YOUNG READERS

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Three small girls reading a children's book in autumn day.
Children's book reviews: Plenty of portals for young readers to escape into magical worlds
Ruth Concannon rounds up the best books that capture the imagination and embrace the mystical mysteries of both our world and the otherworld

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

Children's book reviews: Magical urchins, a fearful fur ball, and a pubescent trainee banshee
Children's book reviews: Magical urchins, a fearful fur ball, and a pubescent trainee banshee
Pet O’Connell rounds up a fresh selection of the latest children’s books, with tales of an enchanted hotel, a school full of fairies, and a dog afraid of absolutely everything

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

a girl sits on fallen leaves leaning against a tree trunk in an autumn park
Children's book reviews: Take a gander at what ‘The Best Irish Books of 2025’ has to offer
Children’s Books Ireland has some recommended reads from tots to teens for autumn

Fri, 12 Sep, 2025

A boy turning the pages of a book while reading
Children's book reviews: 12 books for August with Children's Books Ireland
Ruth Concannon says Intrigue is key: From becoming an older sibling to teenager troubles

Fri, 22 Aug, 2025

Children's books review: Three local reads to consider for your younger reader
Children's books review: Three local reads to consider for your younger reader
Three books from Irish authors that your child may enjoy.

Mon, 18 Aug, 2025

Children's books review: Fresh tales well worth racing off to the bookstore to grab
Children's books review: Fresh tales well worth racing off to the bookstore to grab
Pet O’Connell rounds up a fresh selection of the latest children’s books, from the understanding of individuality, to stories from two Irish racing legends

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Girls relaxing on the beach and reading a book
Children's book reviews: 12 books for July with Children's Books Ireland
Ruth Concannon says no matter whether it's rain or shine, there's adventures galore for every day of the month with this selection of books

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

Children's books review: Sports rivalries, journey of self discovery, and a haunting Wolfling
Children's books review: Sports rivalries, journey of self discovery, and a haunting Wolfling
Pet O’Connell rounds up a selection of the latest children’s books from the next chapter of adept sporting twins to a tale of impending adulthood

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Cute girl reading a book in a hammock in the garden.
Children's book reviews: Summer stories to warm up and inspire an eager imagination
Ranging from reality TV penguins to underwater antics, and even a sprinkle of time travel through unexpected worlds, there is something, as always, for every reader to enjoy

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

Children's books review: Thrilling reads from a trio of brilliant Irish authors
Children's books review: Thrilling reads from a trio of brilliant Irish authors
Pet O’Connell rounds up a diverse selection of the latest children’s books that tackle everything from AI and young love to ancient mythology and the recorder

Fri, 23 May, 2025

A boy turning the pages of a book while reading
Children's book reviews: Showing what determination mixed with imagination can achieve
12 books for April with Ruth Concannon of Children's Books Ireland

Fri, 02 May, 2025

Boy sitting on a hill reading a book in a meadow
Children's books review: Three titles to fire young imaginations
This month’s releases bring tales of explorers, young love, and unbridled creativity, writes Pet O'Connell

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

girl reading book outdoors in grass
Children's book reviews: Adventures aplenty in this springtime crop of new Irish books
April book reviews from Children’s Books Ireland with Ruth Concannon

Fri, 04 Apr, 2025

Happy cute child flying on the book on white background.
Children's books review: Overcoming adversity, historical thrills, and a cracking Easter read
With life lessons, farmyard fun, and Morse code, there’s much to delight young readers in these new books, writes Pet O’Connell

Sun, 23 Mar, 2025

Eight-year-old girl enjoying a read in the open air
Children's book reviews: 12 books for March with Children's Book Ireland
Springtime brings plenty of fresh reads for children of all ages

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Children’s book reviews: Doomsday tales of growing up in Ireland leaves tails wagging
Children’s book reviews: Doomsday tales of growing up in Ireland leaves tails wagging
Pet O’Connell rounds up a selection of the latest children’s books from the horror of trying to fit in, to getting stuck in to a rugby scrum, and of pooches trying to get back home

Fri, 21 Feb, 2025

Children’s book reviews: Dickensian child poverty meets Victorian scientific advancement
Children’s book reviews: Dickensian child poverty meets Victorian scientific advancement
Pet O’Connell rounds up a selection of the latest children’s books, featuring history, rhymes, and the surreal

