Fans of Jacqueline Wilson's books for older readers will love the wonderfully warm characters in Cathy Cassidy's instantly popular Dizzy and Indigo Blue. This 2005 event is suitable for 11-13 year olds.

Cathy Cassidy is back with an all-new lovable heroine whose family are a complete embarrassment - her mum is a drama queen while her dad thinks he's Elvis! Hear about the quirky characters and silly misadventures of Sundae Girl in this hugely enjoyable 2007 event for children aged 10-14.

One of the most popular poets on the planet and former US Poet Laureate in his first visit to the Book Festival in 2006. Billy Collins speaks without pretension and with perfect perception about the revelatory detail of our daily lives.

Richard Dawkins, one of the world's greatest living scientists, talks to Muriel Gray in this 2005 event about his extraordinary investigations of evolution and his passion for the wonders it contains and reveals.

A rare and long-awaited visit to the Book Festival in 2007 by one of America's greatest writers. Richard Ford's Independence Day is the only book ever to have won both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Here he discusses his magnificent follow-up, The Lay of The Land.

Professor Dylan Wiliam of University College, London is a leading education expert and champion of Formative Assessment. In this event from 2007, he talks candidly about helping children reach their goals without teaching to tests.

A unique opportunity to hear one of the most successful and best-loved writing and illustrating partnerships, Michael Foreman and Michael Morpurgo, in conversation in this 2006 event. Between them they have worked on over 250 books for children and remain firm favourites of Book Festival audiences. Suitable for families and age 8 upwards.