Seven Stories facts for kids
The exterior of Seven Stories
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| Established | 2005 |
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| Location | Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Type | Children's literature and illustration from 1930s to the present day |
| Public transit access | Manors, Byker (Tyne and Wear Metro) |
Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books is a special museum in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It's the only place in the UK completely dedicated to British children's books! Imagine a whole building filled with stories, drawings, and the magic behind your favorite books. It's built inside an old Victorian mill with seven floors, full of exciting things to explore.
The museum collects and keeps original manuscripts and illustrations. These are the first versions of books and drawings by famous authors and artists. This amazing collection is stored in a separate building in Felling.
The Story of Seven Stories
Seven Stories first opened its doors in August 2005. It was created from an old granary building, which is where grain used to be stored.
In 2006, the centre won a special award called the Centre Vision Award. This award recognized it for being a great example of how to improve a town centre.
Five years after opening, in August 2010, Seven Stories celebrated its birthday. A famous children's author, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, joined the party for a special event.
Later in 2010, Seven Stories bought some original handwritten stories by Enid Blyton. This made Seven Stories the biggest public owner of Blyton's work. The money for this important purchase came from special funds and donations.
Also in 2010, Seven Stories received the Eleanor Farjeon Award. This award is given for excellent service to the world of British children's books.
In 2012, Seven Stories officially became The National Centre for Children's Books. It also became a registered charity, which means it's a non-profit organization that helps the public.
The centre closed for a short time in April 2015 for improvements. The goal was to make it even better for visitors and school groups. It also aimed to make the building more energy-efficient. Seven Stories reopened its doors on Sunday, July 19, 2015.
In October 2015, the well-known author Michael Morpurgo gave a collection of his manuscripts, notebooks, and letters to the museum.
What You Can See and Do
Seven Stories always has new and exciting exhibitions. These shows are for both children and adults. They bring together original manuscripts and illustrations from some of the UK's most loved children's books. This helps visitors explore creativity, literature, and art.
Many famous people support Seven Stories. These include authors like Jacqueline Wilson and Philip Pullman. Also, artists like Quentin Blake are patrons.
Seven Stories creates its own exhibitions. Many of these shows then travel around the country. Past exhibitions have featured artists like Judith Kerr and Anthony Browne.
The centre also offers many fun activities. You can enjoy dressing up and dramatic play. There are also creative writing and word games. You can even try illustration and craft activities.
Many children's authors and illustrators visit the centre. They lead workshops and give talks. Some of these visitors include Julia Donaldson, David Almond, and Oliver Jeffers.
See also
