LOOSE LEAVES:The reviews and illustrationsof young adult and preteen fiction in today's issue are a reminder of the quality and variety of books available to young people in this especially imaginative era of children's literature. If they whet your appetite for more, then perhaps you should march the family along to the Ark cultural centre for children in Temple Bar, Dublin, over the Easter holiday to sample its month-long celebration of books, Telling Tall Tiny Tales.
The event involves an exhibition, workshops, storytellers, a pop-up bookshop and a Titanic day next Saturday. Children will find out how picture books are put together and will be encouraged to tell their own tales, make their own illustrations and contribute to a collective story. Tickets cost €3 per child, with free entry for the parent or guardian who must accompany them. It lasts until Sunday, April 29th, but is closed tomorrow. See ark.ie.
World of variety at Cork book festival
The programme for the eighth annual Cork World Book Fest, which will run from next Thursday until Monday, April 23rd, has been announced. A pleasingly varied range of authors will feature, including Dermot Healy, Paul Durcan, Kathleen MacMahon, RTÉ’s Paul Cunningham, the psychologist Maureen Gaffney and writers featured in Best European Fiction 2012.
An innovative aspect of the festival is Teen Day, on April 19th, which will include the announcement of the winners of short-story and photography competitions and the publication of a graphic novel by local teenagers.
All events will be held at Cork City Central Library and Triskel Arts Centre, with a market on Grand Parade and children's events in Bishop Lucey Park on Saturday, April 21st. Events at the library are free; Triskel events can be booked at triskelartscentre.ieor on 021-4272022. For details, see corkcitylibraries.ie.
Fair for book lovers in Dublin’s fair city
For rare editions and bargains that you won’t find in larger book shops, Dublin City Book Fair, on Easter Monday at the Tara Towers Hotel, on Merrion Road, should be a distinctive browsing experience.
There will be 30 exhibitors selling out-of-print, collectable and antiquarian books on all subjects, including first editions from Patrick Kavanagh, John McGahern, Seamus Heaney and Michael Hartnett. There will also be books on history, topography and art history, as well as paperbacks for a couple of euro. The fair runs from 11am to 5pm; admission is €2 for adults and free for children.
