronx, hosting the National Year of Reading Storytelling Marathon
- book reading by Michael De Souza, creator of BBC hit cartoon series Rastamouse
- EastEnders legend Rudolph Walker OBE, taking part in SuperDads Reading Men-a-Thon – a reading zone for children, hosted by charity Father2Father
- the UK’s first-ever children’s panel on race and representation in publishing
- young author marketplace
- live Back-to-School hair braiding, in partnership with Rooted app and
- free giveaway of 1,000 books
The fair also saw the unveiling of the Hackney Writers Legacy Steps – a new installation on the library staircase, honouring 48 Black writers, poets, publishers and songwriters with connections to Hackney. People featured included Dame Malorie Blackman, Michaela Coel, Diane Abbott MP and Linton Kwesi Johnson. Margaret Busby CBE, the UK’s first Black female publisher, said she was honoured to be selected and came down on the day to take a photograph on her step.
Juliet Coley shared:
Born and raised in Hackney, I didn’t have much, but one thing I did have was a library card. Even though we couldn’t afford to go on a plane, because I was an avid reader, I went all over: Bethlehem. Narnia. Wonderland… We hope that, through our event, children will fall in love with reading.
Marcia Dixon MBE, Keep The Faith publisher stated: “Keep The Faith welcomed the opportunity to be a media sponsor of the CBBF UK. How could we say no to an event that encourages children and teenagers to read? And we are pleased that the CBBF UK is the most successful event ever held in a Hackney library. We look forward to supporting next year’s book fair.”
Visit www.younglitstars.com
Image Credit: Laura Rose – Thepinkrosephotography
