Family Workshops: Alex T Smith presents J. Algernon Pickle

Alex T Smith is coming to the H M Weinrebe Learning Centre at the British Library on Saturday 7 November, with two sessions running that day: one at 11:00 and another at 13:30, each lasting an hour. He's there to talk about his new book, J. Algernon Pickle in The Mystery at Odd-Doings House, which follows a beaver named J. Algernon Pickle who teams up with an unlikely duo to investigate the theft of some priceless chocolates. It's a family workshop run in collaboration with Hachette Children's Group, aimed at ages seven and over.

The session is built around the book, and it's not just a reading. You'll get to meet Smith, who writes and illustrates his own work, and he'll be talking through the secrets behind his design process. There's also a draw-a-long activity, so the kids can get stuck in and draw along with him rather than just watching.

If the name doesn't ring a bell, Smith is a multi-award-winning author and illustrator, best known as the creator of the Claude series. He's built a reputation for a bold graphic style, expressive characters, and a sharp sense of visual comedy that works as well in the drawings as it does in the writing. This is a good chance to see how he puts that together from the inside.

It's free, though you'll need to book ahead. The two sessions are at 11:00 and 13:30 on Saturday 7 November, both at the H M Weinrebe Learning Centre inside the British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB.