Plans for Roald Dahl Day 2017 outlined

Annual celebration will take place on Wednesday September 13 with raft of activity planned.

A swathe of plans have been revealed for September’s Roald Dahl Day, which this year will celebrate the iconic child heroes of the author’s stories.

Taking place on and around September 13, the annual global celebration also marks Roald’s birthday.

Characters including Matilda, James, Charlie, Danny, Sophie and George will be celebrated, while Billy – the hero of Roald’s last book, Billy and the Minpins – will be introduced to the programme.

Originally published as The Minpins, the book is now being published as a hardback chapter book with black and white illustrations by Quentin Blake. It will be published by Penguin Random House on September 7.

In addition, publisher Wonderbly (formerly known as Lost My Name) will launch a currently top secret new title, which allows every child to become the hero of his or her own Roald Dahl story.

A collaboration with LEGO will see child-sized LEGO builds of six Roald Dahl heroes appear at locations including London, Cardiff, Manchester, Nottingham, the Eden Project in Cornwall and the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire will host a series of special events.

These will include a bespoke exhibition around Billy, as well as themed trails into the countryside which inspired Billy and the Minpins.

Schools across the UK will also be encouraged to take part in the Dahl Dress Up Day, while this year’s Puffin Virtually Live webcast will be hosted by CBBC’s Katie Thistleton.

Special party packs are available online and through Roald Dahl social media channels for schools, libraries and fans of the author.

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