In November 2008 and March 2009 CBI and Clé hosted two special fora designed to engage the children's books  community in a wider advocacy conversation. As a result of these two events CBI has committed to a special policy document  which, with the support of a sector-wide coalition and network, will lead to a stronger children’s books sector.

We are inviting all interested individuals to publicly support this policy by adding their names as signatories. To register your support please email - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 01 8727475. 

Policy Statement

Stories help young people to make sense of the world around them, to establish their own identity, to find their place in the world and to develop their inner life. Books provide children with a creative imaginative experience through the active participation of each reader in the construction of any story.  

Children deserve the highest-quality reading experiences, with books created by passionate and ambitious writers, illustrators and publishers. Children in Ireland particularly need and deserve books that reflect the Irish experience - books written and illustrated by Irish writers and illustrators, and books that are commissioned, published and sold in Ireland and elsewhere by committed Irish publishers.
 
Irish children's books can and should play a vital role in Irish cultural life because of their intense importance to the artistic, linguistic, creative, cultural, intellectual and emotional development of our children.  Through a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing the sector and increased strategic and tailored support, we must ensure that they do.

A policy for children's books in Ireland should aim
1.    To increase the profile of Irish authors and illustrators, nationally and internationally
2.    To increase the support to Irish publishing for children
3.    To create more opportunities for children to engage with books, authors and illustrators