We very much support the forthcoming National Year of Reading 2026 to engage new audiences in reading, encourage reading for pleasure and change the nation’s reading culture for good.

We have already have nearly twenty years experience of supporting events for children’s authors in local schools and local libraries and for adult readers through our own Festivals and events.

This autumn for example, between three and four thousand children will attend events that we are supporting.

Authors featured include Kate Mosse, Simon Philip, Tom Mitchell, Megan Hopkins, Justyn Edwards, Rob Biddulph, Peter Bentley and Adam Baron.

Schools who need our pop up bookshop to support their author visits can get details on our School Events page on this website

We are supporting a visit by David Walliams to Portsmouth on May 23rd when he will meet over 1300 pupils from Portsmouth City Schools. The sold out event has been organised by Portsmouth School Library Service for their subscribing schools.

After his talk, David will sign books ordered by members of the audience.

Onced again, we are running the bookshop and author signings in Literary Corner at Goodwoof 2025 held over the weekend May 17/18th and will be hosting a number of very well known authors and illustrators.

Cressida Cowell, author-illustrator of the 8-million-copy-selling How to Train Your Dragon series, will launch her new series in Portsmouth on September 12^th.

Her new magical adventure series starts with Which Way To Anywhere which features K2 O’Hero and his twin sister Izzabird who have been sworn to keep their family’s magical history a secret. Not even their infuriating stepsiblings, Theo and Mabel, know Magic exists. But K2 has a secret gift. He draws maps of fantasy worlds that are beyond the wildest of imaginations.

The Hayling Island Bookshop, will hold a series of events in the city that day. The evening event is open to members of the public across the region.

In the daytime, in conjunction with Portsmouth School Library Service, the Hayling Island Bookshop will hold two events – one in the north of the city and one in the south of the city. Participating schools are sending pupils to these venues by arrangement with the School Library Service.

In the evening, there is a family event starting at 5pm in the David Russell Theatre, within Portsmouth Grammar School, Old Portsmouth. This is bookable by families across the Solent area as well as by pupils from the Grammar School. Cressida will introduce her brand new book, talk about her inspiration and give writing and drawing tips to the children. Tickets cost £12.99 and include a copy of the new book signed by Cressida.

Marie Telford Owner of The Hayling Island Bookshop says “We are delighted to be able to host these  launch events with Cressida. We’ve worked with her on a number of occasions and her events are energetic and inspiring and have been described as unmissable!”

To book tickets for the early evening family event, call The Hayling Island Bookshop on 02392 466 620.

Our Christmas book catalogue is now available to browse on line. You can visit us or order by telephone, email or though our website as shown below. If required, we will deliver free, to your doorstep in the local area. We can also arrange shipment of books, DVD’s and CD’s direct from our wholesaler to your friends and family anywhere in the UK – this can include a brief personal message from you. Click on this link to view our catalogue https://b2l.bz/Kok6TA

Please note that in addition to books, DVD’s and CD’s, we have a range of jigsaw puzzles and family games that you can order and have delivered locally as well as National Book Tokens or our own Book Tokens.

Ordering is easy, payment by card over the phone.

Telephone: 02392 466 620

Email: enquiries@haylingislandbookshop.co.uk

Our website “Order” page: www.haylingislandbookshop.co.uk

Thank you, Marie and Colin

We have been working all through the last difficult eighteen months and need to take a short break to recharge our batteries!

We will be closed most days between Wednesday August 18^th and Monday August 30^th inclusive.

The days that we are open are as follows but we would suggest that you telephone first to check before visiting us.

Friday 20^th 9am to 1pm

Monday 23^rd 9am to 1pm

Friday 27^th 9am to 1pm

From Tuesday August 31st we are back to our normal business hours – 09.00 to 4pm (closed Wednesday and Sundays). Thank you for your support to us during these difficult times and we look forward to seeing you again very soon.

To celebrate Independent Bookshop Week, we are continuing our Sale of children’s books –  three for a £1 from the tables outside the store. A wide range of short reads arranged by age group.

We are also pleased to offer signed bookplates by the following fabulous authors when you purchase their books – Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson,  Cressida Cowell, Clare Balding and Michelle Robinson

You can view our free Summer Reads catalogue on line by clicking on this link https://b2l.bz/kOdrZi

We do hope you’ll order the featured books from us – free local delivery if required.

We reopen on Monday 12th April – we would like to express our gratitude to all our customers for their support, especially over the last difficult year.

We will continue to provide a safe environment for our customers to browse and shop.

Our new opening hours are 9am till 4pm, closed Wednesdays and Sundays. We will continue to accept orders seven days a week by telephone, email or through our website as shown below with free local delivery to your doorstep.

Stock Clearance Sale starts Monday 12th April to make way for new stock selected books are up to 80% off – Hardbacks £3 and Paperbacks £2

Free Booktime Magazine for book lovers – we hope you will chose to buy books featured from us rather than from the internet. Use this link to access the March/ April edition

https://indd.adobe.com/view/c8b4b163-5c9f-4955-8638-6f37be1a30c9