Children’s Book Festival

This annual event is intended to get kids involved in, and enjoying, reading and there are activities and events for all ages, from tiny tots to teens. It is not specific to any location and activities will be running in libraries, schools and arts centres all over the country throughout the month of October.

Events range from readings by popular authors, to writing and illustration workshops, plus storytelling, quizzes and competitions.

Authors appeaing at libraries across Ireland include festival favourites such as Mary Arrigan (Esty’s Gold),  Aubrey Flegg (Katie’s War, Wings over Delft), Celine Kiernan (The Moorehawke Trilogy) and Maeve Friel (Tiger Lily). They will be joined by a raft of newly published talents, including Nita Fitzgerald (It’s Great Being Little), Paula Leyden (The Butterfly Heart) and Fionnuala MacCurtain (The Story of Thomas MacCurtain).

The Fanzini Brother’s Comedy Circus Show will tour various venues and the National Print Museum workshops will introduce young readers to the craft aspect of books.

During this year’s festival, CBI will be asking children, parents, teachers, booksellers and librarians to nominate an Irish author or illustrator who they think deserves the title of Ireland’s second Laureate na nÓg.

There does not seem to be any central programme available, so the best way to find out what’s going on is to call into a local library in any town you happen to be visiting – they’ll be happy to sort you out with details of what’s on in the area.