About the project
Welcoming a new addition this year? LEEDS 2023 and the British Library have come together to create a special gift for babies born in Leeds in 2023.
Northern Dreaming is a collection of poetry and stories created with early career and published writers including the current Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, poet, playwright and broadcaster Lemn Sissay OBE, BBC Young Writer’s Award winner Elena Barham and up-and-coming poet - and newly qualified doctor - Safia Khan to share the unique imaginations of these writers for the next generation of dreamers to enjoy.
The gift is a celebration of the magical thrill of storytelling. It’s a place for readers to find comfort, inspiration and joy.
With stories for babies, children and young adults, the book is designed to carry readers all the way through their childhood, and be treasured long after the last page has been turned.
Your copy of Northern Dreaming will be available for free from Leeds Libraries and Children’s Centres across Leeds from 19th October onwards. Please click on the links below to find where your nearest collection point is.
Find your nearest Children's Centre.
Northern Dreaming has inspired The Gifting, find out more about The Gifting.
Mon 6 Nov - Fri 22 Dec
We're touring a free Storytelling performance of the first part of the book, aimed at 0-7 year olds, to Early Years settings and schools, as well as community settings such as libraries, community centres, social clubs and parent and toddler groups. There are a limited number of performances available and these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, so make sure to book your spot now!
Northern Dreaming audiobook
Credits
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England and the British Library.
Co-produced by
Supported by
Discover more behind the scenes stories
Hidden Stories
Heritage is within us all.
It’s in the stories we tell, the food we make, and the songs we sing. It’s what makes our city so special. Hidden Stories is our year-long co-created programme of special projects with creativity at their core, celebrating the heritage we all share.
Children's Day: Reimagined
Children’s Day: Reimagined was a free, family-friendly event in Roundhay Park, celebrating the children of Leeds.
Inspired by the Children’s Day event of the past and boldly reimagined for the future, it imagined what the world would look like if children were in charge.
The Gifting
The team that created The Awakening as the opening show of our Year of Culture are working on something entirely different and surprising for our closing event. Drawing from the magic of the darkest winter nights and the dawning of a new year, look out for further details about our closing ceremony as we bring a year of waking, playing and dreaming to a close.
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