Latest Audrey Moore children's book launched

Audrey Moore and Margaret Scott.

"This is the hard bit of book-writing," Margaret Scott said when she launched the latest children's book by her friend Audrey Moore, in Woodbine Books yesterday, writes Brian Byrne. "Putting yourself out there, the publicity ... it's awful."

But that's the same reason the best selling author of The Fallout and Between Me and You said 'yes' immediately to Audrey's request for her to say a few words for the Kilcullen launch of Ping and Po-Li Rainforest Rescue.

"A children's book is so much different to write than the adults books, as I do. It's much more complex, way harder than 'boy meets girl' or 'whodunnit'. Children are very complex creatures and it's very hard to get their attention and to hold their attention. So it is such a talent to write a children's book, the way Audrey has, which does."

After delegating a first read to her 10-year old Emily and getting in return a positive summary, Margaret said she sat down with her youngest, Mikey, and read it to him herself. "And he loved it. It's got serious topics, and it gives just the right mix of sad and funny. The monkey has to be rescued, but there's a great friendship tale, and the bad guys don't win in the end."

Margaret said there's a 'crisis' happening in that children aren't reading any more. "Reading is like a muscle, it has to be exercised. If we don't have them reading at Emily's age, or even at Mikey's age, they won't be able to 'lift the heavy weights' when they get to secondary school, they won't be able to do their exams unless they're reading now."

Thanking Margaret for doing the honours, Audrey Moore spoke about how children are 'tough critics' and will tell you exactly what's wrong with a book very quickly. She expressed her thanks too to Kim Sponaugle, the American illustrator who has illustrated a large number of books, 'and it was great to be able to get her' for this latest one.

The full house turnout included, appropriately, a large number of children, who were clearly enjoying the Woodbine Books ambience, and the refreshments and snacks that were available to all. Storytelling and face-painting were other attractions through the afternoon.

At the end of the formalities, Nessa Dunlea of Kilcullen 700 presented Seoirse Behan of Woodbine Books with a commemorative print of the towns celebratory logo, for the organisation of many such events in the shop during this year.

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