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This spring children in Dublin are urged to keep their eyes peeled for mysterious aliens at their local library as Bumpfizzle – the Best on Planet Earth by Patricia Forde, has been chosen for the 2019 Citywide Reading Campaign for Children.Bumpfizzle is an alien, sent to Earth from Planet Plonk on a research mission. Or is he really just a ten-year-old boy who is feeling a bit disgruntled at all the attention his parents are lavishing on The Baby? It is up to readers to make up their own minds. The author, Patricia Forde, has published numerous books for children in English and in Irish, two plays, in addition to several television drama series for children and teenagers. She has worked as a writer on both English and Irish language soap operas. In another life, she was a primary school teacher and the artistic director of Galway Arts Festival.The illustrator Elīna Brasliņa is an illustrator from Riga, Latvia. She has illustrated fifteen titles to date, most of them picturebooks, children’s books and young adult novels. Her work has been nominated for many local awards as well as the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. She has twice received the Zelta Abele Award for Book Design, as well as the Janis Baltvilks Baltic Sea Region Award (2017).This is the eighth year of the city wide reading initiative. Previous books selected for the Citywide Reading Campaign in previous years include; Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent by Alan Early, The Nightmare Club series featuring Annie Graves, The Powers by Kevin Stevens, Danger is Everywhere by David O’Doherty and Chris Judge, The Book of Learning by E.R. Murray, Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden and last year’s book was Making Millions by Erika McGann. The aim of the campaign is to encourage children to read for pleasure. There will be author visits to many Dublin City Council branch libraries as well as city-centre based events in bookshops, the National Library of Ireland and Dublin City Gallery – Hugh Lane. The campaign ends with fun events based on the book, as part of the St. Patrick’s Festival’s in Merrion Square. Copies of the book are available in all Dublin City Public Libraries as well as in all good bookshops.  Dublin City Council Library stock can be borrowed from libraries nationwide.Key Events;•    Author visits to Dublin City Public Library branches between January and March. Class visits booked locally at branch libraries.•    Cabra Library, Navan Road, Dublin 7, Tuesday 29th January at 3.30pm (Booking Essential; [email protected] or ph. 8691414).•    The National Library of Ireland, Kildare St, Dublin 2. Thursday 7th February at 10am (Booking required: Contact Bríd O’Sullivan  [email protected])•    Dublin City Gallery - The Hugh Lane, Charlemont House, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1 Saturday 16th March 11am-12pmAuthor Patricia Forde says: “I am delighted and very excited that Bumpfizzle The Best on Planet Earth is the 2019 Citywide Read.  Bumpfizzle is an alien- which may attract some funny business from other planets - but I think Dublin children are up for that. I sincerely hope so.  We may need heroes before this is over.”(Dublin City Public Library Staff, Patricia Forde and Kids at Launch)(Photo Credit Fennell Photography)You can download a Reading Guide to the book, suitable for teachers and parents at http://www.dublincityofliterature.ie/projects/citywide-read/The campaign is run by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and Dublin City Council Public Libraries, in partnership with Little Island Books, and is funded by Dublin City Council’s Public Library Service and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 

Regular reading at home with your child encourages the development of social and communication skills and improves your child's thinking, language and self-expression.The fantastic Story Time Project aims to support reading at home and gives parents tips and suggestions on ways to read to, and with your children, such as putting on an animated voice to enliven characters.  Pausing to ask open questions such as “I wonder why.....” for instance encourages children to think, talk, ask questions, and relate the story events to their own life – thus internalising the language and using it in a context outside of the book.This is different than the way most of us might read to our children – I read, you listen. This more interactive storytime is lots of fun and parents often find they learn new things about their children.  