This is the 14th year of the Children's book festival and the emphasis of the festival is as always on FUN! The launch takes place at Pearse Library from 11am on Wednesday 13th October. A host of children's writers and the media will attend and kids are invited to dress up as characters from their favourite books. A face-painter will be at hand to help the children with their new looks.

The Festival runs from 13th-31st October and over 500 events will take place all over Ireland. The events will be held in Libraries, Book-shops, Arts Centres and Schools and admission to every event is free! A wide range of respected and entertaining authors will participate in this festival. Participants include award winners, Kate Thompson, Aubrey Flegg, Siobhan Parkinson, Gerard Whelan, Alan Titley and Marie- Louise Fitzpatrick as well as established favourites like Tom McCaughren, Orla Melling, Marita Conlon-McKenna, Mary Arrigan and Don Conroy.

All sorts of events will take place such as talks for kids in Irish History, Afro Art workshops, Puppet Shows and Puppet Workshops, Face-Painting and Storytime. Top events in Dublin include a Halloween Art Party Workshop with Catherine Corcoran, Rap writing with Glenn Byrne and a fun Library Competition. This competition provides kids with the opportunity to design a bookmark for the following year of the Children's Book Festival. 

To find out what events in Dublin are taking place near you, log onto to the Children's Book Festival website.  Happy Reading!