Once Upon a Summertime is another lively cultural venture to do with children, though this time aimed for the most part at adults. Described as the Children's Literature Summer School 2001, it takes place from May 18th to 20th in the Irish Writers' Museum and Centre, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

Day one is Children's Day and will have a host of seriously talented writers for children talking about their work and the world of children's literature. Names include Margaret Mahy, New Zealand's most highly regarded writer for children, Kevin Crossley-Holland, much awarded and acclaimed for his work and a winner of a Carnegie Medal, Malorie Blackman, multiple award winner for writing on controversial issues in children's storytelling and traveller/writer Elizabeth Laird talking about stories she collected in Ethiopia.

The fun begins at 10 a.m. It costs £1 per child to get in and teachers are free. Saturday and Sunday will have the same writers and others available and talking on such as "The Power of Story in Family Life" (Margaret Mahy). Bookings for both events from Children's Books Ireland, 17 Lower Camden Street, Dublin, 2. Telephone (01) 872 5854. E-mail: childrensbooksire@eircom.net