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Celebrating Irish Children’s Books | Online School and Family Book Festival. This year we are part of the Dublin Book Festival.

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

Supported by the Arts Council of Ireland - Literature

11am | Inspiring Wonder – How to Help Children Be Creative and Happy – Joanna Fortune, Juliette Saumande and Andrew Whitson

November 21, 2021 11:00 am
Cost: €5
Until 12:00 pm
ADULTS

At WonderFest we believe that creative children are happy children. Writing stories and poems, drawing, designing and making things, they all help to build a child’s confidence. Being creative gives children the opportunity to express themselves and a recent Arts Council of Ireland survey showed that arts participation boosts children’s confidence, socio-economic well-being and academic skills. All brilliant reasons to support children’s creativity! 

But how can parents, teachers and other people in children’s lives help and inspire children to be creative? And how can creativity help children reach their full potential? 

Elaina Ryan, Director of Children’s Books Ireland, talks to three people with years of expertise in the area of children’s well-being and creativity: Joanna Fortune , Juliette Saumande and Andrew Whitson

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Speakers

Joanna Fortune

Joanna Fortune is an accredited psychotherapist. She is the author of the best-selling 15-Minute Parenting series and host of the 15-Minute Parenting podcast. She founded the Solamh Parent Child Relationship Clinic in Dublin in 2010 where she works with families on a variety of issues. In 2017 she delivered a TEDx Talk on the topic ‘Social media – the ultimate shame game?’ She is a regular media contributor and is the parenting consultant on Newstalk’s ‘Moncrieff Show’.

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Juliette Saumande

Juliette Saumande is a writer and translator of children’s books with over 40 titles to her name, published in her native French and in English. Her most recent books include My Little Album of Dublin and My Little Album of Ireland (both illustrated by Tarsila Krüse and published by The O’Brien Press). Juliette is a professional bookworm who loves using words, stories and books to help kids (re)discover and grow their creativity. She works with schools on the Creative Schools programme (run by the Arts Council and Creative Ireland), helping them to put the arts and creativity at the heart of young people’s lives. She is a Book Doctor for Children’s Books Ireland, a Patron of Reading in Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál in Dublin, a story-and-craft facilitator for family events and a creative writing teacher.

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Andrew Whitson

Andrew Whitson is a multi-award-winning artist based in Belfast. His house looks down over Belfast docks where the Titanic was built, and up at the Belfast Cavehill where an American B-17 Flying Fortress bomber once crashed during World War II. He is also the founder of the Irish-language publishing house An tSnáthaid Mhór. Andrew has illustrated over twenty books, including many award-winners. He is currently illustrating the Molly picture books written by Malachy Doyle, and the award-winning Rita picture books written by Myra Zepf. Molly and the Lighthouse, the latest Molly book, is published by Graffeg in English and Welsh, and by An tSnáthaid Mhór in Irish (Muireann agus an Teach Solais). Andrew teaches at Glenveagh School in Belfast, a school for children with severe learning difficulties, and strongly believes that all children need creativity in their lives.

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Books

My Little Album of Dublin

Name all the things you can see around Dublin's fair city! Measure yourself against the Spire on O'Connell Street, spot seals at the seaside, zoom down the slide in Stephen's Green playground, enjoy a match in Croke Park... My Little Album of Dublin takes readers on a tour of the Irish capital, giving them a chance to explore exciting places, pick up new words in English and as Gaeilge, and have lots of fun along the way!

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My Little Album of Ireland

Name all the things you can see around the Island of Ireland! Discover nature on the Wild Atlantic Way, dig for treasure at Trim Castle, pick some treats in Cork's English Market, spot the Titanic in Belfast, join in a wild Halloween parade in Galway... My Little Album of Ireland will whisk you off on a whistle-stop tour of the island of Ireland. Discover new spots, revisit old haunts, learn some words in English and as Gaeilge and enjoy the trip!

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Molly and the Lighthouse

One night, Molly realises the lighthouse isn’t working and wakes up her friend Dylan to set off to help. But will Molly and Dylan be able to get the light working again in time to save their father’s fishing boats?

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Book your crew in for some wonder… And they’ll all read happily ever after!

Connect with Wonderfest online

Wonderfest Wonderfest · 2 months ago
@WonderFestIre
Watch out for the #BookElves2022 during the @RTELateLateShow #latelatetoyshow2022
They will be recommending some great children's books during the show on social media. https://t.co/KXEM0BnlL6
View on Twitter
WonderFestIre photo
Sinéad O'Hart 🌈🌿@SJOHart
And my favourite #picturebook this year is the amazing #BeWildLittleOne by Irish author @Hopewrites and illuminated by the marvellous art of @DanielEgneus. It's a definite #IrishBooks recommendation for #BookElves2022. A perfect gift for little readers - and not-so-little ones! https://t.co/1zjERJ3FRO
2
7
Wonderfest Wonderfest · 3 months ago
@WonderFestIre
We have a full morning of online events for schools tomorrow with @DublinBookFest - we can't wait!
Drawing with @AlNolan and @whackochacko
Writing with @Erika_McGann and Debbie Thomas
Stories with @chrishaughton and @MuirNiChiobhain and @PForde123
Let the creativity flow! https://t.co/f2G9uSAR84
View on Twitter
WonderFestIre photo
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Wonderfest Wonderfest · 3 months ago
@WonderFestIre
THIS SATURDAY! 12th Nov 11am @DLR_Libraries @dlrLexIcon
Want to write or illustrate for children. This event is for you!
The latest in the #ProperBook from @KidsBooksIrel in partnership with @DublinBookFest - with some terrific speakers.
Tickets still available. https://t.co/ql3ME8cCYN
View on Twitter
WonderFestIre photo
Wonderfest@WonderFestIre
Want to write or illustrate for children? This
@KidsBooksIrel
and
@DublinBookFest
event is a must. Sat 12th Nov 11am
@DLR_Libraries
Lexicon. Supported by
@DLR_Libraries
Hear all about getting published from the experts!
RTs appreciated.
Booking: https://t.co/K2LRJyy13z https://t.co/18EwEEWG6b
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