A host of events to attract young readers

An exciting programme of literary events for children will take place across the country next month. Children’s Books Ireland aims to attract young readers with writing workshops, storytelling sessions, competitions and readings from well-known authors.

Among this year's line-up are international authors such as Binette Schroeder (The Wizardling), Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants), Tom Palmer (Football Academy) and Jeremy Strong (My Brother's Famous Bottom). The writers and illustrators will share their stories and tips in a number of libraries, schools and arts centres around Ireland.

Home-grown talent includes young adult writer Louise O'Neill (Only Ever Yours), Nicola Pierce (The Spirit of the Titanic), Nigel McDowell (Tall Tales from Pitch End), Aidan Courtney (Coimicí Gael), Gerard Siggins (Rugby Warrior) and Andrew Whitson (Ó Chrann go Crann).

Reading clinics with the CBI Book Doctors will also pop up, with visits to the Irish Museum of Modern Art on October 4th, Carlow town on October 18th, and the Longford Aisling Festival on October 19th. Marie Louise Fitzpatrick, author of Hagwitch, will be appearing for a day of ghoulish fun and spooky stories at the National Gallery of Ireland on October 31st. The various events are supported by Dublin Unesco City of Literature, Arts Councils both north and south of the border and the Irish Copyright Licensing Agency.

Competitions include the popular O'Brien Press Cover Design, which gives young illustrators a chance to redesign a book cover. This year's title is Marian Broderick's The Lost Fairy. Inventive readers will be given the chance to win €1,000 worth of books for their school library by engaging with the Irish illustrator Chris Haughton's Hat Monkey.

Starting them young is also on the agenda over at Bord Gáis Energy. The company’s Little Reader programme offers a free book to children aged 0-5 and is designed to allow parents to share their love of reading with their children from an early age. As part of the initiative, Bord Gáis Energy will donate €1 for every book donated to the Irish Premature Babies Association, a charity that helps parents of pre-term children. More details can be found at bgebookclub.ie.