++This event is now fully booked. Please keep an eye on Riverbank Arts Centre’s website as we often partner with Children’s Books Ireland and hope to present more Book Clinics in the future++

Riverbank Arts Centre is partnering with Children’s Books Ireland on FREE online book clinics on Saturday 6th February, 11am-3pm.

Are you a young reader? Looking for a new series to delve into? Feeling uninspired by your bookshelves at home? Do you need a prescription for an exciting new read? Then pop into the virtual Book Clinic! Visit the Book Doctor and consult on your favourite reads – come away with a prescription for your next book which you can take to your local bookshop or library!

Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinics are pop-up events for providing guidance about books to children and their families. Usually Children’s Books Ireland partners with festival and venues, presenting children’s book experts as Book Doctors with lab coats, prescription pads and an official stamp. Based on an informal chat with children or parents who need guidance, they recommend excellent books, using their Recommended Reads guide to the best books of the year as a tool which can be given to families for their own reference. However, given the unusual times we find ourselves in, Children’s Books Ireland are presenting Book Clinics online.

These clinics will be presented on ZOOM, will be 15 minutes in duration and are suitable for children 0-18 years (though for babes-in-arms the advice will be directed toward parents.   Places are limited, and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Children’s Books Ireland has produced a number of resources including the Mind Yourself reading guide –  a resource that can be used by adults – parents, guardians, caregivers, teachers – to support and educate young people in relation to mental health and wellbeing. The guide contains reviews and recommendations of over 400 books for children and young people from birth to age eighteen and is designed as a ‘first-aid kit’ for worries, sadness, loneliness, anxiety and any number of feelings that a young person may want to explore. More details here