Simply Read, the sixth summer school on children's literature, will take place in the Dublin Writers' Museum, Parnell Square, Dublin on May 17th, 18th and 19th.
On Friday evening, after the official opening by Irish Times literary critic Eileen Battersby, Penguin Australia's biggest selling author, Paul Jennings, will speak about "Pleasing the reluctant reader a possible dream". The Friday forum is sponsored by The Irish Times.
There will be a series of concurrent seminars on Saturday led by Ann Carroll, Vivian French, Cormac MacRaois, Betty Ann Norton and Philip Pullman.
Kimberley Reynolds, reader in children's literature and director of the Children's Literature Research Centre at Roehampton Institute, London, will speak on "Lost boys reading and attitudes to crime, violence and relations".
Meanwhile, author Chris Lynch will talk about the reluctant writer.
After coffee and a signing session in the book shop on Sunday, there will be a debate on the motion that "This house believes that adults introduce elitism to children's books". The debate will feature David Fickling and Mary Arrigan putting the case and Richard Scrivener and Mary Arrigan arguing against the motion.
After lunch, Korky Paul, a children's book illustrator, will speak on the theme "Every picture tells a story". This will be followed by a presentation of awards to prize winners and the Betty Ann Norton theatre school's presentation of No peace for Amelia, a drama based on Siobhan Parkinson's book.
The summer school, which is organised by the Irish Children's Book Trust and the Children's Literature Association of Ireland, costs £50 for members and £60 for non members.
For information contact Valerie Coughlan, Church of Ireland College of Education, 96 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin 6.
