Fallen Star Stories

Student Authors from Scoil Chatriona Senior, Renmore I always get so excited when I have the privilege of working with the local schools! Yesterday, at Dubray Books Galway Branch, it was our absolute pleasure to host a mini-launch of the wonderful book, Ruadan, Riona and the Luadog Chalice . The students from Scoil Chatriona Senior in Renmore descended on the shop at 10am to present the first launch of this book, which was written in a collaboration of students from twelve Galway schools with the assistance of the Galway City Partnership and the School Completion Programme. It is a wonderful adventure read that sees our heroes travel across the globe, visiting every port that the Volvo Ocean Race visits, beginning and ending in Galway. (And the book is available just in time for the Volvo Ocean Race Festival, which is taking place in Galway 30 June through 8 July!) A truly exciting adventure story, as was the writing of the book, according to our young authors! Congratulations to...

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making continues to go from strength to strength as it makes it's way across the published world. The 2012 Locus Award Winners were announced in the 16th of June; and this wonderful, incredible, deeply enjoyable book has taken the first place award in the Young Adult category! I'm sure, by this time, you all get the point that this has become one of my favourite books ever. Again, I will say, if you only read one book this summer, read T he Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente. Congratulations, Catherynne... and my personal heartfelt thanks for writing such an amazing story. http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/06/announcing-the-2012-locus-award-winners

Hats off to Scoil San Phroinsais (Tirellan School)/Tirellan Urban Knit , who have certainly brightened my day.... week.... month! 134 children and their families, 300 balls of wool, 3,796,520 stitches and 2086 patches have created a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Urban Knitting project that now covers the iconic sails sculpture at the top of Eyre Square!What a great thing for a school to teach... really thinking outside the box! And all (as it says on their info) "to make you smile!" I haven't stopped all day! Thank you!

Just to let everybody know... there will be a mini-launch at Dubray Books' Galway Branch on Monday, 25 June 10am for the book 'Ruadan, Riona and the Luadog Chalice' , written by the collective of children from Galway City Schools. Let's all get behind them for this marvellous event and a truly gripping read. Well done to you all!

Here we are at the end of the school year! But before Galway itself gets caught up in all the excitement of summer with it's festivals and parties, there is something you really do need to know about. The Galway City Home School Community Coordinators are a group of dedicated teachers who have the role of liaising between the home and school to promote a number of literacy initiatives in the local schools and community. The Write A Book initiative has followed on from the One Book One Galway back in November and through this has come the production of a very special work. With the students working very hard, collaborating between an twelve of area schools, the students took on the task of writing an illustrating what has turned out to be a great story! The end result has been published and we now have: RUADAN, RIONA and the LUADOG CHALICE. "A story of a long lost Chalice known as the Luadog Chalice, captures the imagination of Grandad and his grandson Ruadan. Armed with...

Big and hearty congratulations to Patrick Ness and illustrator Jim Kay!!! A Monster Calls has picked up both the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal. I couldn't be more pleased for them both. This is a truly wondrous and magnificent book that deserves all the success and accolades it has received. Well done to you both! I'm absolutely certain that the spirit of Siobhan Dowd is celebrating with you. http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2012awards/

Great news for all you Fairyland fans ( that is The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente... and if you haven't read it yet, oh, please, please do!!!) There is now a wonderful new website 'Catherynne M. Valente's Fairyland' . Here you will find all things Fairyland; Catherynne's books, the Dramatis Personae, Thoughts on Fairyland, Fairyland Quizzes.... all the essentials for fans of this wonderful, wonderful book! And once you read it, trust me, you will be a fan for life. So here's the link. Check it out for yourself! http://www.valentefairyland.com/index.php

I was just up at the International Quilt Festival at NUI Galway... fabulous, by the way... at any rate, in case you're thinking "What's this got to do with childrens' books?"... look what I found!!!!

In just about two weeks time, the Dalkey Book Festival will be under way, with an amazing line up of children's events. You can see Derek Landy (Skulduggery Pleasant),have a Beastly Bash with Chris Judge, hear some brilliant storytelling from Gordon Snell, partake in some Double Trouble with Judi Curtin... well, there's just so much, I suggest you follow this link, check it out for yourself and start booking NOW! What a great way to start of the summer holidays.... http://www.dalkeybookfestival.org/childrens-festival-events/

Just a quick shout to let you know (if you haven't found it yet), I've got a review of the wonderful historical, apocalyptic novel All Fall Down by Sally Nicholls on the What ARE You Reading page of this blog. And here's the link for the more complete review of the same book that's just gone up on The Bookbag . Thanks to Sue et al... you are always very fast! http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=All_Fall_Down_by_Sally_Nicholls

Just a quick entry to remind you of two very important Children's Literature awards that are coming up soon. First of all, (I don't think I've mentioned this one yet this year) the Branford Boase Awards shortlist is out. This award is given annually to the editor and author of an outstanding debut novel for children. The books shortlisted for this years' award are: - Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough; edited by Annie Eaton and Natalie Doherty (Bodley Head) - Being Billy by Philip Earle; edited by Shannon Park (Puffin) - Small Change for Stuart by Lissa Evans; edited by Annie Eaton and Ruth Knowles (Bodley Head) - Everybody Jam by Ali Lewis; edited by Charlie Sheppard (Andersen Press) - Sky Hawk by Gill Lewis; edited by Liz Cross (OUP) - A Beautiful Lie by Ifran Master; edited by Emma Matthewson (Bloomsbury) - My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher; edited by Fiona Kennedy (Orion) The awards will be presented on July 5th at a ceremony in L...

The first annual International Quilt Festival of Ireland is only 4 days away. The campus of NUI Galway is being transformed as we speak into a specially laid-out "Quilters Village" , redesigning classrooms, buildings and restaurants into a unique setting for this very special event. There will truly be something for the entire family! And with  the kids out of school (soon for the primary school kids), it's a brilliant way to kick the summer off. Here's part of the letter from Jim West, managing director of the event, outlining some of what will be happening on June 8 through 10th. "As you stroll around the village you will find Fat Quarter’s Chocolate Shop, the Wicked Thimble Pub, the Town Hall, our School House, the Round Robin Restaurant, a Craft Center, Celtic Tea Room a high-end restaurant called Stash. We have even commissioned a theatrical set designer to create a façade that replicates that of an old Irish village from the 1600’s...