Children’s author Hilary Robinson visited Button & Bear Bookshop in Shrewsbury on 20th October 2018 to introduce her latest book Peace Lily to her audience of young people aged between 5 and 10 years.

The event was organised by SHREWSBURY BOOKFEST in collaboration with BUTTON & BEAR Bookshop.   As well as their regular programme of projects, SHREWSBURY BOOKFEST has teamed up  with children’s authors, the Imperial War Museum, the Wilfred Owen Society and local and national war experts to present a series of special events every year since 2014 to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

These events have been designed for children, young people and families to remember all those who fought in the First World War.

In keeping with Bookfest’s ethos of enthusing children and young people with a love of reading, all these events under the name of ‘Bookfest Remembers’ have had a strong literary connection.

Peace Lily is the story of a young girl who grows up in the country at the turn of the century with her friends Ray and Ben.  When, in 1914, Ray and Ben go off to the battlefields of France Lily decides to become a nurse and joins the VAD.

This charming story, beautifully illustrated by Martin Impey, pays tribute to the hundreds of women who contributed to the war effort.  After the talk and reading, Hilary signed copies of her books and talked to the children.  Bookshop manager, Louise Chadwick said it was the best event they had ever hosted!