We Love Books

Come one, come all and meet the writers, students and readers who made this year's  KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards so special. From busy heads to nefarious fish, this years’ selection had it all.

For this bonus episode, We Love Books takes you inside the An Post Book Awards. Reporter Francesca Europa speaks with children’s authors Dave Rudden, Sadhbh Devlin, Sarah Bowie, and Paddy Donnelly about creativity, storytelling, and what sparks a love of reading in young audiences.

Journey into the unknown with Tom Crean, Irish Antarctic hero! Author Michael Smith and illustrator David Butler are in the house to talk about their fantastic new graphic novel and the adventures of the great Iceman of Kerry.

Award-winning writer, broadcaster and journalist but more importantly, king of paranormal podcasting Danny Robins is in the house for a spooky special to ask the big question of the season: do you believe in ghosts?

Take a walk through the woods with award-winning writer Eilish Fisher and find out what's in store for you in her evocative and spooky new book, sure to delight and excite, especially in the run-up to Halloween!

Author, illustrator and comedian Aoife Dooley chats about the joys of discovering graphic novels, the power of her autism diagnosis and of course her latest under-the-sea adventure, Squid Squad!

Beloved author and illustrator Peter Donnelly drops by to talk books, drawings, the time he decorated a dry cleaner's wall with lipstick and his phenomenal career as an animator.

Time to celebrate the best of Irish literature! Merrion Square Park was overrun with readers and writers to award the cream of the children's books crop with these coveted awards and We Love Books got up close and personal with the winners.

A jam packed episode takes us a on a whistlestop tour through the idyllic Towers and Tales Childrens Book Festival at Lismore Castle at the May Bank Holiday. Niamh Sharkey, Máire Zepf, Sarah Bowie, Vivian French, Leona Forde and Karen Harte, Pádraig Kenny and so much more!

Journalist, TV presenter and author Zainab Boladale talks small town summers and the magic of local libraries while 11-year-old World Champion golfer Ella Kenny tells us all about becoming an author.

Seachtain na Gaeilge atá ann! Celebrate by sailing away to Inis Mara with Tristan Rosenstock who tells us all about island life, the magic of Irish place names and the very special hero at the heart of his stories.

Blind author Lucy Edwards tells us all about her incredible and accessible new book and about how technology has changed the game for those with a disability.

Colm Field aka Frank Cadaver puts the ho ho ho-rror into Christmas with a return to the age-old tradition of a scary story during the festive season. We find out all about his terrifying new series - warning - this episode is not for the faint of heart!

Welcome to a very Christmassy We Love Books packed with fantastic ideas for your Christmas Wishlist and a very special author/illustrator double bill when Leona Forde and Karen Harte are in the house to talk all things Millie McCarthy

Writer and illustrator Alan Nolan joins us for our Mysteries, Puzzles and Riddles-themed show plus catch our CBI Reading Heroes giving us their top mysterious recommendations

The spooky vibes are off the chart on this very Halloween-y We Love Books. Méabh McDonnell takes us Into the Witchwood, our CBI Reading Heroes talk scary reads and what's that going bump in the night? It's the Boot Bot with a new writing prompt!

Find out why Sarah Bowie is amazing and why you should add more graphic novels to your bookshelf. We've also got our CBI Reading Heroes in the house and a new friend with a writing assignment for you!

We’re back in Merrion Square to meet some of the writers, illustrators and children who made the world of Children’s Books shine in 2024.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Mary He who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Mary tells the tale of hippo who just can’t get enough of the swimming pool!

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Ava Derham who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Ava tells the thrilling tale of the rebellious residents of Corny Jamwith Nursing Home.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Emmet Staunton who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Emmet introduces us to magical realms and mystical creatures in his story, Go Wild!

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Kate Hosey who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. In Kate’s story, we learn why teachers should be nice to students, or risk facing the consequences!

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Lola-Mae McCormack, our overall category winner in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Her winning story is a mixture of jungle fever and cabin fever as she feels like a caged animal wanting to go wild during lockdown.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Zoe O’Grady who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. In her story, Zoe goes walkies and takes some very special furry friends a late-night treat in the Phoenix Park.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Aoife Brett Grout who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Aoife tells the touching story of a sister’s love that transcends the limits of the physical world.