Towers and Tales Children's Book Festival 2023

A celebration of children’s books, stories and illustration, designed to give young audiences unforgettable, creative and transformational experiences with books. A line up of best selling and well-known children’s writers and illustrators, along with some talented new authors, will host a series of readings, workshops and events throughout the festival. Towers and Tales 2026 takes place on the 2nd of MayTowers and Tales, Lismore Castle Arts, Lismore, Co. Waterfordtowersandtales@gmail.com

Towers and Tales

Towers and Tales is an annual children's book festival that takes place in Lismore Castle and town, Co. Waterford, Ireland.

Lismore Castle(Caisleán an Leasa Mhóir)

Towers and Tales is a celebration of contemporary children’s literature and illustration, designed to give young audiences unforgettable, creative and transformational experiences with books.Since the inaugural festival in 2015, Towers and Tales has become a unique event for families, children and young people. The Festival encourages audiences to engage with literature and storytelling through innovative programming and a focus on participation.The festival takes place in the idyllic setting of Lismore Castle, and is supported by other venues in the town of Lismore - Lismore Library, The Heritage Centre and The Vault Café. Festival goers are welcomed to a full festival experience as well programme activities - pop up events, doodlewalls, a Foodie Stableyard, Eason book tent and activities in the castle gardens for all the family.

Now in its ninth year, the festival is designed to provide young audiences with an unforgettable and creative literary experience and the 2023 edition will feature an exciting line-up of Irish and international authors and illustrators in a range of events which cater for all ages.Featured artists include: Award-winning illustrator Kathi Burke who has produced non-fiction titles across subjects such as female role models, ancient civilizations, Irish heroes and how things work. Her recent work includes a Little Library Series and a best-selling Opedia Trilogy; Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, an award-winning performance poet, playwright and children’s author based in Kent. His inspirations stem from magic and the ancient world and his recent publications include Courage Out Loud Volume 3 and Smile Out Loud Volume 2; An Post Irish Book Award-winner Aoife Dooley is an illustrator, author and comedian best known for the hugely successful Frankie’s World, a graphic novel based on her real life experiences of autism; Waterford-based Muireann Ní Chíobháin, an author, storyteller and performer who will be familiar to young audiences through her roles on RTÉjr and TG4. Nominated for the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Book of the Year Award, 2020 for Scúnc agus Smúirín, her recent publications include Murphy’s Law, Eoinín ag dul a Chodladh and Eoinín agus a Chairde; Robin Stevens, bestselling and award-winning author of the Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries series and the Ministry of Unladylike Activity which was awarded multiple accolades including Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Year 2022; award-winning and New York Times bestselling writer and illustrator of picturebooks, Ed Vere who created works such as The Artist, How to be a Lion and Grumpy Frog; internationally acclaimed Irish picturebook author and illustrator Paddy Donnelly who has illustrated numerous children’s books including Fox &amp; Son Tailers, The Vanishing Lake, Dodos Are Not Extinct and whose most recent publication, An Slipéar Gloine (with Fearghas Mac Lochlainn) has been shortlisted for the 2023 KPMG Children’s Books Awards. 

The festival will also feature a joint exhibition of work by Olivia Golden who has illustrated over 30 books for children of all ages including Scéalta le hInsint don Ghealach and Cillian ag Comhaireamh; and author, award-winning illustrator and designer Jennifer Farley who has illustrated books such as Scout’s Best Day Ever, Island of Adventures and Shooting For The Stars. The exhibition will open at The Vault Café on Friday 28th April and will remain on display for a period of two weeks following its opening.
Full Festival Programme can be downloaded <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/620a3a5545aa7d54b172913a/t/641c7e9073915901be0ab41e/1679589021848/Festival+Programme+2023.pdf" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a>

The carnival-style Towers and Tales Festival Hub will also make a much-anticipated return, breathing life into the tales of authors’ and illustrations through interactive activities and workshops which aim to spark the use of imagination and creativity for an unforgettable experience for reading enthusiasts. Festival-goers can Knock for a Story at the front porch of the majestic castle, Sketch and Stroll through the surrounding gardens with illustrators Olivia Golden and Jennifer Farley, draw on the walls of the castle’s creepiest place with Dungeon Doodle, paint on The Artist! Wall with Ed Vere, take a stroll in the Garden with Story Trail – A Field Guide to Leaflings, written by Owen Churcher and illustrated by Niamh Sharkey or get a prescription for a brand new read at Children’s Books Ireland’s Book Clinic. Cork’s Glucksman Gallery will also be providing interactive art workshops such as The First Ever Drawing and Down in the Deep Dark Cave which are sure to trigger our imaginations!

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Towers and Tales Children's Book Festival 2023

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