Children's Book Festival 2023

Comhairle Chontae Mhuineachaín Monaghan County Council

Children’s Children’s Book Festival Festival 2022 2023 2022 Book

Schools

Programme Programme Introduction:

Welcome to a festival of wonder and magic, where books come alive and stories ignite the imagination! Monaghan County Library is thrilled to present Children’s Book Festival 2023, a spectacular celebration designed to ignite the love for books and reding in children’s hearts.

The Monaghan Children’s Book Festival is curated especially for our young book enthusiasts. We believe that stories have the power to transport us to extraordinary places, introduce us to fascinating characters, and spark our creativity. With that in mind, get ready for a whirlwind of literary adventures! Our festival is packed with exciting activities, interactive workshops, enchanting storytelling sessions, and the chance to meet some of your favourite authors and illustrators. From exploring magical lands to solving mysteries with clever detectives, the festival promises a world of fun and learning. Prepare to embark on a captivating journey into the realm of books….

Booking Information: If you would like to reserve spaces at our In-Person events, receive access links to our Online sessions or register for the Big Online Book Quiz please email cbf@monaghancoco.ie All School bookings are being handled centrally through Monaghan County Library HQ. The local branch libraries cannot take bookings.

All events are free to attend.

Please note: Schools may attend multiple online sessions but In-person events may be limited We look forward to seeing you at a festival event.

Nicola Pierce Location: Monaghan Town Sessions: 10am, 11:30am & 1pm

Monday 2nd October: Recommended for: 4th – 6th Class

written stories fiction novels for children. She has Nicola Pierce has written 5 historical nture but for e of Derr y and John Franklin’s Artic adve about the battle of Stalingrad, the sieg about her book ‘Spirit of the Titanic’. her visit to Monaghan she’ll be talking death whilst building his Fifteen-year-old Sam plunges to his ship the world has beloved Titanic. Now as the greatest Sam finds ever seen crosses the Atlantic Ocean, spirit roams himself on board – as a ghost. His s to the clas first of our the ship, from the glam es the shar Sam s. clas third party atmosphere of – on ren child r thei and el excitement of Jim, Isob es strik ster Disa . rica Ame in their way to a new life s sink nic Tita As erg. iceb when Titanic hits an ped trap are ily fam his and to her icy grave, Jim it reach out behind locked gates … Can Sam’s spir to save them?

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Shane Hegarty

Kate Sheehy

Wednesday 4th October Recommended for 2nd – 4th Class Location: Carrickmacros s Library Sessions: 10:00am, 11:30 am & 1pm

Thursday 5th October ts – 1st Class Suitable for Junior Infan

Thursday 5th October Recommended for 2nd – 4th Class Location: Clones Library Sessions: 10:00am, 11:30 am & 1pm

Shane Hegarty is a children ’s writer and journalist. Fo rmerly Arts Editor of The his first children’s series Irish Times, Darkmouth was nomina ted for the Waterstones Irish Book Award. His sec Pri ze and an ond series ‘Boot’ was no minated for the Sainsbury Book Awards, An Post Iris ’s Children’s h Book Awards and was selected as the Dublin UN of Literature City Wide Re ESCO City ad for 2020. Shane is joi ning us to talk about his in his most recent series lat est book ‘The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams’. It’s the Festiv in Splottpool, and Limpe al of Pirates t is looking after his evil little sister, Eve, whilst his out with the festival. Mr mum helps s Cricket has also asked the kids to mind the fai the middle of the round ry garden in about while she goes aw ay for a week - to avoid chaos. Trouble is brewin all the piratey g as they discover Mr Flu ffy ’s super-healthy sister smoothie palace, whose ha s opened a healthy fruit smoothies see m to have amazingly ma on the customers. But no gic al effects t all is as it seems with the super healthy smoothies to Limpet to save the day, an d it’s up the shop - and even his evi l little sister - if he must. throughout with fabulous Illu strated black and white illustrati ons by Jeff Crowther 4

ch Location: Monaghan Bran m Times: 10am, 11:30, 1p

Too Many Cats, upcoming picture book, the of r ato str illu d an r able tale about Kate Sheehy is the autho ing story is an un-fur-gett rm cha d an ny fun is Th r. perfect book to publishing in Septembe autifully illustrated, it’s the Be . cat r he d an l gir le the love between a litt be read aloud.

