Trish Hennessy and Sarah Webb winners at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2023
What great excitement to hear that Sarah Webb and Lucinda Jacobs scooped the award for Childrens Book of the Year with ‘I am the Wind: Irish Poems for Children Everywhere’ at this year Irish Book awards . It is well deserved as they have put together a brilliant collection of poems which is beautifully illustrated by Ashwin Chacko, that will appeal to everyone. It is also nominated for the overall ‘An Post Book of the Year Award’ too which will be announced on 6th December 2023.
Trish Hennessy’s children’s bookshop ‘Halfway Up The Stairs’ in Greystones won the Irish Bookshop of the Year award. It is one of my favourite places and a paradise for kids and young readers and parents trying to find the perfect book. Trish and her amazing team are and totally dedicated to bringing good books and young readers together.
The news that author Paul Lynch won the Booker Prize in London last night for ‘Prophet Song’ is just fantastic for Irish writing. His thought provoking novel set in an Ireland under tyranny is an engrossing read. I met Paul years ago at Listowel Writer’s festival when his novel ‘Grace’ won the Kerry Fiction Award in 2018 and it is great to see him go on to win this huge international book award.
Marita with ‘The Rock’ School Mount Mellick Library
What a busy few weeks, as I have been all around the country visiting libraries and meeting lots of brilliant young readers! Libraries are one of my favourite places as I spent so much time when I was a kid in my local library and school library. I used to think that I might be a librarian… Even now I just love walking into a library and getting the feel of having so many beautiful books all around you. I still use libraries a lot to research and borrow books.
It was great to see so many classes are reading my new book ‘Fairy Hill’ and loving it! It was such a special book to write and I am so pleased that you all are enjoying Anna’s big adventure as she tries to protect her litle brother Jack.
I had great fun in Portlaoise and Mount Mellick, and in Dublin’s Pearse Street Library at the Special ‘Dublin Festival of History’ where I got to meet their amazing ‘History Book Club’ and also the ‘Bookworms Book Club’ and lots of amazing passionate readers.
Then down to Cork for a few days to Cork Central Library with St Finbar’s School and Bishopstown where I talked to Gael Scoil Ui Riada, then to the amazing Cobh Library which is over an archway and is one of my favourite places, with the girls from St Marys, the school up on the hill .
The next day I was off to Carrigaline Library where I met the boys from Crosshaven School. I was back on the road again this week to visit Leilxlip and meet Scoil Brid, and then on to Celbridge Library and Scoil Naomh Brid. I’ve met so many readers and signed so many books that I have hurt my hand and wrist … So sadly no book signing for me at the moment.
Gael Scoil Ui Riada in Bishopstown, Crosshaven Boys School in Carraigaline, St Finbars School in Cork City Library, The Bookworms Book Club, Pearse Street and St Mary’s School in Cobh Library .
It’s October and time for all the fun of the 2023 ‘Childrens Book Festival’. Libraries across Ireland are joining in with lots of great events and author visits that will run from now right until Halloween.
I am packing my bag and books and heading off all over the country and visiting libraries in Laois, Cork, Dublin, Tipperary, and Kildare.
Hopefully I will get to meet and talk to some brilliant young readers and librarians and teachers over the coming weeks.
I am in Portlaoise and Mountmellick Libraries this week, Pearse Street Library as part of the Dublin History Festival on Saturday, then down to Cork City, Bishopstown, Cobh and Carrigaline Libraries, then to Kildare to Leixlip and Celbridge and in Tipperary in Thurles and Nenagh just before the Halloween Break.
It’s October and time for all the fun of the 2023 Childrens Book Festival. Libraries across Ireland are joining in with lots of events and author visits that will run from now right until Halloween.
I am packing my bag and books and heading off all over the country and visiting libraries in Laois, Cork, Dublin, Tipperary, and Kildare.
Hopefully I will get to meet and talk to some brilliant young readers ,librarians and teachers over the coming weeks.
I am in Portlaoise and Mountmelick Libraries this week, Pearse Street Library as part of the Dublin History Festival on Saturday, then down to Cork City, Bishopstown, Cobh and Carrigaline Libraries, then to Kildare to Leixlip and Celbridge and in Tipperary in Thurles and Nenagh just before the Halloween Break.
I am so proud and happy to be part of this exciting new campaign to help everyone both young and old Discover Irish Childrens Books. Children’s books are a big part of the Irish Book Market with 24% of book sales… and yet we hear so little about wonderful new Irish Children’s books and their writers. Unfortunately Irish Children’s books rarely even get a mention in the Irish Weekly Best seller lists which have come to be dominated by the juggernaut of U. K and U. S kids series of books by big brand authors Why is that …
Irish writers and illustrators and book publishers are producing some incredible work, beautiful memorable books worth reading and buying but yet are finding it extremely difficult to get attention in the current market. So we need to act … if we want kids to read about other kids just like them, and stories set in Ireland or inspired by Ireland we need to do something… and do it fast
The campaign is the brain child of author and children’s book expert Sarah Webb who has an immense knowledge of the children’s book world and grew alarmed when she began to check sales of books by Irish children’s writers and illustrators and noticed the gradual decline in the market and best -selling lists, the sudden lack of events for kids at Irish festivals and the lack of coverage that Irish children’s books and writing was getting across all media. I have to admit I was sad and a bit shocked to hear that such a change had happened and been allowed to happen…
I have been writing for kids for what seems like forever and absolutely love what I do. I work with a great Irish children’s publisher and editor and a team of illustrators, designers and booksellers. It is an absolute joy and privilege to write books for kids.
My first book ‘Under the Hawthorn Tree’ was written for my own children as I absolutely wanted them to read a story with Irish kids set in Ireland about something I really care deeply about. All my children’s books have been inspired by the same core principal and the need to tell a good story. I am lucky as I have wonderful readers both in Ireland and overseas, but for many writers it has become very difficult to make their way in this changing children’s book world.
Believe it or not but over 350 people are writing and illustrating books for children here in Ireland and many others are employed publishing,designing and selling children’s books.
What can we do?
Buy or borrow a book by an Irish Childrens Writer. Tell everyone about it!
If you are a parent, a granny, an auntie, a big sister or brother or friend and going to buy a book for the kid in your life take the time to look at the Irish Children’s’ books and decide to buy one of them…
If you are a teacher or librarian, maybe pick a book by an Irish children’s writer to read with your class or use for story time or for projects. Do a display in your class or library of the new, Irish kids books that have just come out or of books by your favourite Irish author or artist. Maybe ask writers and artists living near you to visit your school. Get kids used to hearing about Irish books and writers
If there is a festival happening near you see if they are having some kids events and bring your child or grandchild along to meet and listen to some of the best Irish children’s writers ever. Getting kids reading is so important but giving kids a sense of themselves and the world around them is also vital.
If you want to know more about this campaign check out the great new Discover Irish Kids Books website. https://discoveririshkidsbooks.ie and on X:@irishkidsbooks
Instagram: @irishkidsbooks
Irish Best Sellers from Irish Bookshops Author Sarah Webb
Marita Conlon-McKenna 