2012 was a great year for children’s books in Ireland and World Book Day would like to highlight some of the other events and organisations working to promote books and reading for young people.
Irish Book Awards
The Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards took place in the RDS and were hosted by RTE’s Claire Byrne. Over 50 Irish authors gathered with 350 guests to celebrate the best of Irish literature published in the last year. Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year: Junior was won by Oliver Jeffers for This Moose Belongs to Me and the senior category was won by Eoin Colfer for Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian. For more information click here.
Dublin UNESCO City of Literature
Dublin was designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2010, one of only six in the world. This sought after accolade recognises Dublin’s cultural profile and its international standing as a city of literary excellence.
In 2013, a city-wide children’s reading promotion, in conjunction with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, Dublin City Public Libraries and Little Island publishers takes place from mid-January to mid-March. We are asking children all over Dublin to join Annie Graves’ Nightmare Club by reading the short scary stories in the Nightmare Club series. The titles in the series are Help! My Brother’s a Zombie, Mirrored, A Dog’s Breakfast, Guinea Pig Killer, Frankenkids and The Wolfling’s Bite. The books are short, fun, brilliantly illustrated and do not have to be read in any order. There will be author visits to Dublin City Public Libraries as well as city-centre events. Look out for The Ghost Bus in city centre locations. For more information about Annie Graves check www.thenightmareclub.com for lots of fun activities where you can download activity sheets, send an e-card, write your own scary story or send in some of your own artwork.
Children’s Books Ireland
CBI is the national children’s books organisation of Ireland and their many annual events include: The CBI Book of the Year Awards, The CBI Conference, Inis magazine, the Children’s Book Festival and the Recommended Reading Guide. For more information about the festival and their other events
click here to have a look at the site.
