Children's author Sarah Webb introduces this year's WonderFest, the online festival celebrating Irish Children's Books, presented in association with Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire and running online from November 17th to 21st.
After the success of last year’s online book festival, WonderFest is back, featuring a wealth of Irish talent, including Oliver Jeffers, Niamh Sharkey, Eoin Colfer, Muireann Ní Chíobháin, Chris Haughton, Derek Landy, Ashwin Chacko, David McCullagh and Tarsila Kruse.
There are 24 events in total, featuring over 60 different writers and illustrators. What makes WonderFest different is this – it’s run by a dedicated team of children’s writers and illustrators, including myself, Eve McDonnell, Patricia Forde, Ashwin Chacko, Alan Nolan and Mary Murphy.
Listen: What is Wonderfest? with Sarah Webb and Ashwin Chacko
The theme for this year’s festival is the importance of creativity in children’s lives and many of our children’s writers and illustrators will be exploring this theme.
What’s On at WonderFest?
We will be running lots of innovative digital events delivered live to schools’ whiteboards – for primary school children. These include Eoin Colfer talking to Patricia Forde about his new Fowl Twins books and classic Artemis Fowl titles, and also his previous life as a primary school teacher.
On Saturday 20th November, we have lots of events for story-loving children aged 0-12 and their families to enjoy together from the comfort of their own homes.
There’s a Creativity Bootcamp with Tarsila Kruse and Juliette Saumande, bestselling author Judi Curtin talking to her editor, Helen Carr about writing, animal tales with Chris Haughton and Lunchtime Tales of Wonder with Flora Delargey and fellow Belfast author/illustrator P.J. Lynch.
This year we’ve introduced a new strand to the festival called WonderFest Inspires. This includes inspirational talks and masterclasses for adults who want to find out more about children’s books, or writing and illustrating for children.
Highlights include Oliver Jeffers talking about creativity and play and his new book, There’s a Ghost in This House. Plus writing and illustration masterclasses with award-winning writers and illustrators like Mary Murphy, perfect for adults who have always wanted to write or illustrate for children.
Lots of last year's speakers were such hits we’ve booked them again, like award-winning Limerick-based writer, Judi Curtin. She says: 'I’m so happy to be part of WonderFest with my editor, Helen Carr. We’re really looking forward to our event together and talking about books and writing. I love the fact that it’s being organised by my fellow writers and illustrators, which makes it very special.’
WonderFest runs online from 17th - 21st November - find out more here.
