Manchester’s Festival of Libraries is bringing a taste of something a little different to young book lovers this year. From Monday 22 May to Sunday 28 May a trail of fun and clues will lead children on a Look for a Book quest. There are 500 copies of Nadiya Hussain’s Bake Me A Story for children to find, which will be hidden in and around Greater Manchester’s libraries and nearby green spaces.

Bake Me A Story combines storytelling with simple Family Friendly recipe ideas all beautifully illustrated by Clair Rossiter. Rapunzel’s Enchanted Carrots, The Princess and the Pea Risotto and The Pied Piper and the Stripiest Cake in Town are some of the adventures that await. Sharing food and stories Bake Me A Story is a brilliantly colourful addition to anyone’s bookshelf!

Nadiya Hussain, says, “It’s so exciting to think that copies of Bake Me A Story will be hidden across Greater Manchester and part of the Festival of Libraries! Libraries are such amazing places for families in particular to get together and be creative, just like baking and cooking together. To be celebrating libraries and families in such a fun way is so special. I can’t wait to meet the lucky winners in June for the festival!”

Organised by Manchester City of Literature as one of the highlights of a packed programme of events for Festival of Libraries (7 to 11 June 2023), Look for a Book is hugely popular and thousands of children took part in 2022. Participants will need to use their imaginations because the librarians hiding the books and setting the clues are known for being very creative! Everyone who finds a copy of Bake Me A Story can take it to their local library where they will be presented with a special certificate and entered into a prize draw to meet Nadiya in person during the festival in June.

Book hunters will be able to find clues at local libraries and by following their local library or Manchester City of Literature on social media.

Look For A Book is the introduction to Festival of Libraries, which sees Greater Manchester’s entire library network put on a programme of exciting and celebratory activities. There are talks, workshops, performances, readings, exhibitions, art installations and more; with something for all ages. From the larger historic and internationally renowned libraries like Central Library, The Portico and John Rylands Research Institute and Library to the smallest community libraries, including the aptly named Littleborough Library and Little Lever Library, all are taking part. Every activity in the programme is free to take part in and the full programme is available at: www.manchestercityofliterature.com/event/festival-of-libraries-2023

Festival of Libraries’ partners include: Archives+, Central Library, Chetham’s Library, John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester Poetry Library, NHS Libraries, The Portico Library, Working Class Movement Library, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Institute Cervantes Library and Greater Manchester libraries (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan).