For the first time in 30 years I was back at Fota Wildlife Park. How can so much time have elapsed between visits?

I still remember the moment when I first figured out that the books I adored didn’t magically appear out of thin air; there was a real-life person behind those stories.

Nothing puts the heart crossways in a mother or father like sudden, unexplained silence

“I’m dying. I don’t even know if my little baby is going to remember me.” These were the words of mother-of-five Emma Mhic Mhathúna yesterday.

Irene Halpin Long meets a class of book lovers in Cork, and also chats to established authors about what they read as children.

Marjorie Brennan talks to Yasmeen Ismail, author of the children’s book ‘I’m A Girl’, about the impact of the stories we read our daughters

A remarkable new film captures life in Ireland’s only boarding school for young children, writes Esther McCarthy

The Arts Council is urging people to share the joy of reading with children this Christmas, writes Marjorie Brennan. Here, some of the well-known people backing the ‘Story for their Stocking’ campaign select the books that captured their imagination as youngsters

* The Enchanted Wood, and The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton (Egmont, €14.40 HB) 

Funding for payments to authors and illustrators whose books were borrowed from public libraries in the Republic was cut by a third last year.

Ahead of Roald Dahl Day, and on the anniversary of his birth, Suzanne Harrington celebrates the life of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author and his fantastic literary journey dedicated to entertaining children. 

Peacekeepers — The Irish in South Lebanon is on RTÉ One at 9.35pm on Tuesday.

Memory is a strange thing. It is unreliable, malleable, hauntingly transient, and yet we allow it to shape our present lives.

The modern Irish Girl Guide is a feminist who not only learns lessons but also takes action

YOUNG READERS: Eason is hoping to engage and inspire young readers during this year’s Children’s SpringFest, with its first ever Read-a-thon.

Cesca became addicted to writing whilst at university.

Prepare for the ultimate fashion fantasy!

FOR some change comes with a significant birthday or the new year but Judi Curtin waited for the millennium before she decided to start writing novels for children.

Once upon a time, a survey found most Irish children under five prefer reading and bedtime stories to watching TV, and that over half of Irish parents begin reading to their kids before they are six months old.

Louise O'Neill sacrificed a lot while writing her first book. Here's her list of the the 14 things you should never say to a published author.

The iconic children’s publisher is 100 years old, and Marjorie Brennan wistfully remembers its colourful, moral stories, its fairy tales and its idyllic world of happy families, science and history.

WHEN you think of Sue Perkins, the English broadcaster who has Enid Blyton levels of spunky jolliness, you might think, ‘ah yes, cake’.

The top 50 books for children to read have been released, and Roald Dahl remains at number one.

Horror writer Darren Shan’s teen books are gory and fun, but also educational, says Colette Sheridan

A racy comic book created by a "hormonally challenged" teenage Bob Monkhouse has been hidden from public view behind a curtain in a new exhibition because it is deemed too sexually explicit.

“JANET! Why shouldn’t we have a Secret Society, too?’ said Peter.”

C’mon me old china.....Kya de Longchamps considers 1960s and 1970s household ware

The creator of Christmas favourite, The Snowman, said he is frustrated at how his story was hijacked by sentimentalists — saying it was meant to be about death.

A sequel to Christmas TV favourite 'The Snowman' is to be screened this Christmas.

As a child, Clare Balding ‘assaulted’ the queen with a sausage, but this year she was the TV queen of the Olympics, writes Sue Leonard

Five go into rehab…

Rebekah Brooks was grilled by a House of Commons committee yesterday but the Murdoch empire has been imploding for years. It was Rupert wot done it, says David Kernek

The Irish Girl Guides celebrate their centenary this year, and have moved with the times, despite other distractions. Claire Droney reports

By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith“2 b r not 2 b, dat is de q” may be a phrase that sounds more Bertie than Shakespeare, and “all animals r =” will ensure a fail grade in almost any English literature exam.

Puffin by Design: 70 years of imagination 1940-2010

The Distant Hours

Simon Cowell has headed a list of British stars who won awards at the International Emmy Awards.

DO you think I like this? I am no more equipped to write about business than I am for pole vaulting with an elephant strapped to my knackers. This is not what we’re about, yet the ‘terrace’ talks of little else nowadays.

Ant and Dec and 'Britain’s Got Talent' finally landed their first Bafta – while Simon Cowell was also presented with a special award.

Julie Walters, John Hurt and Helena Bonham Carter will battle it out at the TV Baftas today after being nominated for their portrayals of real-life people.