# Event Details - **Event Name**: Kids Author Event: Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran! - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 12 Aug, 2026 at 11:00 am – Wed, 12 Aug, 2026 at 11:45 am - **Event Description**: Join Laura at Happy Reading Children's Bookshop for a joyful celebration of her new picture book 'Maya & Marley and the New Friend'!About this EventPerfect for children aged 3–6, this heartwarming event includes a lovely interactive storytime with Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran, followed by a fun, book-inspired creative activity celebrating friendship, kindness and community.Come along to meet one of Britain's most celebrated children's creators and be among the first to discover Maya and Marley's wonderful world.ABOUT MAYA & MARLEY AND THE NEW FRIENDWelcome to Grove Adventure Playground, where everyone belongs.As friends and neighbours gather for a joyful community lunch, brother and sister Maya and Marley notice someone who looks a little nervous and alone. With kindness, empathy and a warm welcome, they show that even the smallest act of friendship can make someone feel at home.Beautifully written by Laura Henry-Allain MBE and brought to life with vibrant illustrations by Yabaewah Scott, this uplifting picture book celebrates community, compassion and the joy of making new friends.ABOUT LAURA HENRY-ALLAIN MBELaura Henry-Allain MBE is an award-winning author, educationalist and consultant, and the creator and series producer of the much-loved CBeebies series JoJo & Gran Gran—the first Black British animated preschool series to be broadcast globally.Passionate about helping every child feel seen, valued and represented in the stories they read, Laura creates joyful books that celebrate kindness, belonging, family and community.At this welcoming event, children will:✨ Enjoy an interactive storytime with Laura Henry-Allain MBE? Take part in a fun creative activity inspired by the book? Discover the inspiration behind Maya and Marley? Celebrate friendship, empathy and the importance of welcoming others? Have the opportunity to get their book signedWhether your child is already a fan of JoJo & Gran Gran or is meeting Maya and Marley for the very first time, this warm and engaging event is designed to spark imagination, kindness and a lifelong love of stories.— and every child takes home their own copy of Maya & Marley and the New Friend to treasure!Important Information:Suitable for children aged 3 - 6Event duration: approx. 45minutes (includes signing)Ticket price: £5 per child (N.B. Each child's ticket includes a SIGNED copy of the book RRP £7.99)Booking is essential — spaces are limited!The bookshop is on the first floor, accessed via a flight of stairs.Children will sit for the reading, then move to a play/craft table for activities. All materials are provided and age-appropriate.Adults may stay for the event (limited seating available) or relax with a coffee and pastry downstairs in STAPLE.If you can’t attend, please let us know so we can offer your space to another family.Photos may be taken for social media (backs of heads only). Please let us know at the start of the session if you prefer your child not to be included.? Questions? Contact: books@happyreading.uk https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/0d51d150-9254-11f1-a33a-f7150662a5aa-rimg-w1200-h371-dc98d8f8-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/0d8c1b30-9254-11f1-8d04-f59ea27d7c88-rimg-w1196-h740-dcf8d828-gmir.jpg - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/broadstairs/kids-author-event-laura-henry-allain-mbe-creator-of-jojo-and-gran-gran/100001993524248692 - **Event Categories**: art, literary-art, kids, meetups, trips-adventures - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 45 minutes - Location: Happy Reading Children's Bookshop - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 5, max: 5, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: Broadstairs - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: Happy Reading Children's Bookshop - **lat**: 51.3743726 - **long**: 1.4312459 - **full address**: Happy Reading Children's Bookshop, 30a Reading Street, Broadstairs, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Kids Author Event: Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran! - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/5485f2cd3e3e264393194abc94e39255623a8729a6e2907c54936653c2544d51-rimg-w1200-h600-dcffffff-gmir.jpg?v=1783630304 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Kids Author Event: Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran! being held? - **A:** Kids Author Event: Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran! takes place on Wed, 12 Aug, 2026 at 11:00 am to Wed, 12 Aug, 2026 at 11:45 am at Happy Reading Children's Bookshop, 30a Reading Street, Broadstairs, United Kingdom. - **Q**: Who is organizing Kids Author Event: Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran!? - **A:** Kids Author Event: Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran! is organized by Happy Reading Children's Bookshop. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Kids Author Event: Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran! is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Broadstairs, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Kids Author Event: Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran! sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Kids Author Event: Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of JoJo and Gran Gran!", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/5485f2cd3e3e264393194abc94e39255623a8729a6e2907c54936653c2544d51-rimg-w1200-h600-dcffffff-gmir.jpg?v=1783630304", "startDate": "2026-08-12", "endDate": "2026-08-12", "url": "https://allevents.in/broadstairs/kids-author-event-laura-henry-allain-mbe-creator-of-jojo-and-gran-gran/100001993524248692", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Happy Reading Children's Bookshop", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "30a Reading Street", "postalCode": "CT10 3AZ", "addressLocality": "Broadstairs", "addressRegion": "EN", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "51.3743726", "longitude": "1.4312459" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Join Laura at Happy Reading Children's Bookshop for a joyful celebration of her new picture book 'Maya & Marley and the New Friend'!", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-07", "availabilityEnds": "2026-08-12", "validFrom": "2026-09-07", "lowPrice": "5.00", "highPrice": "5.00", "price": "5.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/broadstairs/kids-author-event-laura-henry-allain-mbe-creator-of-jojo-and-gran-gran/100001993524248692" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/SoldOut", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-07", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-07", "url": "https://allevents.in/broadstairs/kids-author-event-laura-henry-allain-mbe-creator-of-jojo-and-gran-gran/100001993524248692", "price": "5.00", "name": "General Admission" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Happy Reading Childrens Bookshop", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/happy-reading-childrens-bookshop/25840163", "description": "This bookshop is the perfect combination of specialist food and drink, and BOOKS!!“Opening my own children’s bookshop is an absolute dream come true. Together with my outreach work with schools and the local community as The Kids Books Curator, the Happy Reading Children’s Bookshop represents the culmination of my ultimate goal – establishing a physical presence on the high street. This shop is more than just a place to buy books; it's a vibrant community hub where young readers can discover the joy of reading and where we can foster a lifelong love of literature in children. Our collaboration with the café and artisanal bakery STAPLE means that visitors can also enjoy a shared love of coffee, cakes, and books in a cozy and welcoming environment.” - Nicci Rosengarten, Founder, Happy Reading Children’s Bookshop, Broadstairs, Kent.Discover a dreamy Children’s bookshop filled with books to inspire and nurture young minds (and also the slightly older)!!The Happy Reading Children's Bookshop is a collaboration with STAPLE, an artisanal baker and café that uses traditional techniques and seasonal ingredients to create delicious, handmade breads and viennoiseriee pastries. STAPLE has multiple highly popular cafés across the Isle of Thanet including Broadstairs, Margate, Ramsgate and Westgate-on-Sea.Founded by a multi-award winning bookseller Nicci Rosengarten (a Moon Lane alumnus), this delightful Children's literary destination at Staple Broadstairs is on the quaint and picturesque, and aptly named, Reading Street, located in the historic village of St Peters, just in land from Botany Bay and Joss Bay. Our store is 20 minutes walk from Broadstairs Station and free parking is available both on, and at either end of Reading Street.Outreach with local schools, home educators and other children's services is a priority. In-store events happen regularly, including a free (relaxed) children's storytime on Friday mornings. Teachers receive a 10% discount on books in store with a school ID!!" } ] } ] ```