Excitement builds for book festival

CLARE County Library has lined up a range of events as part of this year’s national Children’s Books Festival, which runs from October 1.

Marking its 20th consecutive year, this October’s festival is encouraging young people across Ireland to ‘Make Friends With Reading’.
Tom Donegan, CBF national programme officer said, “We’re delighted to be showcasing such a strong contingent of Irish authors and illustrators in October’s programme, including both new names and familiar faces. In such a challenging year, it is also incredibly positive that we are able to maintain the festival as a truly national event. It really is testimony to the creativity, talent and enthusiasm to be found around Irish children’s literature at the moment, from the artists and publishers who produce the books, to the teachers and librarians who do so much important work on the ground.”
This year will again see the return of the successful O’Brien Press Cover Design Competition, which gives budding designers the opportunity to have their artwork featured on the cover of a professionally published book. The title due for a ‘face-lift’ this time is the fittingly seasonal October Moon by Michael Scott, an Irish werewolf story first published in 1992.
Aspiring writers will also have the chance to enter a word play competition inspired by the festival poster, designed by acclaimed illustrator Kevin Waldron (Mr Peek at the Zoo, Tiny Little Fly). Further details can be found on the CBI website www.childrensbooksireland.ie
In Clare, events kicks off this Friday when world-famous author Darren Shan visits Glór Theatre in Ennis to meet with fans from the county’s schools.
An interesting line-up of authors will tour the county’s branches during October, including Bisto Book of the Year winner Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Bob Burke, whose Third Pig Detective Agency was also shortlisted for the award, and Celine Kiernan, who will bring her books in The Moorehawke Trilogy to life for teenage book lovers.
There will be countless opportunities to strike up new friendships, with books of all styles and genres in the library branches of County Clare in this year’s programme of readings, puppet theatre, art and craft workshops and many other surprise events.
Presentation of certificates of merit to all children who completed the library’s Summer Reading Challenge will also take place this autumn in Clare’s five main branches, the first to be held in Kilrush Library this Thursday evening. All participants will be treated to a magic show courtesy of magician Paul Beattie, in a performance specially designed for children that guarantees lots of audience participation.
Other events throughout the week will include songwriting workshops with Benny the Busker, Imaginational Gym Workshops, Puppets Variety Show, book readings with authors including Marie Louise Fitzpatrick, Eithne Massey, Bob Burke and Celine Kiernan, arts and craft workshops, Super Furry Animal Roadshow and puppet-making workshops.
The full programme of events is available to view on www.clarelibrary.ie.