Books written and illustrated by schoolchildren join Book of Kells exhibition

Posted on: 20 March 2018

‘The Talking Pig and the President’, ‘Shivers in Jellyland’ and ‘Ruction Destruction’, among new titles to join Trinity’s permanent collection of over 6 million printed volumes

An exhibition of 70 handmade books written and illustrated by Dublin primary schoolchildren was unveiled by award-winning children’s book author Chris Judge in the iconic Old Library of Trinity College Dublin yesterday evening, Tuesday, March 20th, 2018.

The exhibition marks the culmination of the Bookmarks programme which sees Dublin primary school children write and illustrate their own books over a two-month period with the help of authors, artists and children’s book specialists from Trinity. The project aims to inspire the children to become the next generation of storytellers, artists and creatives. Bookmarks is organised by the Trinity Access Programmes (TAP), which supports students from under-represented backgrounds to progress to further education.

Children from 5th and 6th class pupils from St Laurence O’Toole’s CBS, Seville Place, Dublin 1; St Mary’s Boys National School, Haddington Road, Dublin 4 and Assumption Senior Girls National School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12 saw their own creations go on display in the awe-inspiring Long Room, which is home to 200,000 of Trinity’s oldest books, until April 9th. Their books will then become part of Trinity’s permanent collection of over 6 million printed volumes which includes the works of Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, Maria Edgeworth and of course the world-renowned Book of Kells.

This year the Bookmarks programme focused on the theme ‘Creatures and Creations’ which was chosen to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Irish author Maria Edgeworth. Storytelling, writing and illustrating workshops were delivered by writer Catherine Ann Cullen, artist Angela McDonagh, and editor and ‘book doctor’ Síne Quinn. Inspiration for the book making workshops was provided by staff from the Library and the School of English, who introduced the children to the Library’s Pollard Collection – the largest collection of children’s books in Ireland, comprising over 10,000 books dating from 17th century to the early 20th century. More information about the work undertaken by the children as part of Bookmarks can be found on this blog: https://tarryathome.wordpress.com/

The wide range of topics that fired the children’s imagination is evident from the titles of their books this year which include:

1. The Unicorn Slippers, by Zoe Stafford, Assumption Senior Girls National School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12
2. The Note on My Desk, by Amber Kelly, Assumption Senior Girls National School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12
3. Melody in Music Land by Chloe De Jesus, Assumption Senior Girls National School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12
4. Dance Till You Die, Jake Fay, St Laurence O’Toole’s CBS, Seville Place, Dublin 1
5. I Only Wanted to Go On Holiday, Cian Fuller, St Laurence O’Toole’s CBS, Seville Place, Dublin 1
6. Shivers in Jellyland, Evan Conroy, St Laurence O’Toole’s CBS, Seville Place, Dublin 1
7. Ruction Destruction, by Jayson Baldemor, St Mary’s Boys National School, Haddington Road, Dublin 4
8. Fly, Little Alien, Céilim Westley, St Mary’s Boys National School, Haddington Road, Dublin 4
9. The Talking Pig and the President, by Jader Saliponde, St Mary’s Boys National School, Haddington Road, Dublin 4

Illustrator, artist and children’s author Chris Judge said: “I was thrilled to be asked to launch the books created by children for the Bookmarks project. The work that Catherine, Síne and Angela have done with the children through the Trinity Access Programmes is wonderful, it’s a joy to see these amazing books. I cannot imagine a better introduction to the magic of storytelling and illustrating.”

Kathleen O’Toole-Brennan, Kathleen O’Toole-Brennan, Programmes Manager, Trinity Access Programmes added: “Here at Trinity Access Porgrammes we are very proud of the Bookmarks initiative and the unique opportunity it provides for children to acquire new skills and to be exposed to the world of children’s literature in a very hands-on way. We are delighted to unveil these beautiful works of art and literature. Our outreach programmes attract over 5,000 students annually, and with continued involvement, these students and their peers will successfully make the transition to both second and third level.”

Extracts from the children’s books show the quality of the writing and imagination in the books:

1. “Could the cards that we usually played with be alive, like human beings?” wrote Fatima Khan from Assumption Senior Girls National School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12.
2. “You will pull a book and a bookshelf will slide back,” wrote Roxy Morris from Assumption Senior Girls National School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12
3. “The carpet of the house was a big long red tongue,” wrote Harley Leeper from Seville Place, Dublin 1
4. “I focussed on the bear as hard as I could until he started to float,” wrote Lewis Ryan from Seville Place, Dublin 1
5. “He ran so fast he caused an illusion,” wrote James Guevarra from St Mary’s, Haddington Road.
6. “He frantically reached for the hammer, but the monster threw the car like an Olympian throwing a javelin,” wrote Oisín Reilly from St Mary’s, Haddington Road.