Mostly Books Children's Reading Group
The Mostly Books children’s reading group is returning this month, starting on Saturday, Feb 25.

Children will be able to share some great books and have the chance to talk about them. We will all read the same book and then meet to discuss it for an hour, meeting fortnightly for three weeks on Saturdays starting at 9.15.

Children will also have a chance to read aloud from the current book (if they want to), and each session will have a theme or fun activity associated with it, with children paired into reading 'buddies' to assist with reading and activities. The idea is to make the hour a lot of fun, with a lively discussion about the book, author, cover, blurb - and how a book gets written and enjoyed.

The group will be run by Harriet, a student from Fitzharry's School who ran the last children’s book group (with the assistance of a Mostly Books member of staff). It is for anyone aged 8-11 and we will meet on the following Saturdays:

• Saturday 25 February
• Saturday 10 March
• Saturday 24 March

We will be discussing a different book at each meeting that you will be told about at the end of the previous session.

The cost for joining the bookgroup will be £7 for the three sessions, which will include refreshments.

Places will be on a first come first served basis, with a maximum of eight children in the group – so please book as soon as you can. Parents do not have to stay, but will need to come and collect their child promptly at the end of the meeting. (We will require parents to complete a permission slip.) The chosen books will be available from Mostly Books at a discount – but it is not compulsory to purchase them from the shop.

Please register your interest as soon as possible, and no later that Friday, 18 Feb. This will allow time to read and discuss the first book! Email books@mostly-books.co.uk

World Book Day event: Cressida Cowell
A rare chance to meet Cressida Cowell, author of the hilarious and intrepid 'How to Train Your Dragon' adventures, at the Kennington Village Centre on Saturday March 10 from 2pm - 4pm.

This will be a fun event for 5-11 year olds though they must be accompanied by an adult.

Entrance is free but places must be reserved at the library or by calling 01865 730763.

The Oxford Children's Book Group and The Friends of Kennington Library are holding this event to celebrate World Book Day and Mostly Books is proud to be providing all of Cressida Cowell's ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ books for sale on the day.

A Perfect Crime with Colin Dexter
Colin Dexter is the much-loved author and creator of the well-known Inspector Morse novels. We are very excited to say that he will be coming to Abingdon to talk about ‘A Perfect Crime’.

Colin Dexter has created an iconic character in his Inspector Morse, whose lasting impression on Oxford and its reputation has led to the bar in the Randolph being named ‘The Morse Bar’ and guides published to help thousands of tourists to discover and visit places from the books.

A highly acclaimed writer, Colin Dexter has been the recipient of many awards for his work, including the Crime Writer’s Association Gold and Silver Dagger awards, and a special Cartier Diamond Dagger award for outstanding services to crime literature in 1997, and in 2000 Colin was awarded an OBE for services to literature.

His inspector Morse novels are the epitome of great crime fiction and the popular TV adaptations have made Morse a well-known household name.

The event takes place at St Helen and St Katherine School on Tuesday March 20 at 7pm. Tickets are £8 and includes a glass of wine. We expect interest to be strong in this event, so please book early. Reserve a ticket by emailing books@mostly-books.co.uk or calling 01235 525880.

The Man Who Rained with Ali Shaw
Oxford-based author Ali Shaw will be joining Abingdon Writers for an evening discussing his second novel ‘The Man Who Rained’. His first, ‘The Girl with Glass Feet’, was one of 2010's most critically acclaimed debuts, being shortlisted for the Costa First Book Award and winning the Desmond Elliot Prize.

The evening is presented by Abingdon Writers, a fun, social group of local writers who will also be sharing their own experiences and writing successes.

The event takes place at 7.30pm on Thursday March 29 at Abingdon Library. Tickets are £4 and available from Mostly Books or from Abingdon Library.