She In fact, she loves all cats.

Lily LOVES her cat, Lenny. g vin ha r eve she can’t imagine loves cats so much that of ds kin all h a house filled wit enough cats! She wants oured cats, brown and multi-col cats - blonde cats, ginger cats! of s lot d s, lots and lots an cats, stripy cats, spotty cat r purr-fect plan to make he But when she hatches the g. on wr go to s quickly start dream come true, thing s cats. Suddenly, Lily realise NY MA There are simply TOO d fin Lily Can . a terrible thing she has accidentally done to t of her house and back ou s cat a way to get all these gy? olo ry accept her ap their owners? And will Lar 5

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Thursday 5th Octo ber Suitable for Junior Infants- 2nd Class Location: Castleblay ney Library Times: 10am, 11:3 0, 1pm

Sad hbh Dev lin Friday 6th October Suitable for Junior In fants- 2nd Class Location: Clones Li brary Times: 10am. 11:3 0am & 1pm.

Is scríbhneoir, a bh fuil gradam buaite aici dá bpictiúirlea Tá an-éileamh ar na bhair, í Sadhbh De ceardlainne agus im vlin. eachtaí leabhair a fud na tíre. Ainmní chuireann sí ar fáil odh a leabhar, BE ar AG BÍDEACH le ha mór le rá, ina mea ghaidh ceithre ghra sc; Leabhar Pháistí dam Éireann: Leabhar na Réics Carló. Bhua Bliana agus Gradam igh an saothair is deireanaí uaithi, Cumann Litearthac GEANSAÍ OTTÓ Gr hta na hÉireann: Le adam abhar na Bliana (Ca Scríbhneoir Cónaith tagóir 0-5) i 2021.Is e Gaeilge 2022 le í an DCU í. Tá cónaí ui lena fear chéile ag rthi i gCo.Chill Mha us beirt iníon. Is é ntáin AMUIGH FAOIN SP uaithi le Futa Fata ÉIR an cheathrú lea . bhar Tá Rua breá sásta go bhfuil an deireadh seachtaine ann agus ar an tolg le breath gur féidir leis luí sia nú ar chartúin ar r feadh an lae. Tá M deireadh seachtaine amaí sásta go bhfu ann freisin ach tá pl il an ean iomlán éagsúl a chiallaíonn go m aici siúd don lá. Pl beidh siad fuar, fliuc ean h agus salach, dar fanacht te, tirim ag le Rua. B’fhearr lei us glan - ach an éir s féin eoidh leis?

Scéal álainn a dh éanann ceiliúradh ar an domhan ná neadaithe go teolaí dúrtha agus ar bh ar an tolg i ndiaidh eith eactra mhór amuigh faoin spéir.

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Kereen Getten Friday 6th October Suitable for 4th – 6th Class

Location: Online Time: 11:30am

she would an idyllic Caribbean childhood where Born in Jamaica, Kereen Getten enjoyed ep and guin go, man of unts and eat plentiful amo climb fruit trees in the family garden her with ces, rien expe d hoo vily from these child pear. Her children’s novels draw hea 0) (202 goes Man You s Give Life minated debut When Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-no her to ed pen hap t wha er emb Clara struggles to rem taking the form of a mystery novel as (2022) . Getten’s second novel If You Read This year ious prev during an island storm the around her hunt that Brie ’s late mother has set up revolves around a poignant treasure Di Island the es duc intro 3) (202 thouse Intruder island home, whilst The Case of the Ligh d.

