JERSEY will host a series of events celebrating the national launch of two new characters in the bestselling Mr Men and Little Miss series.
Four free storytelling sessions – on 28 September in the Millennium Town Park – will be held as part of this year’s Jersey Festival of Words to mark the arrival of Mr Fib and Little Miss Surprise.
More than 50 years since Mr Tickle, the first story of late author Roger Hargreaves’s series, was published, the books will join the classic range on 12 September.
And event sponsors Butterfield have bought 100 copies signed by writer and illustrator Adam Hargreaves, Mr Hargreaves’s son, which will be given to the first 100 children who arrive at the sessions.
Mr Men and Little Miss publishers announced earlier this month that Mr Fib and Little Miss Surprise would be joining the series.
While Adam Hargreaves will not be in attendance, the storytelling events are being run by publisher HarperCollins and will feature storytelling, singing and professional actors.
Mr Hargreaves said: “It’s always fun creating new characters to add to the series, although I’ve got a way to go to catch up with my dad.
“A Mr Fib has been rattling around in my imagination for a long while and Little Miss Surprise, of course, popped into my head right out of the blue!”
Michelle Le Blond, branch manager of Butterfield Bank Jersey, said the firm was “delighted” to support the event.
She added: “We hope that Islanders, both young and young at heart, enjoy meeting the Mr Men and Little Miss characters who are a cherished part of many of our childhoods and we look forward to welcoming the community to the free storytelling sessions.”
The ninth Jersey Festival of Words is due to take place later this year between 20 and 29 September across several venues in St Helier.
The line-up includes journalist and presenter Sam McAlister, comedic writer and presenter Kathy Lette and former children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, among others.
Details of further events will be released soon, and more information can be found at jerseyfestivalofwords.org
