Fallen Star Stories

As I am here online while the information is coming in, that me offer my huge congratulations to the (kids) winners of the BGEIrish Book Awards 2017...seriously, just announced NOW, straight from the Clayton Hotel in Dublin. I am so incredibly pleased to announce that the BGEIrish Book Award/Dept51@Eason Teen/Young Adult Book of the Year has gone to Tangleweed and Brine, written by Deirdre Sullivan, illustrated by Karen Vaughan. And fantastically warm congratulations go to Judi Curtin on winning the National Book Tokens Childrens Book of the Year (Senior Category) with her wonderful new middle grade novel, Stand By Me. And..... Congratulations to the extraordinary Sarah Webb and illustrator Steve McCarthy for winning the National Book Tokens Childrens Book of the Year (Junior Category) with A Sailor Went To Sea, Sea, Sea: Favourite Rhymes From An Irish Childhood. Journey on over to the website to find out about all the other category winners...and congrats to all! https:/...

For the last few years, I have been absolutely delighted to be part of the Bookelves ; a collective of childrens booksellers who gather this time of year on Facebook and Twitter to recommend the very best childrens books for kids of all ages. There is a vast amount of expertise available to you when you are looking for help in finding exactly the right book.We all know you have questions, so we are all available to answer and to make personal recommendations. And the Bookelves are back! The Snowbeast by Chris Judge We will be kicking this Friday, 1st December from 9:30pm-11:30pm (yes, Ireland...during the Late Late Toy Show). This is our seasonal Late Late Toy Show Bookelves Bonanza ! We will be online recommending and chatting away about books. And YOU, wherever you are in the world, are invited to jump in. (Just remember to check the time difference where you are so you don't miss us LIVE!) If you are on Facebook, head over to our page Bookelves17 ( https://www.faceboo...

If you've been following this blog for a number of years, you will already be well aware of how excited I get over Jolabokaflod. This year, it has become ever more apparent that the publishing industry worldwide is embracing this marvelous Icelandic tradition. Worldwide, people are talking about Jolabokaflod. You see, every year in mid-November during the Reykjavik Book Fair, every household in Iceland receives the 'Book Bulletin'. The catalogue is used to plan and to order books for friends and family as Christmas gifts. During the festive season, gifts (the books, of course!) are opened on December 24th. Everyone then snuggles down (for a long winters nap?) and reads the books they have been given, while enjoying a cup of hot chocolate, or perhaps the (alcohol-free, as it turns out) ale called 'jólabland'. What a completely wonderful, warming idea! Peace, quiet and the joy of books....can't think of anything better. How did this book-loving celebration beg...

The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals longlist are out now! While both are very extensive, if you are looking for a 'what should I read' list, you couldn't do any better. It is so pleasing to see so many of my author/illustrator friends on this list, and the Irish contingent is well represented. On the CILIP Carnegie, we have such wonderful reads as Emma Carroll's 'Letters From The Lighthouse', Peter Bunzl with 'Cogheart', Maz Evans' Who Let The Gods Out', 'Goldenhand' and 'Frogkisser' by Garth Nix, Brian Conaghan and Sarah Crossan with 'We Come Apart'....the list is extensive, as I said. I do have one niggling concern about the CILIP Carnegie List. It has seemed, in recent years, rather YA heavy and I wonder if they should  distinguish the YA from the MG into a separate award? (Causing chaos everywhere I go!) For the Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration, it was fabulous to see Levi Pinfold nominated twice for ...

A quick announcement and more fantastic news for childrens books in Galway! From November 15 through 18, Claddagh National School, supported by Creative Ireland and in partnership with local libraries and bookshops are bringing the first ever festival solely devoted to childrens' books to Galway. There will be visiting authors, illustrators and storytellers at Claddagh National School and at various venues around the city. While there are a number of events taking place for the students of Claddagh National School, there are equally a lot of events for the public, so get your diary out and start planning NOW! You will want to be involved! First, watch out Galway City! There will be a Poetry Flash Mob of children coming to the streets! The schedule of events is available on line, but I am delighted and proud to announce that at Charlie Byrnes Bookshop, on Friday the 17th at 4pm, Marguerite Tonery will be presenting  and answering questions about her books from the Kapheus serie...

I can't believe it's November! This year is rolling by a rapid pace and here we are...in our winter months. But there is no need to despair the weather change and the darkening days. Much is happening in the world of childrens books (and we all know what season is galloping up on us.) If you have been following this blog for some time, you know that November is Picture Book Month...a celebration of picture books and their importance in the lives of children everywhere. If you go to the Picture Book Month site, you will find a new entry every day by a picture book champion! Authors, storytellers, librarians and teachers (to name a few) offer their words of wisdom on "Why Picture Books Are Important." Each one brings a different slant on the vital art form of picture books and how they are viewed; why children should have constant access to picture books; and some activities to bring their magic into every childs' life. So why do I think picture books are import...