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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

7.45pm | New Irish Books 2021 Showcase – Books for Age 0 to 8 Years

November 17, 2021 7:45 pm
Cost: Free
Until 8:45 pm
ADULTS

WonderFest Inspires

This event is for adults 

Check out our schools and family programme for children’s events 

A live, interactive event, delivered online 

Welcome to the New Irish Books Showcase! We are delighted to introduce you to some wonderful new Irish children’s books for readers aged 0 to 8+ years. 

Join us for an evening of back-to-back presentations from the creatives behind some wonderful children’s books published in 2021. There will be a mix of books, from debut authors, to renowned illustrators. Each author/illustrator will have four minutes to tell you all about their book; the story, their publication journey, and maybe even some sneak peeks inside the pages! 

We invite parents, guardians, teachers, librarians, booksellers, aspiring writers/illustrators and all-round children’s books enthusiasts to attend this exciting event. The books showcased are suitable for readers ages 0 to 8+ years old. 

With presentations from: 

• David King (A Hug for You)

• Brian Fitzgerald (I Don’t Want to Go to School)

• Tatyana Feeney (Gairdín Mháire na mBláth)

• Emer O’Neill (The Same But Different)

• Aoife Greenham (Big Dance)

• Paddy Donnelly (The Last Seaweed Pie, Here Be Dragons, The Vanishing Lake, and Hom)

• Gerry Daly (Puffling and the Egg)

• Nicola Colton (A Dublin Christmas)

• Julian Gough (Rabbit and Bear: A Bad King is a Sad Thing)

Chaired by Sarah Webb

WonderFest would like to thank the authors and illustrators involved for volunteering their time to present their latest works for this event.

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Speakers

Books

A Hug for You

Nothing warms us up quite like a hug, but what can we do when we can't be together? This is the story of a new hug's adventure and the boy who shared it with the world. Adam King stole the hearts of the nation when he introduced us to his Virtual Hug, a heart-shaped sign he carried during the COVID-19 pandemic to help him stay connected to his teacher while he was learning from home. He also took it to his regular hospital appointments to show his doctors, nurses, and care staff that he was still giving them a hug, just in a different way. This picture book, inspired by true events, tells the story of one little boy with a big idea that came straight from the heart. The virtual hug makes its way onto mugs, postage stamps and even all the way to outer space, spreading warmth and connection to people all over the world.

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The Vanishing Lake

Something mysterious is happening at Grandad's lake. There are days the lake is beautiful, shimmering, and full. And then there are other days . . . where the lake is completely empty! Meara is constantly asking her Grandad why it happens and each time he has a more extravagant and unbelievable reason for her. Meara doesn’t believe any of his stories about mermaids, giants or narwhals, but with a little imagination she may discover the ‘real’ reason...

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Puffling and the Egg

A helpful little puffling lives on Skellig Michael. When she finds a lost egg, she must get it back to its nest. But the wind is blowing the egg down the hill! Can the animals of Skellig help her get the egg home?

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A Dublin Christmas

To Orla, Christmas means Gran, so when it looks like Gran won’t make it this year, everything feels a lot less festive. And with Christmas spirit everywhere at a low, the whole of Dublin is in darkness. But then the fairy lights on Orla’s Christmas tree come to life and take her on an enchanting adventure to the National Library, Grafton Street, Stephen’s Green and the GPO. Together, Orla and her new friends attempt to restore the meaning of Christmas and holiday cheer…

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A Bad King Is a Sad Thing. Book 5

Icebear has arrived in Rabbit and Bear’s valley, and he wants to be king. He’s big and scary, and the more kind and understanding the animals are, the meaner he becomes. Rabbit is confused: Bear has always been able to fix their problems in the past – but maybe this time he needs to ask for help from someone else. Does Wolf have the answer to the bad king’s demands – or will Rabbit and the other animals find the solution within themselves?

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The Last Seaweed Pie

The Sea-ple live in the ocean and the Tree-ple live in the jungle. When the Tree-ple start to throw their waste in the sea, the two worlds collide. Then a young Tree-ple has an idea. A heart-warming story about ocean conservation and communities working together.

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Big Dance

As Pippa watches her friends express themselves through their special dance moves, she wonders if she will ever find the dance in herself. With gentle encouragement from the others, Pippa discovers that it's all about taking the first step. A story about the freedom to be yourself and the fun of joining in.

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SAME BUT DIFFERENT

A lovely gentle tale for children about embracing your differences.

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Gairdin Mhaire Na mBlath

Bronntanas breá samhraidh is ea Gairdín Mháire na mBláth, an saothar is déanaí ó Tatyana Feeney. Scéal aoibhinn cairdis agus comhluadair! Leabhar é seo a spreagfaidh tuiscint sa léitheoir óg ar thábhacht an nádúir agus ar áilleacht na mbláthanna. Gairdín Mháire na mBláth is the latest offering from leading author-illustrator Tatyana Feeney. A delightful story of flowers and friendship, carrying within it an important environmental message – the importance to the world of bees and flowers.

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The Little Bee Charmer of Henrietta Street

When their father’s business fails, Eliza and Jonty Kane move to a tenement flat in Dublin city, number 16 Henrietta Street. From a crowded tenement to the dazzling world of the circus – can dreams really come true? A tale of bravery, adventure and bee charming!

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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
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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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