‘A superior children’s book in every way'
The mid-term break is fast approaching and Christmas isn’t far behind it, so here are some lovely books to keep the kids amused on dark and dreary evenings.
Jess Gets Her Wings, Lucy Kennedy, Gill, €16.99
Illustrated by Philip Cullen, this book is a ‘prequel’ to Kennedy’s Friendship Fairies series of books, aimed at very young readers. Jess is a young fairy about to get her first flying lesson, but she has to master three simple tasks first. A lovely one for the rugrats.
The Faerie Isle, Sine Quinn, Walker Books, €17.99
This book is a superior children’s book in every way. Quinn tells the story of some lesser-known characters in Irish magical folklore, along with the more familiar ones. So, there are banshees and selkies, but also there’s The King of the Cats and there’s an evil changeling, there are the horses that ride rough seas and there are hauntings galore. Dermot Flynn’s illustrations are marvellous, using dark and moody hues and I’m no art expert but several illustrations reminded me of the work of Harry Clarke. For age 7+.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Irish Lighthouses, David Hare, Gill, €22.99
Hare published his book The Great Lighthouses of Ireland in 2022 and a fine coffee-table tome it is. This is similar but written for children, and although there are some photographs, it’s mostly illustrated by Linda Fahrlin with great pictures. Lighthouses are fascinating for adults and children alike, and this book includes details on the wildlife to be found around our coasts, along with a list of the lighthouses that are open to the public. It’s the first book in Gill’s ‘Illustrated Encyclopedia’ series for children.
Fixing Mum and Dad, Sinéad Moriarty, Gill, €13.99
Young Quinn is not happy with her mother, who’s going back to work after time spent at home. She’s not happy with her father, either, who’s decided to continue working abroad. And she’s really bothered by the fact that her mother, herself and little brother are moving in with Grandad. He lives in a different town; she will be going to a new school and will know nobody. She’s not a happy camper. It’s said that divorce is hardest on the children and this novel deals sensitively with the issue, while telling the story of one little girl who learns to cope with life never being the same again.
The Forest Yet to Come, Sam Thompson, Little Island, €12.99
This is the final book in Thompson’s award-winning Wolfstongue trilogy and follows Sally and her brother Faolan, who live in a village protected by benevolent spirits. The village is surrounded by a forest of hungry and savage wolves, but the children long to know what lies beyond that forest. Enter Reynard, a stranger, a trickster, a storyteller and secret-keeper. And a fox. He can lead the children beyond the forest, but there are dangerous obstacles to overcome on the way. Anna Tromop’s illustrations are beautiful and Thompson’s previous novels have been hailed as modern classics. For the 7+ age group.
The Swifts: A Gallery of Rogues, Beth Lincoln, Puffin, €14.99
A very funny novel for the 7+ age group and at well over 400 pages, this book will entertain and amuse readers for some considerable hours. When the Swift home is burgled and a valuable painting stolen, being replaced by an exploding inflatable bird, Shenanigan Swift is intent on getting the painting back. Chasing the thieves who stole it leads her to Paris, home of Shenanigan’s eccentric cousins, the Martinets. The two families have been on bad terms for decades, but they’re going to have to pull together to help Shenanigan find the culprits. Lincoln’s previous novel, The Swifts, won the Nero Children’s Book Award and the Barnes and Noble Children’s Book Award, and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal.
The Story of the Great Irish Famine, David Rooney, Gill, €24.99
This is an outstanding picture book, using artwork originally created for the BBC documentary series ‘The Story of Ireland’. The illustrations are engravings on scraperboard, and the result is a series of haunting and memorable images. For the middle grade market, Rooney tells the story of the Famine as it unfolds, from the poverty that was rife in Ireland through to the coffin ships, the soup kitchens and the Famine roads leading nowhere. Along with Sine Quinn’s Faerie Isle, I would put this book head and shoulders above all the other picture books I’ve read this year.
Dexter Proctor the 10-Year-Old Doctor, Adam Kaye, Puffin €14.99
I’ve read Kaye’s This is Going to Hurt (for adults) and watched the TV adaptation too. He is a huge comic talent as well as an ex-doctor, and this book is a howl, aimed at the 7+ age group. Dexter Proctor began speaking at seven seconds old. By the time he was four years old, he had 86 A-levels. And now he’s working part-time at Lilydale General Hospital as a paediatrician, although he’s only 10. Meanwhile, all the teachers in his school have come down with a nasty dose of diarrhoea (what else?), his nemesis Dr Drake has it in for him, and Dexter needs to save his school, save his job, and find his place in the world. This is not just for kids, it’s a hoot for adults too, cleverly illustrated and prolifically scribbled on by Kaye’s partner-in-crime, Henry Paker.
The Most Unladylike Puzzle Book, Robin Stevens, Puffin, €10.99
A fun, informative book full of code-breaking puzzles, crosswords, riddles to be solved and much more, this book is published in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the first Most Unladylike Detective Society book, a series that has been a huge hit with the youngsters. It will keep any child of 7+ years amused for hours, and it’s beautifully produced.
Footnotes
Bookselling Ireland has announced that this year’s National Book Week will run from October 19 to 26. It’s a nationwide celebration of Irish bookshops and Irish books, writers, illustrators, poets and publishers. Special events are being planned for most local bookshops, so keep your eyes peeled!
Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival is happening this weekend, from the 11th to the 13th and has a brilliant lineup of guests. See dnlf.ie for details.