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Losing yourself in a good book can provide all sorts of benefits as any avid reader knows but a good dollop of escapism has to be one of the biggest advantages in current times for story lovers both young and old.

One Saturday, February 27th, the Newark Book Festival will be helping to engage those imaginations keen to fly into fictional worlds with a series of free online events designed for families.

The Imaginarium festival will see Rhubarb Theatre presenting its adaptations of Addy Farmer’s space travel adventure A Place Called Home and the classic fairy tale The Ugly Duckling.

Nottinghamshire-based author Frances Stickley will be sharing some of her stories including What Will you dream of tonight? and The Mouse’s Apples and introduce you to the characters in her story sack.

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Budding illustrators can join prize-winning Bunnies on the Bus author Philip Ardagh for stories, drawing and fun and older children can take part in a writing workshop exploring magical worlds with LD Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency series.

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Thomas Taylor will be sharing more about his book Gargantis, set in the mysterious Eerie-On-Sea, and Jenny McLachlan will be inviting you to welcome dragons, unicorns and mermaids into your living room as she introduces The Land of Roar.

The fun doesn’t have to start and stop on the 27th though. Get those imaginations warmed up by creating a model of your favourite character from a book to enter the festival’s craft competition beforehand and afterwards families local to Newark can download the Barry the Bookworm exercise trail and look out for Barry in shop windows across the town throughout March.

All events are free (donations are welcome). Find out more about the events on the Festival website, visit www.iaminprint.co.uk/newark-book-festival to book your free place online and visit Newark Book Festival Facebook Page for regular updates.