HAY Fever, the festival's programme for children and families, is back with a feel-good line-up to make children of all ages smile, and offer a wealth of exciting entertainment for the spring break.

The programme’s variety reaches new heights with cartooning, comedy, illustrating, model making, sleepovers, comic-making workshops, spectacular young adult fiction discussions and more. With hundreds of events and activities, children and adults alike can enjoy the summer half-term with treasured favourites like Jacqueline Wilson and Liz Pichon or discover fabulous YA stars like New York Times bestseller Sarah J Maas, over from the US to launch her new series.

There will be events to celebrate the 800 year anniversary of the Magna Carta and to mar150 years since the publication of Alice in Wonderland. Highlights for family audiences will include activity workshops like ‘Drawing Favourite Characters’ or ‘Easy Chinese Workshops’; while the fabulous Chris Riddell will be live drawing and Cressida Cowell talks How To Train Your Dragon. Michael Morpurgo is joined by actress Alison Reid, violinist Daniel Pioro and The Storyteller’s Ensemble (a quartet of strings) to interweave words and music in ‘The Mozart Question Concert’ – bringing to life this haunting tale of survival against the odds, set against the background of the Holocaust.

When Lesley is sent to Venice to interview world-renowned violinist Paulo Levi on his 50th birthday, she cannot believe her luck. She is told that she can ask him anything at all – except the Mozart question. But it is Paulo himself who decides that it is time for the truth to be told. And so follows the story of his parents who, as Jewish prisoners of war, were forced to play Mozart violin concerti for the enemy; how they watched fellow Jews being led off to their deaths and knew that they were playing for their lives. The Mozart Question explores how something so sublime as Mozart’s music can be used for evil purposes, but with such a light touch that it shirks nothing and yet is supremely suitable for family audiences.

Children can learn how to make awesome comics with Neill Cameron, the very artist who illustrated some of The Phoenix’s best-loved comics. Not to mention appearances by a spectacular line-up of well-loved authors including; Neil Gaiman, Frank Cottrell Boyce and John Boyne.

Picture book loving families can look forward to meeting their favourite illustrators; Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Winner Rob Biddulph, twice winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Emily Gravett, Chris Haughton, Ed Vere and a host of much loved characters (Peter Rabbit, Topsy and Tim and Spot to mention a few).

For older readers the #HayYA programme truly has something for everyone. Children's Laureate Malorie Blackman's YA panel includes ‘Queen of Teen’ winner James Dawson. Bestselling creator of Geek Girl, Holly Smale is back, as is spoken word artist Steven Camden.. Whether you like to immerse yourself in romantic fantasy adventure, dystopian trilogies, emotional rollercoasters or prefer a quieter, thought-provoking literary experience – you'll find it all at #HayYA.

The full festival programme is available to view at hayfestival.org.