Winnie the Pooh celebrated his 75th birthday last weekend and now comes news of Peter Rabbit's centenary celebrations. Beatrix Potter began writing and illustrating the 23 original books in 1902 and publisher Frederick Warne is planning to mark next year's anniversary with a new collection of the set. The most exciting aspect of the venture is that it will include pictures never used before - or used only in the first few years. The one we're looking forward to most is Mrs McGregor serving up Mr Rabbit in a pie.
Since it kicked off on Tuesday, the Children's Book Festival has been going hammer and tongs. Pauline Bewick, Siobhan Parkinson, Eoin Colfer, Marie Louise Fitzpatrick, Mary Arrigan and Patrick Deeley are just some of the writers and illustrators reading and giving workshops in libraries, bookshops and schools around the country.
Inevitably, Hallowe'en features more as the festival draws to its close on October 31st. Should you be in Mallow at 3.30 p.m. next Friday, Therese Jenellen will be helping small folk learn creepy crafts. Details of the other events from 01-8725854 or e-mail: childrensbooksire@eircom.net
The book fest's recommended reading guide is also out: it features more than 60 pages listing books in categories such as poetry and information, plus titles for every age group from zero to twelve plus. Most usefully, it includes a list of Irish children's books published this year.
Taking place almost simultaneously is Spellbound, the children's literary festival, organised by Alternative Entertainments and the County Library Tallaght. Continuing until Friday, events are taking place in libraries throughout south Co Dublin. Among those participating are Rita Ann Higgins, Michael Mullen, Don Conroy and Lucinda Jacob. Details from 01-4621029 and 01-4520611.
What kind of breed are they, the brave souls who write for both adults and children - and can it be done successfully? This is a topic that's being tossed around today at the Children's Books Ireland conference in the Church of Ireland College of Education in Rathmines, Dublin. Out of the Doll's House is the apt title for the day's proceedings, to be addressed by speakers Pat Boran, Carlo GΘbler, Gordon Snell and David O'Doherty.
Writers come and writers go - among those here for the Children's Book Festival was Philip Ardagh, whose absurdist style has been described as a cross between Charles Dickens and Monty Python.
Next month, it's the turn of Whitbread winner Jamila Gavin, who won with Coram Boy, which is now shortlisted in the Blue Peter Book Awards category: The Book I Couldn't Put Down. The winner will be announced in December.
Beverley Naidoo, who won the Carnegie Medal with The Other Side of Truth, will also be in Dublin next month for a conference entitled: Changing Places - Multicultural Issues, Children and Books. It takes place on November 24th at the Irish Writers' Centre in Parnell Square. Michael O'Brien, president of the International Board on Books for Young People, Ireland, is among the speakers.