Fri, 17 Jan, 2025

Boy with book looking through the window in winter day, indoors.
Children's book reviews: New books teach readers the lessons we need to learn again
Children’s book reviews for January by Ruth Concannon of Children’s Books Ireland

Fri, 10 Jan, 2025

Merry Christmas Xmas holiday. Brother sisters children kids reading magic Christmas story book near Christmas tree in living roo
Festive books to delight younger readers
A festive game of football at Croke Park, a deep dive into the lovely, icky grossness of Ireland's wildlife and the return of old favourites in Oliver Jeffers' new book enchant Pet O'Connell 

Fri, 13 Dec, 2024

girl sitting by the window
Children's book reviews: Books to keep children enthralled in the most magical time of the year
We have some excellent Christmas and winter-themed reads that make fantastic gifts for young readers

Fri, 06 Dec, 2024

Book review: Banville’s precision lifts the drabness of 1950s Dublin right off the page
Book review: Banville’s precision lifts the drabness of 1950s Dublin right off the page
The plot moves at a good pace but many readers will take just as much pleasure in the precision of the author’s depiction of the drabness and discomforts of 1950s Dublin, and the petty snobbery that ruled everyday life

Sat, 23 Nov, 2024

Children’s books reviews: Christmas crackers for Gaelscoil girls and young Irish rugby fans
Children’s books reviews: Christmas crackers for Gaelscoil girls and young Irish rugby fans
Pet O’Connell rounds up a festive selection of the latest books for young readers from Irish authors, illustrators, and publishers

Fri, 22 Nov, 2024

Young girl reading a book by the fireplace
Children's book reviews: A sense of wonderment can bring kids on unexpected adventures
Children’s Books Ireland has some recommended reads on sea exploration, biodiversity, facts aliens, empires, and a trip through the underworld

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Children’s book reviews: Forces of good and evil do battle in terrifying tales
Children’s book reviews: Forces of good and evil do battle in terrifying tales
Pet O’Connell rounds up a selection of equally spectacular and spooky stories that will keep readers from turning off the light

Fri, 25 Oct, 2024

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Book review: The best-laid plans go awry...
To some extent, 'Such Charming Liars' is about the bridge between innocence and experience

Sat, 19 Oct, 2024

girl reading a book
Children's book reviews: Unleash banshees, selkies, and pookas from these autumn pages
Children’s Books Ireland has some recommended reads from tots to teens for October

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

Children’s books reviews: Escaping the ominous Tall Man into boarding school and museum tales
Children’s books reviews: Escaping the ominous Tall Man into boarding school and museum tales
A selection of books for younger readers that transports them to a different time, space, and to the mysteries of the National Museum

Fri, 27 Sep, 2024

Young kid girl sit on plaid with pumpkins and reading book. Happy little girl in hat and autumn clothes on an autumn background.
Spark a love of stories with these new titles from Irish artists
Children’s Books Ireland has some recommended reads from tots to teens for autumn

Fri, 20 Sep, 2024

David O'Mahony: Audiobooks retain the nostalgia of having a story read to you
S David O'Mahony: Audiobooks retain the nostalgia of having a story read to you
When is a book not a book? According to a persistent chunk of the reading world, when it’s an audiobook apparently.

Sat, 31 Aug, 2024

Book review: Game design could leave you puzzled
Book review: Game design could leave you puzzled
The storyline of 'The Grandest Game' is attractive, however, it’s a frustrating read as so much is unexplained

Sat, 31 Aug, 2024

Child reading book in bed. Kids read in bedroom.
Children’s book reviews: The pull of the Moon proves very strong for independent girls
The solitary nature of the Moon inspires one girl’s path to liberty and escape from the ‘cool gang’

Fri, 23 Aug, 2024

Children reading books at park
Lead characters shine in host of teen novels to brighten up your summer
From high-speed heists and magical quests to climate change and cults, new books will keep youngsters thrilled and chilled, writes Ruth Concannon

Fri, 16 Aug, 2024

Children’s book reviews: Children’s coming of age stories reach for the stars
Children’s book reviews: Children’s coming of age stories reach for the stars
Pet O’Connell rounds up a selection of books suitable for tots to teens

Fri, 26 Jul, 2024

Girl reading a book.
Children's book reviews: 12 books for July with Children's Books Ireland
July’s summer reading roundup covers; tackling chores, seizing the day, launching a business, going for a hike and solving many, many mysteries

