Céad Míle Fáilte

A Chara,

A BIG Congratulations to Gareth McNamara,14, from Scoil Damhnait, Achill, who was the only Irish winner from over 3,000 entries in the inaugural World Book Day Short Story Competition. Best-selling Irish author, Oisin McGann, presented Gareth with the first copy of the anthology including his work, entitled ‘Why were her toes like that..?’, when he visited the school. Gareth's story is thoroughly entertaining and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
 
Click here to read Gareth's Story, 'Times Two'

We are delighted to be celebrating the 11th World Book Day in Ireland and UK on Thursday, the 6th of March 2008. Over the last ten years World Book Day has become firmly established as the biggest annual event promoting the enjoyment of books and reading.
World Book Day grows every year, as more and more partners come on board to join us in our activity. Our core activity will continue - covering schools and their attending children with Schools Packs, display material and World Book Day €1.50 Book Tokens. Remember your €1.50 token are a gift from your local Bookseller.

This year we are thrilled to be supporting St Michael’s House “Bring a book, buy a book” campaign on March 13th 2008. Their intention is to make this St Michael’s House national charity day. Today, St Michael’s House has over 160 community-based centres through out Dublin City and County providing supports and services to over 1,450 children and adults with an intellectual disability and their families.

St Michael's House downloadable bookmark.

This is a pilot, prior to official launch in 2009.They are asking volunteers to contribute second hand books from their homes and purchase donated books from their peers at a cost of €2.00 per book. Their aim is to communicate the mission of St Michael’s House within the Dublin Community and provide funds for their services, extremely worthwhile services. Log on to www.smh.ie we wish them the best of luck.

In 2008 there are ten WBD titles for Ireland, including Princess Poppy, Paddington Bear, Captain Underpants and a Where’s Wally title. There are also titles from Robert Muchamore and Neil Gaiman. For the second year Ireland’s leading Children’s book publisher O’Brien Press have produced an Irish Exclusive. A special World Book Day edition of Oisín Mc Gann’s ‘Mad Grandad’s Robot Garden’, which sees Lenny and Grandad up to more mischief and mayhem. Although there is a ‘Mad Grandad’ activity sheet in the Irish School pack, for more log on to www.obrien.ie

Quick Reads will continue to provide resources for emergent readers with 6 new titles, including titles from Josephine Cox, Chris Ryan and Gordon Ramsay. The Irish Library Council, www.librarycouncil.ie are supporting Quick Reads. They are holding their annual ‘READDISCOVER/Library Ireland Week, which is a week long period of reading events in libraries around the country from 3rd – 9th March. Contact your local library for details of events in your area. Don't forget to log on to www.nala.ie for further information.

As always CLÉ, The Irish Publishers Association are a sponsor of World Book Day in Ireland. I wish to apologise to them, as their contact details where listed incorrectly in the Irish School Pack. They are, 25 Denzille Lane, Dublin 2, Tel: 01 6394868, www.publishingireland.com

The third annual ‘Irish Book Awards’, www.irishbookawards.ie take place on April the 24th in Dublin’s Mansion House, Round Room. The short list is being announced on the 5th of March to coincide with World Book Day. They were a great success last year and we look forward to hearing this years winners.

Last year saw a number of pre-schools registering for the first time. If you run a pre-school and wish to sign up this year, please email your details to my address below or fax them to 01 – 6213285. Remember to include your full postal address and the number of children you require tokens for.
Help us celebrate World Book Day and continue the work of the last decade that has seen World Book Day promote reading in Ireland, celebrating books and opening up the benefits of reading for everyone. Send us details of the events you are organising.

For a full list of all events taking place please visit the events section. You can refine your search by Region for all events taking place in Ireland.

Please address any press or media queries to Maeve Kelly at maeve@grapevinecommunications.ie

Happy World Book Day,
Aideen
WBD Co-coordinator 2008
 info@abtree.ie Tel: 01-6213030