Paisley Book Festival's Family Day programme to return

The Paisley Book Festival Family Day will take place on Saturday, May 16, with a day of storytelling, creativity, and adventure.

It will feature authors, illustrators, storytellers, and performers from across the UK, with the theme Everyday Heroes, Everlasting Icons.

Youngsters can expect a variety of interactive activities including meeting dragons, secret agents, and space-travelling tractors.

The day will kick off with the Experts Radio Lab at 10am, a drop-in performance where children are the stars.

Hosted by Alice Mary Cooper, participants are interviewed on a topic of their choice, with their insights broadcast live to the audience.

Experts Radio Lab (Image: OneRen)

From 10.30am, Rachel Huggins, a Scottish Book Trust author, will take families on a magical adventure with The Dragons who Saved the Moon and the Sea: Finding the Everyday Hero.

This immersive tale features puppets, music, and storytelling.

From 11am, Gary Chudleigh and Laura Howell will offer a creative spin on a Scottish legend in Goodies vs Baddies! A Marvellous Mission with Secret Agent Nessie.

Children will design their own heroic characters or mischievous villains.

At the same time, families will be able to attend Heebie Jeebies, an exploration of multilingual storytelling (Scottish Gaelic, French, and English), puppetry, and live music.

Heebie Jeebies (Image: OneRen)

Families can also learn about making a picture book in Free to Be Me - Everyday Heroes in Tiny Shoes, starting at 12am.

This event celebrates creativity and representation, with particular encouragement for children and parents who are disabled, neurodivergent, or part of the LGBTQ+ community.

From 12.30pm, Ross MacKay will bring Tractors in Space to life, a story that is sure to please budding astronauts and tractor enthusiasts.

The book features illustrations by award-winning artist Alex Willmore.

Meanwhile, from 1pm, Dougie Payne, best known as the bass player in the Scottish indie band Travis, will present his debut picture book Poochie Pete and his Very Big Feet.

The event will include specially written songs and live drawing by illustrator Rachael Seago.

Dougie Payne and Rachael Seago (Image: OneRen)

Children can also be able to participate in Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs, from 2pm, an interactive session where they can dress up as characters and compete in a 'flying' challenge.

The programme concludes at 3pm with Abdullah’s Bear Needs a Name: Choosing a Name with Yasmin Hanif.

Children are invited to join author Yasmin Hanif for interactive games and storytelling based on her debut picture book.

The Paisley Book Festival 2026 is organised by OneRen and supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

Full details about the Paisley Book Festival line-up, including booking information, are available at paisleybookfestival.com.