Fri, 19 Jul, 2024

Children’s book reviews: Transcend these strange, wacky worlds with quacking tales
Children’s book reviews: Transcend these strange, wacky worlds with quacking tales
Pet O'Connell rounds up a selection of books with one showing the quest to solve a good mystery never goes out of fashion

Fri, 05 Jul, 2024

Reading
Children's book reviews: 12 books for summer with Children's Books Ireland
Summer distractions with tales of mean geese, shy towns, hidden treasures and heart-stopping romance

Fri, 28 Jun, 2024

Fun and informative summer reading for children of all ages
Fun and informative summer reading for children of all ages
Ruth Concannon samples books about everything from bears to football to Goldilocks

Fri, 07 Jun, 2024

Children’s books reviews: A reimagining of events around D-Day landings
Children’s books reviews: A reimagining of events around D-Day landings
Pet O'Connell rounds up a selection of books on topics from consent and self-acceptance to legendary tales from the West of Ireland

Fri, 31 May, 2024

Children’s books reviews: Dinosaur-changing pies, mysteries and a fairy-tale tour of Cork
Children’s books reviews: Dinosaur-changing pies, mysteries and a fairy-tale tour of Cork
Pet O'Connell rounds up a selection of books for little ones to teens

Fri, 03 May, 2024

girl reading book outdoors in grass
Children's book reviews: 12 books for April with Children's Books Ireland
Inspiring books this month will take children on a wild adventure

Fri, 26 Apr, 2024

Kids’ books reviews: Arboreal action and adventure
Kids’ books reviews: Arboreal action and adventure
Wood you believe? Pet O’Connell leafs through new releases in Irish children’s fiction

Fri, 29 Mar, 2024

Kids’ books reviews: From penguins on a sun holiday to fairy friendship
Kids’ books reviews: From penguins on a sun holiday to fairy friendship
A roundup of children’s book releases, including one by a recent ‘Holly Bough’ cover creator

Fri, 23 Feb, 2024

Why parents sometimes need to alter fairy tales for the greater good of the child
Why parents sometimes need to alter fairy tales for the greater good of the child
Simon Tierney has been reading fairy tales to his daughters since they were born. But is the messaging really appropriate for modern little girls?

Mon, 19 Feb, 2024

Little boy is sitting at home on the couch and reading a book. Learning to read.
Children's book reviews: 12 books for February with Children's Book Ireland
There is imagination aplenty in this month’s selection, with tales for wildlings, tigers on trains, detective bees and unicorn alpacas to entertain younger readers

Fri, 16 Feb, 2024

30th September 2023 Pictured at Family Reader’s Day at the DLR Lexicon Library for the ‘Hooked on Books’ event which featured d
Children's titles dominate list of most borrowed library books for 2023
Irish writers proved popular with adult library goers last year with homegrown authors accounting for half of the top 20 list of adult titles

Wed, 31 Jan, 2024

Kids’ books reviews: Silhouettes and attacking dragons part of the drama of a secret land
Kids’ books reviews: Silhouettes and attacking dragons part of the drama of a secret land
The latest in children’s books as summarised by our dragonslayer and puzzle solver Pet O’Connell

Fri, 26 Jan, 2024

CC The ShopThat Nearly Wasn't
Children's Books Round-Up: Irish-written tales where the kids are the heroes
Nicola Pierce and Judi Curtin negotiate the Famine and its legacy; Sinéad O'Hart steps into Irish mythology

Fri, 17 Nov, 2023

Milly McCarthy: The writer and illustrator behind Cork's answer to Wimpy Kid
Milly McCarthy: The writer and illustrator behind Cork's answer to Wimpy Kid
Irish kid-lit's new sensation came from a throwaway remark asking why popular kids' books didn't feature Irish kids - Sara Colohan meets the author and illustrator who brought her to life

Sat, 16 Sep, 2023

Darach Ó Séaghdha: Unifying experience of Irish childhood is slipping away
Darach Ó Séaghdha: Unifying experience of Irish childhood is slipping away
There has been a change not just in the amount of Irish programmes but in the nature of kids’ TV itself 

Sat, 03 Jun, 2023

Sinead Moriarty for Gill Publishers - Photo by Ruth Medjber @ruthlessimagery
Sinead Moriarty: ‘Writing saved me, definitely’
From the refugee crisis to homelessness, Sinead Moriarty tackles big issues in her books for young readers

Sat, 17 Sep, 2022

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