Hull to be covered in giant kaleidoscopic toads for 30th anniversary of Philip Larkin's death

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

Giant toads to be placed around city where Larkin died in tribute to literary giant

Marking 30 years since Philip Larkin’s death and five since the original, much-loved set of toads took to the streets of Hull, a set of kaleidoscopic amphibians are about to hit the streets of Hull again.

An eight-metre inflatable Flying Toad, soaring on the skyline of the city, will perhaps be the highlight for five days in August.

A special Toads Revisited Toad Trail will also feature many of the 40 original Larkin Toads.

Some will be rehoused for public viewing at homes in Hull. Others will float in a pond.

Event highlights include a short story and poem competition for children, a new short film by a theatre company, performances of new short story compositions, an exhibition at Larkin’s former workplace and a mobile library attached to a vintage bike.

“The original Larkin with Toads project was a huge success that really captured people’s imaginations locally and gained national recognition,” says Rick Welton, the Project Director. “We are revisiting some of that magic again five years on.”

Toads highlights

Toads Revisited Exhibition in the Exhibition Hall at Larkin’s former workplace, the Brynmor Jones Library at the University of Hull. Visitors will get the first glimpse of a brand new toad - Library Toad - created by Rebecca Dennison.

Toads Redux, a new short film by the Hull-based theatre company Ensemble 52, shown at Artlink.

Sounding the Larkin Trail site-specific musical compositions inspired by - and situated at - key locations along the Larkin Trail, including a concert at Hull’s Paragon Interchange of songs that are musical reinterpretations and responses to Larkin’s work and a gig at the home of Larkin’s favourite jazz club.

Toad Tales short stories and compositions by children, narrowed down from 400 entries to 18 making up a new book, illustrated by artist Alice Beasley.

A Bike Library bringing performances and workshops to the streets via a beautiful vintage bike with a library trailer full of poetry books. The tour begins in July and will continue until September.

• Runs August 5-9 2015. Visit toadsrevisited.co.uk and thelarkintrail.co.uk for details.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.

Three museums to see literary history in:

Bodleian Library, Oxford
Four hundred years after it started, the combined library collections at the University of Oxford number more than 11 million printed items.

British Library, London
Set up in 1973, with galleries formerly in the British Museum building, the national library of the United Kingdom moved to its spectacular flagship new home at St Pancras in Central London in 1997.

Keats House, London
John Keats spent 1918 to 1920 at this Hampstead house, where the museum space has recently been overhauled to put many iconic manuscripts and artefacts on display for the first time.

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/literary-history/art532556-hull-to-be-covered-in-giant-kaleidoscopic-toads-for-30th-anniversary-of-poet-philip-larkin-death