Parents are enthused because they understand that this is helping their children - and it is fun. Feedback is incredibly positive.Childcare workers and teachers are enthusiastic as well. They use the books in the Early Years Centres each week in a fun way too, for example making porridge for the children as they read “The Magic Porridge Pot”.Take a look at this great video by Journal.ie from a Story Time graduation ceremony this week:Credit Journal.ie on YouTubeStory Time began in 2011, an idea of Joan Keily in Marino Institute of Education in association with Northside Partnership, Dublin City Libraries and with a number of schools and early childhood centres in the area. In 2015, Dublin City Public Libraries brought the project to the Ballyfermot area in association with the Ballyfermot Chapelizod Partnership.A bit more about the projectStory Time is for parents and children from pre-school to junior infant age.  Taking part in Story Time is easy and fun. Story Time runs over a six week period, once a year for each group.An initial information meeting is held at Marino Institute of Education / Ballyfermot Library. Here you will hear tips and suggestions on ways to read to, and with your children.  You are encouraged to join your local library and collect one book a week for five weeks which you read to your child.At the end of the five weeks parents and children receive a Story Time Certificate.The Northside Partnership report that parents who have taken part in Story Time find:Their children’s language and vocabulary has improvedTheir children enjoy reading more and have a greater interest in booksTheir relationship with their children has grown strongerTheir children’s confidence has improvedThe amount of time watching TV and DVDs before bedtime has reduced.Books are now more likely to be given as gifts to children at Christmas and birthdays, by parents and carers     

Over the next two months, children across Dublin are invited to continue the adventure with the Bubble Street Gang as Making Millions by Erika McGann is the chosen book for the 2018 Citywide Reading Campaign for Children.The aim of the campaign is to promote reading for pleasure so girls and boys across the city are encouraged to pick up a copy of Making Millions, the second book about Cass and the Bubble Street Gang, in their local library or bookshop. The book is suitable for children 7-10 years.The launch of the 2018 campaign took place today, 17 January in Pearse St Library, where enthusiastic readers of the book met the author.   Erika McGann said, “I’m so excited and delighted that Making Millions is the 2018 Citywide Read. I live in the heart of the city and I’ve already met and shared stories with a lot of kids through Dublin City Libraries. I’m looking forward to meeting many more and to hearing their stories about secret forts, jumble sales, ghost stories and getting up to (just a little bit of) mischief.” “The Citywide Reading campaign has a simple but important aim – to get children reading for fun and pleasure. This is the seventh year of the Dublin City Public Libraries initiative and this year’s choice, Making Millions by Erika McGann, will definitely keep young minds enthralled with its engaging plot.” says Dublin City Librarian Margaret Hayes.The campaign is run by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and Dublin City Council Public Libraries, in partnership with O’Brien Press, and runs from January to March 2018.Copies of the book are available in all Dublin City Public Libraries as well as in all good bookshops. Reserve a copy of Making Millions in the library catalogue.Erika will be meeting hundreds of young readers throughout our libraries during the campaign. There will also be free events in the National Library of Ireland, Dublin City Gallery – Hugh Lane and as part of St Patrick’s Festival.The project is funded by Dublin City Council’s Public Library Service and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.Details of the campaign, including the first two chapters of the book and a Reading Guide for teachers and parents, can be found at http://www.dublincityofliterature.ie/projects/citywide-read/About the book:Cass and her best friends, Lex and Nicholas, are the Bubble Street Gang. They investigate crimes, solve mysteries and have brilliant adventures. They’ve even got their own secret clubhouse. Now the gang need money and they have some genius ideas on how to make it.  But Cass also has a mystery to solve. Who is the invisible boy? And why can’t anyone else see him. Join Cass and the Bubble Street Gang as they start Making Millions. Suitable for children seven plus.About the Initiative:This is the seventh year of the reading initiative.  In previous years books chosen for the Citywide Reading Campaign included Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent by Alan Early, The Nightmare Club series featuring Annie Graves, The Powers by Kevin Stevens, Danger is Everywhere by David O’Doherty and Chris Judge, The Book of Learning by E.R. Murray and last year’s book was Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden.The aim of the campaign is to encourage children to read for pleasure. Multiple copies of the chosen book are bought for Dublin City Libraries and hundreds of children attend events in their local Dublin City Council library with the author. There are also events in bookshops and other locations.Key Events During the CampaignSaturday 10 February, 