26 July 2010, Dublin was designated a UNESCO City of Literature, one of only four in the world. Formal notification was received by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Gerry Breen, who said

‘‘I am absolutely delighted about this achievement  – which confirms what Dubliners have known for years – this is a city that has always produced – and continues to produce – great writers’

The sought after accolade was bestowed by the Director General of UNESCO and recognises Dublin’s cultural profile and its international standing as a city of literary excellence.

Present at the event was Ireland’s first Children’s Laureate, Siobhan Parknson along with authors Derek Landy, Sarah Webb, Joe O’Brien, Celine Kiernan, Marita Conlon McKenna, Maire-Louise Fitzpatrick, Aubrey Flegg, Riona Níc Congail, Paul Howard, Conor Kostick, Michael Emberley, David Maybury, and poet Enda Wyley.

Yesterday, 14 July, Siobhán along with the Literature Alliance meet with Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The main topics under discussion were the promotion and support of Irish writers as well as the promotion of reading among the public, especially children. We were all delighted to feel so welcomed.

What’s better in summer when you are out of school and there is no homework then finding a good book and reading the day away? Siobhán Parkinson and fellow authors recall fondly their times as children and summer reading in the Irish Times article, ‘Pile them high; it’s summer time.’ Siobhan relates her experiences at her grandparents and her times reading while her grandmother napped.

Along with giving some of their fondest memories about summer and reading in their childhood, Siobhan, along with fellow authors and the Children’s Books Ireland director, give tips on encouraging reading in children and fighting the ‘reading recovery’ trend in September. Tips advocated include the need for parents to lead by example and not push children too hard into reading. Also, parents need to think outside the book and not frown on things like comics, audio books and ebooks. Siobhán advises parents not to be too picky about what the kids are reading over the summer: “I’m all for exposing kids to quality books, but it is quantity – that avid ingestion of vast numbers of summer reads – that forms the reading habit and turns children into book addicts. And childhood book addicts become lifelong readers. So grit your teeth and let them at it, glitter, vampires, the lot . . . ”

To read the article, go to http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2010/0713/1224274562876.html