Blogs

The news just out is that Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series of children's science fantasy books is destined for the big screen after Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein announced that he is teaming up with Walt Disney Studios for a big screen take on the series! The venture will mark the renewal of the partnership between Weinstein and Disney after a bitter falling out in 2005, and is great news for Eoin Colfer and great news for all the young fans of the wonderful Artemis series. As Weinstein is quoted as saying, "this is a special project for me because my children absolutely love this book".The film will cover the first two books in the series, and will be adapted by Michael Goldenberg, the screenwriter of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.Eoin is a great friend of libraries and his books are forever popular with our younger readers. In total there are eight books in the series, the most recent, 'Artemis Fowl, The Last Guardian' scooping the Specsavers Children's Book of the Year Award in the senior section at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards in November 2012. The series stars 12-year-old criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl II, while the author has described the series as "Die Hard" with fairies. The complete list of titles in the Artemis Fowl series (in order) is as follows:Artemis Fowl Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex Artemis Fowl: The Last GuardianBut when will we see it on the big screen? According to the New York Times, the project is in the "early stages", but that Goldenberg is working on the screenplay. So fingers crossed!

Dublin City Public Libraries and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature today, Tuesday 17th January, launched 'Children Save Dublin', the city’s first ever children’s citywide reading project.Similar to the highly successful Dublin: One City One Book festival, but aimed at children from 4th and 5th classes, children across Dublin will be encouraged to read, talk about and have fun with the same book over January, February and March 2012.The book chosen is 'Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent' (links to catalogue), by first time Irish writer Alan Early, a new and fresh voice in Irish writing. Arthur Quinn is one of the most exciting new adventure stories published in Ireland in the last few years and was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards 2011. Fast paced and thrilling, this is a book which will get Dublin children excited about reading and has been described as Harry Potter - Dublin style.The book is set in the Dublin of today, featuring the Metro North tunnels while harking back to Viking mythology as the children unleash a Viking god. The action takes place on the streets of Dublin and the project gives plenty of scope for activities which will spark interest in the book and reading itself.Children are encouraged to attend associated events in city libraries and schools during the mid-term and afterwards as part of the project. Children can also engage online with the author via a special interactive website which includes games and a blog related to the story. Alan Early will visit schools and libraries during the three month festival, engaging with the children and helping them discover the secret of how to defeat the World Serpent!The project will conclude with an exciting event taking place at Connolly Station as part of St. Patrick’s Festival in March. A serpent- themed train will host a variety of children’s activities including workshops, fun question and answer sessions with the author and much more!

With the release of the final Harry Potter movie this summer (on July 15 for those who are counting the days like me!!), and the release of the latest Harry Potter movie on DVD, it’s never too late to become a Harry Potter fan, (or like me read all the stories again in preparation for the film!)All seven Harry Potter novels and DVDs are available to borrow in Dublin City Public Libraries or you can reserve them online using your borrower number and pin number. Your borrower number is on your library card and if you do not have a pin number you can get it at your local Dublin City Public Library. Harry Potter novels and DVD's in order from first to last:Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone / Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone DVDHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets / Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets DVDHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban / Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban DVDHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire / Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire DVDHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix / Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVDHarry Potter and the Half Blood Prince / Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince DVDHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows / Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – PART 1 DVDSome of these titles are also available in large print copy and some are available in talking book format on CD.