. . . and there was the biggest birthday cake in the whole world, with candles on the top.

There was a layer of chocolate cake, a layer of fruit cake, a layer of rainbow cake, a layer of cheesecake.

There was strawberry shortcake, ginger sponge cake, orange cake and Black Forest cake.

How will you blow out the candles?

asked Cousin Cuthbert.

That's easy, Winnie said.

Text Valerie Thomas Illustration Korky Paul

Winnie the Witch's 20th birthday celebrations will be a real highlight for children at the festival. More than two million copies of books featuring this colourful character and her cat Wibur have been sold throughout the world. Their creator, Oxford illustrator Korky Paul, will be bringing Winnie's monstrous cake to a workshop in the Hall, Christ Church on Sunday, March 25 at 4.30pm.

Earlier in the day children will be encouraged to take part in the spoon race, which is part of Oxfordshire's 1,000th anniversary. A workshop has been arranged for youngsters who would like to paint the characters from their favourite books on wooden spoons.

The spoons will be added to the many hundreds of decorated spoons already painted by Oxfordshire school children. Later in the year they will go on display at an exhibition organised by Modern Art Oxford.

The Spoon Race workshop will take place at the Music Room, Christ Church. As numbers are limited to just 25 children early booking is advised.

Three to five-year-olds can meet at the Music Room Christ Church at 11.45am on Friday, March 23, for a storytelling session with Spot the Dog.

Among the other leading names in children's literature attending the festival are Jacqueline Wilson, Anthony Horowitz, Geraldine McCaughrean and Ian Beck.