As well as all the writers,publishers, participants and MMU staff and students who have helped to make this ambitious project possible,many other individuals have been instrumental behind-the-scenes in helping us to stage the first Manchester Children’s Book Festival.

Some of those deserving our particular thanks include:

Sherry Ashworth, Janet Bannister, Gareth Bell, Sue Berry, Alan Black, Liz Black, Suzy Boardman, Stephanie Boydell, Rob Briggs, Rachel Broady, Marion Burge, Jane Burgess, Josie Cartwright, Ameeta Chadha, Rachel Charnock, Mandy Coe, Angela Cole, Amy Crinion, Niamh Dowling, Kate Fox, Sam Gray, Lisa Holly, Professor Ann Holmes, Julie Howse, Catherine Hyde, Steve Kelly, Phil Kershaw, David Kilmartin, Guy Lancaster, Duncan Lockhart, Dr Alf Louvre, Daibhid MacCann, Anjum Malik, Helen McLynn, Catherine Oliver, Eamon O’Neill, Natalie Procter, Marnie Riches, Peter Riley, Sharon Sephton, Sara Shanab, Libby Tempest, Theresa Teng, Sue Tracey, Anne Tudor, Lisa Vincent, Deborah Walker, Adina Watt, Catherine Westwood and the International Readathon Team and Professor Sue Zlosnik.