Braille launch for Emer’s ‘Vroom-Town’
Dundalk Lions Club have launched a Braille version of Vroom-Town Christmas Book - The Adventure of Santa and the Magic Truck by Dundalk Award Winning Author Emer Conlon.
The braille book was produced in association with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) Library Access Services and it is available through NCBI Library Access Services.
The Braille Vroom-Town book was launched at an event in Roe River Books, Park Street.
David Larkin President of Dundalk Lions Club said: This year we decided to deliver a new project for the vision impaired in Dundalk and beyond. We already have projects such as “Talking Newspapers for the Visually Impaired” and we collect reading glasses for recycling. But today is about the start of a series of work we have agreed with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) and their Library based in Dublin. Children who are vision impaired need audio books for entertainment. And that’s where we come in.’
When Dundalk Lions met with the NCBI to discuss a project of audio books for children, they suggested we add Braille as an option. Because of the season that is in it, we thought it would be very fitting that our first braille children’s book would be the magical, new Vroom-Town Christmas Book, entitled, “The Adventure of Santa Claus and the Magic Truck Dust” and we are delighted to be launching the braille version of this here in Roe River Books in Dundalk.
Author of the Vroom-Town series of children’s books, Emer Conlon explains: ‘ The VroomTown books are brim-full of adventure and excitement, as well as having vibrant and colourful illustrations - ideal for little imaginations to embrace! When the Lions Club approached me to become involved in having a braille version of my Christmas book, it was an automatic yes. Having the books read by- or to children is what writing children’s books is all about! I am thrilled that families with a visually impaired member will get to know Sparkle, Screech, Noz, BullyDozer and all of the other Vroom-Town characters!
The entire project is so humbling. Up until now, many visually impaired children and indeed adults did not have the opportunity of ‘seeing’ any of the five Vroom-Town books. It is a genuine privilege to be involved in this fantastic project with the Dundalk Lion’s Club and NCBI Library. I am thrilled that, thanks to Dundalk Lions
Club and the NCBI Library Access Services, not only vision impaired children, but also vision impaired parents and grandparents, will have the wonderful experience of being able to read the Christmas book to the sighted little ones in their lives, while they follow the beautiful illustrations on the pages!’