3pm-4pmDublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Charlemont House, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1.As part of the Citywide Reading Campaign, join author Erika McGann who will read from her book Making Millions followed by a Q&A. Erika will be accompanied by illustrator Vince Reid, who will discuss the illustrations he made for Erika’s book as well as leading a practical demonstration on what it takes to make a great illustration! Suitable for ages 6-10 years old.Free, no booking required although numbers may be limitedSunday 18 March 12-5pmSt Patrick’s Festival. Big Day Out 63 Merrion Square.Join our creepy ghost tour, squeeze into our mysterious ​storytelling tent by torchlight, or try the shadow puppetry and illustration workshop, then leap into the exciting adventure room with puzzles and or see how bendable your are in our fun outdoor gymnastics zone.  Special readings from the book will be provided from its author Erika McGann throughout the day. Suitable for ages 6+ More details will be available nearer the time at www.stpatricksfestival.ie 

We are delighted to announce that 'Knights of the Borrowed Dark' by Dave Rudden, published by Puffin Books, is the chosen book for the 2017 Citywide Reading Campaign for Children.This reading initiative is organised by Dublin City Council’s Public Library Service as part of its UNESCO City of Literature programme with the aim of encouraging children to read for pleasure.There will be author visits to Dublin City Public libraries as well as city-centre based events to promote the campaign from January to March 2017. Full details about the campaign and events will be available in early January. Copies of KNIGHTS OF THE BORROWED DARK will be available in all Dublin City branch libraries."I am honoured and delighted that 'Knights of the Borrowed Dark' is Dublin UNESCO City of Literature’s Citywide Read. This is the city that taught me how to write, and I owe so much to its vibrant, friendly and supportive literary community. There's a wild, swashbuckling charm to Dublin that very much inspired the strange and magical world of the Knights (though thankfully with less clockwork women and waistcoated misery-drinkers) and I can't wait to share it with Dublin's young readers and help them find stories of their own."  says Dave Rudden.This is the sixth year of the reading initiative.  In previous years books chosen for the Citywide Reading Campaign included Alan Early’s Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent, The Nightmare Club series featuring Annie Graves , The Powers by Kevin Stevens, Danger is Everywhere by David O’Doherty, and last year’s book was The Book of Learning by E.R. Murray.Reviews:Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden review – a magical debut (Guardian, 7 May 2016)Book Review – Knights Of The Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden (Rick O'Shea, RTÉ 2fm and RTÉ Radio 1 Broadcaster)Reader Reviews on Goodreads.See also Puffin Books website.

We invite children to delve into the world of Ebony Smart, a 12-year old girl whose world has just changed forever  - a new home in Dublin that is full of secrets, a magical book that unlocks the mystery to her past and a mysterious boy called Zach who befriends her – for the Citywide Reading Campaign for Children 2016.The campaign is run by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and Dublin City Public Libraries, in partnership with Mercier Press, and runs from January to March 2016.The Book of Learning by E.R. Murray is a story of mystery and adventure, and will appeal to both girls and boys of 9 years and older. There will be author visits to branch libraries as well as city-centre based events to promote the campaign, which encourages children to read for pleasure. The book features many well known Dublin landmarks such as Glasnevin Cemetery, the Botanic Gardens, the Natural History Museum, the National Library and Saint Stephen's Green.An t-Ardmhéara Críona Ní Dhálaigh said: "The Book of Learning is a book that will enchant and engage boys and girls from aged 9 upwards, and I encourage children and their parents all across the city to read it and to visit their local Dublin City library to find out more about the fun events taking place. Is scéal draíochtach é a bheadh taitneamhach do éinne thar 9 mbliana d’aois.""I'm delighted The Book of Learning has been chosen for this year's Citywide Reading campaign, especially since Dublin is so central to the story." says E.R. Murray. "I wanted to capture the city's essence in an adventure story that was both magical and mysterious – so get ready for wildcats, enchanted books, underground lairs, and shark submarines! I can't wait to meet lots of young readers at events in the New Year – after all, it's the readers that bring stories to life and make writing so worthwhile."Details of the campaign will be available in early January here and at www.dublincityofliterature.ie. The project is funded by Dublin City Council's Library Service and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.