A humdinger week for booklovers

World Book Day is just around the corner and in Derry, the UK City of Culture, they’re celebrating with what sounds like a cracker of an event.

The Humdinger! Children’s Book Festival will feature some of the biggest and best loved names in children’s books including Julia Donaldson – creator of the Gruffalo, pictured – Roddy Doyle, Meg Rosoff, Malachy Doyle and Alex T Smith.

Kicking off on World Book Day on March 7th and running until the 9th, it's the brainchild of award-winning children's media company Dog Ears who hope to "fill the city with young bookworms and inspire a love of reading". See humdingerbookfestival.com

Meanwhile, Trinity College Dublin is clearing the stacks for its annual secondhand book sale, starting next Thursday, March 7th.

First up is an auction of rare books in the Exam Hall on at 7pm, admission €3, but on Friday admission will be free to an all day bookscale that will continue into Saturday with everything half price from 10am and a clearance auction later that day. See tcd.ie/booksale