Sir, - Children's Books Ireland is a new organisation formed by the amalgamation of the Irish Children's Book Trust and the Children's Literature Association of Ireland. At the launch and spring seminar of the organisation on March 1st we had several speakers, including Dr Emer O'Sullivan who spoke about children's books in translation and the lack of translated children's books in Ireland.
We were delighted that CBI member Aingeal Murphy was inspired by the talk to write to The Irish Times letters page (March 6th). Dr O'Sullivan's talk will be published in the May issue of our magazine Children's Books in CBI is an organisation created to promote quality literature for children and to encourage critical discourse on children's books. Membership is made up of teachers, librarians, writers, publishers and parents. Our next event will be the Children's Literature Summer School on May 23rd-25th at the Dublin Writers' Museum.
The main speakers will be Benjamin Zephaniah, Janni Howker, Theresa Breslin, Aidan Chambers and, Don Conroy. Further information on membership, the summer school, and Children's Books in Ireland magazine can be obtained from Claire Ranson, administrator, Children's Books Ireland Office, the Irish Writers' Centre, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin (tel/fax 01-8725854). - Yours, etc.,
(on behalf of the CBI
Dublin Committee),