Celebrating Children’s Book Festival at libraries across Offaly this October

Children’s Book Festival 2025 (CBF) runs nationally this October and is a great opportunity for young people, parents, teachers and libraries to celebrate books and reading.

An important part of the national Right to Read initiative, the festival aims to encourage children to enjoy the experience of reading and support their reading development through activities and events in collaboration with writers, artists and storytellers. Offaly Libraries is celebrating CBF with an exciting programme, co- funded by Creative Ireland and Foras na Gaeilge.

Events for local primary school classes will be held in libraries, featuring authors Alan Nolan, Eilish Fisher, Sadhbh Devlin, Shane Hegarty, Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde, and Dave Rudden.

Artist and illustrator Shannon Bergin will be doing workshops for classes. Author, Muireann Ní Chíobáin will be talking to classes online. Storygate will be bringing their storytelling and puppetry to classes in each of our libraries.

Public events will also take place, including visits by author Erika McGann to Edenderry Library and Tullamore Library on Saturday, October 4th. Erika will read from her latest book for older readers (8-12 years), The Strange Tales of Barnabus Kwerk. With storytelling and bizarre animal trivia, find out where weird book ideas come from, and how anything you see can become part of a story.

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During the midterm break, to tie in with the Hullaballoo! Children’s Arts Festival there will be an array of CBF events. Sonya Cuddy’s The Ultimate Hogwarts Experience will be visiting Birr, Clara, Edenderry and Tullamore Libraries (booking essential), and the Tallest, Smallest Theatre will be performing in Birr, Clara, Kilcormac and Tullamore Libraries. There will also be story-times and movie mornings at selected libraries.

The new Children’s Books Ireland recommended reading guide will be available for free to collect from your local library, with newly published recommended reads for all ages. Library branches will also have book displays featuring many of these recommended titles.

Full details of all our events are available in our CBF programme which can be accessed at www.offaly.ie/libraries, or you can contact or visit your local library for details. The programme also contains details of some of our other services and initiatives including class sets, the My Little Library Bag initiative, online resources, and book clubs.

Library membership is free and opens a world of reading for children and their families. Don’t forget, in addition to our reading resources, there are lots of regular and seasonal events and activities happening all year round at Offaly Libraries.

Joining is easy and our helpful staff are waiting to help get you started on your library adventure.

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