'The chance to see their own lives and experiences reflected in a story.'
At Children's Books Ireland, we strive to give children and young people access to books, helping them to unlock the benefits of reading. St. Joseph’s Boys National School in Rathkeale, Limerick took part in our KPMG Junior Juries' Programme in 2024 and began to read for joy. Here, 3rd class teacher Laura Williams tells us about the impact of this programme, including the inspiration behind a very special book.
The kids are absolutely obsessed with books and I have seen kids reading between lessons this week in school, which I have never really seen before ... even the most reluctant of readers, it's amazing. I was on supervision yesterday, I was supervising the corridor and kids were reading books at lunchtime ... and chatting to each other ... at their desks, reading, it was amazing. It was so lovely to see. And even between transitions in my classroom they're going back and they're getting different books, and talking about them.
Inspired by our involvement in the Children’s Books Ireland KPMG Junior Juries' Programme, my third-class students have written and illustrated their very own picture book. Our library is lacking in books by Traveller authors that reflect Traveller experiences, so the boys decided—who better to write one than them! The book they created is called James' Journey.
Writing their own story has had a huge impact on them. The project gave all the boys, both settled and Traveller, the chance to see their own lives and experiences reflected in a story, which made them feel proud and more connected to their culture. They were inspired by Irish Traveller authors like Oein De Bharduin, and it really gave them the confidence to believe that they can achieve anything. For the boys, especially as part of a Deis Band 1 school where not all experiences are reflected in books, it was a powerful moment to know their voices were heard. They were so proud of the finished product and felt even more proud when they donated a copy to the local library, knowing their story would be shared with the wider community.
This project has also had a big impact on their motivation to write and read. Their creativity has really flourished, and they now feel more confident in expressing themselves through words and storytelling. We’re even recording the audiobook of the story, which means everyone gets to be part of the process, making it even more inclusive. It's been wonderful to see the boys feel so included and proud of the work they've done, knowing it represents all of them. As your motto says, “Every child a reader,” the boys now feel like it's also “Every child an author.” They truly believe in their ability to create and share stories with the world.
I’m blown away by the motivation to read that I see in our school now, I’m so grateful for the work you all do. Thank you so much.