- when they are not getting too distracte Crew who investigate local mysteries always about the ‘Di Island Crew’. Fayson has Kereen will be joining us online to talk gang on the cousins recruit her to their top-secret wanted to be a detective. When her Gang of All test Grea the But . to be coming true island one summer, her dreams seem by things ions miss from d acte keep getting distr Time don’t live up to their name, and of squabbling! like food, falling asleep and a fair bit track down els, Fayson takes charge and tries to Guided by her favourite mystery nov thouse. With has been appearing in the island’s ligh clues about the strange shadow that ? case the e solv to rts she use all her sma tensions stirring within the gang, can 7

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Alex Falase-Koy a&

Anna James

Thursday 12th October Suitable for Junior – 1st class

Wednesday 11th October ss Suitable for 3rd – 6th Cla

Location: Online Time: 11:30 ’ 6 book series. She gely popular ‘Pages & Co.

r of the hu Anna James is the autho ’ podcast. ng eri hosts the ‘Bookwand

also

ever since her mother grandparents’ bookshop r he ove ab d live s ha ly ily, Tilly loves nothing Eleven year-old Til Like the rest of her fam rn. bo s wa she er aft disappeared shortly stories. the pages of her favourite in the shop through more than to escape into ’s characters are appearing en ldr chi ssic cla t tha s One day Tilly realise m the page into real life. ering’ – crossing over fro the magic of ‘book wand ly is determined to d Alice in Wonderland. Til an s ble Ga en Gre of ne rs ago, so she bravely With the help of An her mother all those yea to ed en pp ha at wh of at dangers she may solve the mystery venture lies ahead and wh ad at wh of e sur un n, ow steps into the unkn face.

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Paula Bowles Location: online Time: 11:30am

Alex (author) and Paula (ill ustrator) are the creative tal ent behind the wonderful adventure books. Alex als ‘Marv’ series of o co-wrote The Breakfast club series of books with Marcus Rashford!

Marvin is an ordinary boy who loves spending time with Grandpa, reading com science experiments with ics, and making his best friend Joe. But eve rything changes when he mysterious superhero sui discovers a t hidden in the attic . . . to his amazement, Marvin lea next in a long line of superh rns that he is eroes. Now the time has com e to meet his destiny!

When the Science Fair is thrown into chaos by sup er-villain Mastermind and Marvin is the only one wh her giant robot, o can stop them. Will Marvi n be brave enough to step and into his superhero sui into his powert-to become the great and marvellous superhero Ma Alex & Paula will join us for rv? a fun, creative & interactiv e workshop so grab your pen and be ready for a SUPER cils & paper session.

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Alan Nolan

Tuesday 17th Suitable for 3rd – 6th class Location: Carrickmacross Library Times: 10am, 11:30am & 1pm

Monday 16th Suitable for 3rd – 6th class Location: Monaghan Library Times: 10am, 11:30am & 1pm

Judi Curtain Friday 13th October Suitable for 4th – 6th Cla ss

Location: Online Time: 11:30am

Judi Curtin has been cap turing the imagination of children through books 20 years now. You’ll fin for about d the librar y shelves full of books from her Alice an series, the Eva series, the d Megan Time After Time series an d most recently, the belov at Lissadell series. We ’ve ed Lily heard that Judi has a ne w series launching in Oc three young girls from rur tober about al Ireland emigrating to New York which is inspir own grandmother’s emigr ed by her ation story. Join us for thi s online session and you one of the first to hear ab could be out it from the author he rself.

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imagination Alan Nolan is a force of nature! His energy filled sessions will capture the of Fintan’s or illustrat and author the is Alan ate. particip to enough of any child lucky of Animal or illustrat the is Fifteen, Conor’s Caveman and the Sam Hannigan series, and He’ll be Webb.

Sarah by written , Animals te Crackers: Fantastic Facts About Your Favouri Zoo’.

Dead the at trouble ‘Double book joining us to chat about his latest Dublin, 1859 Bram Stoker: Boy seeking adventure (and things to write about) Molly Malone: Part-time sneak thief and full-time Dublin legend! s Natural When Bram and his best pal Molly meet a lonely boy called Sanjit in Dublin’ gang, Molly’s with along History Museum, they can see he needs some friends. So they, The Sackville Street Spooks, take him under their wing. y and his Sanjit tells them the tale of the dread (and very dead) pirate, Captain Lampre ds and vagabon ng outwitti lves links to the Museum. Soon the new shipmates find themse Ruby!

Rajapur the … treasure t villains, hot on the trail of a mysterious long-los to be!

