Fallen Star Stories

Two weeks ago, there was much excitement as the "new Harry Potter book" emerged on the scene. The expectation was enormous and, of course, the critics were there ready, willing and able to find fault and dash hopes of all Potterites everywhere. But I have to say, in my eyes this story did not disappoint. Here are a few factors to consider while reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. It's a play script. No, it hasn't been put into 'book form'. It's not a novel of the play. JK did not go back on her promise to not write another Harry Potter story...it's the script of the play which opened in London on the same night. So, we do not get the paragraphs of description setting the scene, the long explanations of events in the wizarding world which have led us to this place or the involved character descriptions. Why would we? We already know this world. A lot of us have grown up with it. So as such, we should already be prepared to suspend our disbelie...

August can bring that slightly rushed feeling....the summer (or, here in Ireland, what passes for it) is almost at its' end and soon we will return to life as usual. We want to get those last few days in and make them count. Whether or not you are away somewhere, enjoying a sun holiday or at home battling the heat or rain or wondering what happened to the time, picture books can bring in those last few moments of the season for everyone in the house. Here's a few that I recommend to extend that vacation feeling: Captain Jack and the Pirates by Peter Bently; illustrations by Helen Oxenbury (9780723269298) Two young boys at the beach are whisked away (by the power of their own imagination) on a wonderful pirate adventure. With wonderful rhyming text and Oxenburys' classic-style illustrations, this will delight. The Cloudspotter by Tom McLaughlin (9781408854976) There isn't a cloud that Franklin can't spot; big ones, small ones, fluffy light, silly ones....But w...

So, here we are in August. I don't know about you, but for me summer has really flown by. In another months time, we will all be settling into 'life as normal'....kids back to school, holidays simply a memory, preparing for the winter months and...no...I won't say it. But, we still have August. It is a strange month. Too hot in some places, too cold in others, blazing sunshine or pouring rain...the weather does what the weather does. Regardless, it is the perfect time for reading. So many sources have been handing out summer reads suggestions, so I thought I'd jump on that band wagon as well. But, I also want to write a bit about why summer reading is so important for  everyone, but especially for children and young people. When we consider the importance of reading, we all too frequently think of it in terms of educational purposes. We need to be able to read to get along well in school and to retrieve information; in short, to learn.  This is putting the cart ...

It was with great sadness, and a good bit of shock that, yesterday, we in the childrens' book community learned of the passing of Robert Dunbar. You see, Robert was one of those people that you would assume would always be there, challenging us, entertaining us, making us think. He was our colleague, our mentor and our friend. Robert Dunbar was a giant among the childrens book people in Ireland. He reviewed childrens' books for the Irish Times for over 27 years. He was a founder of the Childrens Literature Association of Ireland, which blended with the Irish Childrens Book Trust to emerge as Childrens Books Ireland. Editor of two anthologies on childrens' literature in Ireland, lecturer, editor of Inis Magazine, radio commentator, CBI Book of the Year Awards (formerly the Bisto) judge; Roberts' energy and enthusiasm was enough to make you exhausted. For many of us here, he simply WAS childrens' books in Ireland. As such, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award f...

My most heartfelt congratulations goes out to Judith Kerr, who was today awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the reading charity BookTrust in a ceremony, fittingly at the London Zoo. Born in 1923, as a child, Judith Kerr escaped from Nazi Germany, finally arriving in the UK as a refugee. Kerr has remained there ever since. She went on to write over 30 books for children, including her most famous, the highly successful The Tiger Who Came To Tea; not to mention the wonderful Mog series of picture books which now stands at 18 books, When Hitler Stole the Pink Rabbit, One Night in the Zoo, and just last year, Mr. Cleghorns' Seal.  Kerr was awarded an OBE in 2012 for her "services to childrens' literature and Holocaust education. Her books have sold over 9 million worldwide and have been translated into 25 different languages. At 93 years of age, Kerr is still going strong! Her imagination and child-like enthusiasm, as well as her gifts for writing an...

Before any more time runs away with me, I just wanted share a few photos with you from the launch of Gold by Geraldine Mills. Last Thursday, 30th June was the evening and we had a full house for, what turned out to be the best party I'd been to in a long time. We heard from Síobhan Parkinson, editor, owner, minder of Little Island (the ONLY publishing house in Ireland dedicated solely to childrens' books), Alan McMonagle (poet, writer) who introduced Gold with insights as to why Gold is incredible for both children and adults and, of course, Geraldine, who read a passage from the story the took us all out of the dark, cold, ash-covered life of twins Starn and Esper and into the clouds on their flight for freedom. There awe, laughter and....cupcakes! (Thank you, cupcake maker....whoever you are!) And finally, something happened that I had never seen happen before at a book launch...we sold out. How could this happen? We had loads! Well, I think it is testament to what is a trul...

It is with the utmost excitement that I announce that tonight, yes tonight, at Dubray Galway we are hosting the launch of a fabulous new book by Geraldine Mills, Gold. This is the Galway poets first venture into the world of childrens' literature and I have to say, she got it exactly right. An utterly amazing dystopian novel for young people (10 years +, I'd say) that takes us on a journey with twins Starn and Esper as they venture across the skies and sea, following a treasure map that could lead them to a better world. It is an adventure story that hearkens back to such classics as Treasure Island and the Swiss Family Robinson. Beautifully written, with a clear love of language and a firm grasp on world-building, Gold is simply wonderful. The look and feel of the book is engaging and elegant. This is one you will want to read, whether you are a child or an adult. The full review of Gold is on the Irish Books, Authors and Publishers page of this blog, but I must say again: ...