Celebrate Dougal Day

A Roundabout approach to literacy will go on show today when "Dougal Day" comes to town, to mark the reissue of Eric "father of Emma" Thompson's seminal work, The Adventures of Dougal. It's no dog's day afternoon for our hairy hero as a range of special bookshop events take place up and down the country. In London, Blackwells on Charing Cross Road provides the focus for the day's celebrations, encouraging fans large and small to write their own Dougal story and enter competitions to win T-shirts and other prizes, and taking pounds 1 off the price of Thompson's book (pounds 5.99). The store will also be giving away the secret of how to make your very own Dougal, Blue Peter-style, from a toothpaste box, as well as the recipe for Florence's Jumping Bean Cakes - a tasty alternative to sugar lumps.

Blackwells, 100 Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0171-292 5100) 9.30am-8.30pm, today