It’s that time of year again when libraries, bookshops, schools, community and arts centres are gearing up to celebrate the Children’s Book Festival. Now in its 19th consecutive year, the national Children's Book Festival has established itself as the biggest and best celebration of children’s books and reading in Ireland.
Mayo County Library will once again be running an exciting programme for the Children’s Book Festival, with a huge range of events from puppet shows to art workshops to craft demonstrations in all of its 15 library branches. And of course there will be numerous competitions — colouring, writing, poetry, quizzes, etc.
Among the highlights of this year’s festival Castlebar library will host Pignut Productions Flea Circus. It's amazing. It's spectacular. It's astounding. It's tiny. Feats of astonishing bravery — acrobatics, trapeze, high wire, and more — are all performed by highly trained, teeny tiny fleas. This takes place during the mid-term break and booking is essential.
Acclaimed author Ré ó Laighléis will give a series of workshops on writing as Gaeilge, and also for the Gaelgóirí among you Conradh na Gaeilge, in tandem with Mayo County Library, is running a comortás leabhar na bpáistí.
The Monster Show will be appearing in Westport library while the Kids Party Club will present the interactive puppet show The Town With No Stories in Claremorris and Ballina. As is always the case authors and poets feature prominently in the Mayo library celebrations of the Children’s Book Festival. Local author Úna Leavy, author Gwyneth Uí Ghaora, and poet Paul Tubb are among those appearing countywide. Internationally acclaimed poet Terry McDonagh is hosting interactive poetry workshops in conjunction with Poetry Ireland. The library will also host exciting story teller Rab Fulton who specialises in folktales, legends, and urban myths.
Other events include talks from Mayo SPCA on pet care and from the Civil Defence on what to do in an emergency. Ballyhaunis and Kiltimagh libraries will hold “The very very long book workshop” with Chris Gibbs, and Stephen Doyle will present dramatic and interactive storytelling sessions in Ballina and Crossmolina.
Another feature that the library will host during the book festival is Mayo County Library Children’s Book Review. This is an online resource designed for schools to encourage reading. This unique site enables children to add their own reviews of books they have read, within a safe and managed environment. Library staff maintain control over content. Aimed at children aged seven to 14, Children’s Book Reviews contains a database of more than 200 titles. Children can add and edit their own reviews and read reviews by other children countywide. Features include searches by title, author, or reviewer. Log on to www.mayolibrary.ie, click on Kids Scene and follow the link.
A complete brochure of events during the festival will be available in all libraries shortly and on the internet at www.mayolibrary.ie or you can contact your local library for further information. And don’t forget all Children’s Book Festival Events are free, so be sure to make the most of them.
