On The Town: Children came face to face with some of their favourite writers at a reception in Pearse Street Library this week to mark the opening of the 14th Children's Book Festival.
Amy Brannigan (11) and Lewis Davis (11) from St Joseph's National School in Bonnybrook, Coolock, Dublin, agreed with their classmate Carla Shelly (11), when she said she loved "scary stories and ones that leave you waiting for the next page".
Others crowded to ask Liverpudlian screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce to sign copies of his debut novel, Millions, which is to be made into a film.
"It's about two little boys who find a huge pile of money, £229,370 sterling," he explains. But the boys have only 17 days in which to spend it because England is about to join the euro.
Danny Boyle will direct the film and James Nesbitt will play the boys' father, he said.
Samuel Rostas (9) and Dami Abiola (9) from second class at Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School in Lucan, Co Dublin, enjoyed the party too - especially the biscuits!
Other writers at the launch included Sarah Webb, Sally Prue, Celica Rees, Peter Regan - whose children's books are based around soccer and Gaelic games - and Conor Kostick, whose debut novel, Epic, is "especially for those who enjoy playing computer games".
Mags Walsh, co-ordinator of Children's Books Festival 2004, said 23,000 children will be involved in the events that will take place all over the country until Sunday, October 31st.
More than 500 events are planned to take place in bookshops, libraries, arts centres and schools, and they are all free.