Book event set to be a classic.

Byline: By Amanda Crook

Tyneside's new centre for children's books is celebrating the bicentenary of Hans Christian Andersen's birth with a fairytale festival.

Anderson's fairy tales have been popular since the mid-1830s, becoming some of the best-loved children's stories around the world.

Seven Stories is to host series of events featuring the author's work later this month.

The Chronicle celebrated the opening of the pounds 6.5m centre in the Ouseburn Valley by launching our Great Family Read campaign to promote reading and writing in the region.

Carey Fluker-Hunt, education manager said: "Stories are all around us and part of us, and so many of us enjoy them ( whether it's EastEnders or the tale of what happened at work today!

"Hans Christian Andersen was an amazing storyteller, and people travelled miles to hear his stories. In fact, his stories were loved so much that they lived on after him.

"Although he was born 200 years ago, children today still know and love characters such as the Ugly Duckling and the Little Mermaid, and his work has inspired many of our greatest writers and illustrators.

"At Seven Stories, we want to join our visitors in celebrating his tales ( and the power of stories to bring us all together and brighten up our lives."

On November 12 Yvonne Gilbert will talk to youngsters aged seven to 11 about illustrating Andersen's The Wild Swans and there's a chance to have a go at illustrating another of his tales.

Sessions take place at 11am and 2pm and Yvonne will also be signing copies of the book in the bookshop.

Children aged four and above can enjoy a selection of beguiling and enchanting animation shorts from the outstanding animators Baden Wurtemberg Film Akademie on November 19 from 11am to 5pm.

Its award-winning wordless films, which will be screened in the Artists' Attic, explore familiar Andersen themes of love, loss and friendship. They are being shown in association with Northern Lights Film Festival.

Nicholas Tucker, one of Britain's leading experts on children's literature and author of The Child and the Book, will present a lecture exploring how and why unhappy endings are significant in children's literature on November 21 at 6pm.

Tickets for the event, which is jointly organised by Seven Stories and the Newcastle University Children's Literature Unit, will cost pounds 5 and the charge includes a private view of the galleries.

The festival will finish with a storytelling, live music and magical extravaganza including performances of The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Tinder Box for children aged six and over.

Performances, by State of Play & Theatre Mee Mee, will be on at Saturday at 11am, noon, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. There will also be performances on Sunday at noon, 2pm and 3pm.

Celebrations of Anderson's work will take place across the world over the next few months ending in an open-air rock concert in his homeland of Denmark.

For more information contact Seven Stories on 0845 271 0777 or send an e-mail to [e-mail]