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For the first time ever Children’s Books Ireland and Laureate na nÓg will take part in the celebration of music, arts, food, culture and utter madness that is Electric Picnic! Laureate na nÓg Eoin Colfer and a spectacular line-up of authors, illustrators, storytellers and poets will appear in the Literary Tent in the Mindfield arena on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of September, alongside Children’s Books Ireland’s Book Clinic and Epic Monster Doodles.

The events will feature contributors from the forthcoming Once upon a Place anthology for children, compiled by Eoin Colfer and published by Little Island this October. Once upon A Place features six new poems by Irish poets alongside stories from many of Ireland’s leading children’s writers including Roddy Doyle and former Laureate na nÓg Siobhán Parkinson, as well as new work by Eoin Colfer himself. Exclusive to Electric Picnic, contributors will tell stories, draw and read from the book for the first time, giving families a sneak peek before publication date. The conversations will be led by children’s author and former Director of the Galway Arts Festival, Patricia Forde.

On Saturday 5th September, see author and Laureate na nÓg Eoin Colfer, former Laureate na nÓg Siobhán Parkinson (2010–2012) and poet Enda Wyley in conversation, with live drawing from author and illustrator P.J. Lynch, twice winner of the Kate Greenaway medal.

On Sunday 6th September, Man Booker prize winner Roddy Doyle, author-illustrators Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick and Oisín McGann and bestselling author for children and adults Sarah Webb join Patricia Forde in the Literary Tent.

Children’s Books Ireland will also be bringing fun book events for all families to Mindfield at Electric Picnic, with the Book Doctor seeing patients and recommending great books. Doctors Louise and Olivia will consult with young patients, diagnose their reading complaints and send them off with a book prescription to be filed at their local library or bookshop. The Book Clinic welcomes all families and is perfect for the bookworm who has finished a long series and doesn’t know what to read next as well as the reluctant reader who is yet to find a book to love.

The Electric Picnic Epic Monster Doodles will also take place in the Mindfield Arena. The Epic Monster Doodle allows families to express themselves and work together to produce a massive piece of art. Meet our resident illustrators, Michael Emberley (Miss Brooks Loves Books!) and Steve McCarthy (Sally Go Round the Stars) to learn how to draw the scariest of monsters and join in a massive communal drawing on a huge roll of paper.

All activities will take place from 1.00 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Saturday 5th September and Sunday 6th September. Times are subject to change – see www.childrensbooksireland.ie for most up to date information.

http://www.electricpicnic.ie/