A special programme for children and their families
The morning hours of Wednesday 23, Thursday 24 and Friday 25 will be specially dedicated to registered students from schools in Malta and Gozo. All registered children will be handed a €5 voucher, enabling them to browse through the various exhibitors’ stands and decide for themselves which book they are to take home with them. Thanks to the collaboration with the Żigużajg Festival, schoolchildren will also be treated to two daily shows aimed at different age cohorts. During the first two days, the shows will be adapted from winning children’s books of Premju Terramaxka 2022, while Friday will be dedicated to ‘Striped Pyjamas: Meet John Boyne’, a performance with special guests John Boyne and illustrator Gattaldo. Registrations for these shows are now closed.
Children’s activities continue in the afternoons and the weekend. On Saturday, children aged seven to twelve can enrol in an exclusive workshop with the Gattaldo, the author of the children’s book Fearless (Il-Ġurnalista, Midsea Books) for a one-off illustration workshop. A further two shows by Żigużajg will also be organised for the whole family during the weekend, as part of the Festival’s calendar. Click here to buy your ticket for Coco the Singer, the Chocolate Finger. With the exception of this show, all other events taking place at the Malta Book Festival are free of charge.
In the spirit of inclusion, and thanks to the collaboration with Inspire Foundation, a Sensory-Friendly Room will be set up inside the Rainbow Hall, offering an autism-friendly space for children on the spectrum to have access to storytelling activities in a safe and inclusive environment. Access is allowed to children accompanied by their parents/educators.
The Energy and Water Agency will also be present at the Festival, lending itself to children, presenting reading sessions and scientific experiments linked to the security, sustainability and affordability of energy and water.
Click here to find out more about all events for children and families.
Ziguzajg shows:
ŻiguŻajg International Festival for Arts Festival for Children & Young People and the Malta Book Festival are joining forces this year! At the 2022 Malta Book Festival, the morning hours of Wednesday 23, Thursday 24 and Friday 25 will be specially dedicated to students from schools in Malta and Gozo. Żigużajg Festival will be curating a special programme for children who were registered to take part in the Malta Book Festival with their school. The activities will include morning shows inspired by the 2022 Terramaxka Book Prize winners, and the meet-the-author show ‘Striped Pyjamas’, where students will have the chance to meet the author of The Boy in The Striped Pajamas, John Boyne, in person! Registrations for these morning shows are now closed.
The dance performance ‘Coco, the Singer and the Chocolate Finger’ will also be at the Malta Book Festival theatre over the weekend. You can purchase your ticket on https://www.ziguzajg.org or scanning the barcode below.
ŻiguŻajg International Arts Festival for Children & Young People is the only festival in Malta specifically aimed at children & young people, presenting an enticing programme of international productions and new commissioned work, annually. Since its inception in 2010, the festival programme of ŻiguŻajg has grown from strength to strength, becoming a cornerstone of the cultural calendar both in Malta and overseas.
Ride the Feeling: AGE 0-7
Duration: 35 minutes
Language: English
Cast and Creative Team
Direction and Adaptation: Prickly Pear Productions
Performers: Zoë Alba Farrugia and Chantelle Micallef Grimaud
Vjaġġ bil-Ballun: AGE 8-12
Duration: 35 minutes
Language: Maltese
Cast and Creative Team
Direction and Adaptation: Prickly Pear Productions
Performer: Chantelle Micallef Grimaud and Sean Briffa
Striped Pyjamas Meet John Boyne: ALL AGES
Duration: 30-40 minutes
Language: English
Cast and Creative Team
Director: Rebecca Camilleri
Assistant Stage Manager: Julia Camilleri
Illustrator: Gattaldo
Narrator: Myron Ellul
Performers: Jamie Iles, Beppe Radmilli, Myron Ellul