But little do they know that not everyone they come across is who they claim 11

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Katie Cottle

Wed 18th October: Suitable for: Junior to 3rd Class

Location: Castleblayney Library Times: 10:45, 12pm & 1:20pm

Gerr y Daly is a seasoned children’s auth or and illustrator. His previous books inclu best-selling Where Are You, Puffling?, Puffling and the Egg, Wee Donkey’s Trea de the sure Hunt written by Erika McGann and shortliste d for a prestigious LAI Award, and an Irish language edition of ‘Puffling’ - Cá Bhfuil Puifín Beag?, translated by Muireann Ní Chío bháin. His newest picture book is a brand-new stor y starring the beloved Puffling, called It’s Too Dark, Puffling. Written by Erika McGann and beautifully illustrated by Gerr y, it was published in September and has a great ‘don’t be afra id of the dark’ message.

A kind little puffling lives on Skellig Michael.

She loves her cosy underground bed .

But her smaller puffling friend is afra id of the dark.

Can the animals of Skellig help her show him the wonder of nighttime?

Puffling lives on Skellig Michael, and she loves her cosy underground nest.

But her little puffling friend is too afraid to sleep in his burrow – ‘I don’t like the dark. It’s too dark in the dark.’ So Puffling takes him to visit a play ful rabbit, a happy crab, a friendly blue shark, many other animals on Skellig. Each one tells the little puffling what they love mos and the dark. Can Puffling convince her little t about friend not to be afraid?

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Location: Online Time: 11:30

Thursday 19th October ss Suitable Junior – 2nd Cla

stol, UK. Katie living and working in Bri r ake k-m oo e-b tur pic d ing a mix of Katie is an illustrator an a variety of media, includ use d an g win dra r he gh enjoys telling stories throu hniques. traditional and digital tec l illustrations. nability through beautifu tai sus & ion act ate clim al communities Katie explores themes of to look after nature in loc en ldr chi es rag cou en identity are also Omar, The Bees and Me Themes around cultural . ors rid cor e be m for planting wildflowers to isie ’s friendship. w boy from Syria) and Ma ne (a ar Om gh ou thr ed explor ant and timely ne ’s book Prize is a poign sto ter Wa 1 202 the for d management and The Blue Giant, shortliste issues of pollution, waste the to en ldr chi s uce a better, cleaner picture book that introd to help the world become s nge cha le sty life of ns the oceans, with suggestio place.

erges from the seaside. Until a creature em the at ak bre a ing joy en ocean and save Meera and her mum are g plea to help clean up the rin stir a s ha It nt. gia e waves. It’s a giant. A blu menace of plastic waste. the sea creatures from the it alone... can they? to help. But they can’t do ee agr m mu r he d an Meera 13

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wn & Rebecca Ashdo

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Location: Online Time: 11:30

Friday 20th October d Class* Suitable for Junior to 2n

rd to ensure children ies have been working ha rar Lib ty un Co an gh na ne else. So, when we You may know that Mo reading as much as everyo d an s rie sto joy en to le lude it in our book with Dyslexia are ab ots’ we knew we had to inc Bo r de un ‘Th ry sto l rfu r Rebecca Ashdown came across the colou r Naomi Jones & Illustrato tho au me lco we to ted itten this book based festival. We are deligh dyslexic herself and has wr is i om Na n. sio ses e lin for an interactive on in school. on her own experiences r and colours at the ready!

Draw-along so have pape Rebecca will be hosting a t ‘Thunderboots’: Here’s a little more abou st and the building’s Tower, but also the loude ose mr Pri in n rso pe st When it’s time for Trixie is the smalle kname: THUNDERBOOTS. nic ate ion ect aff an r he trate in class, though. residents have given etimes it’s hard to concen Som d. ite exc y ver is she l, erpowered plan. An Trixie to start schoo what Trixie needs is a sup ybe Ma s. ter let d rea to ryone ’s differences.

And it’s really hard dyslexia that celebrates eve h wit l oo sch g rtin sta t ou empowering story ab welcome too to learn ups but older classes are gro age r nge you at ed *Thunderboots is aim about Dyslexia.

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Quiz Register now

for a chance to win a €250 book voucher to update your classroom library.

Work together as a classroom to choose the correct answer from a multiple choice selection – but be quick because bonus points are awarded for fastest finger first!.

To register a team and receive the code to join in online at myquiz.org simply email: cbf@monaghancoco.ie

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Comhairle Chontae Mhuineachaín Monaghan County Council