Books for Children

HELLO KITTY AND FRIENDS — THE SUMMER FAIR

The popular kitten and her pals are filled with excitement when teacher Miss Davey shows them a picture of her new dog, Spot, and tells them about PAWS the animal centre which rescues animals like Spot and finds them homes. The children’s eagerness soars when she adds that she’s organising a fair to make money for the centre and that they can all help out at the various stalls. Can they make enough money for PAWS? A charming read-aloud book for age 4+.

COW BELLE; BEAUTY QUEEN by Leena Parkkinen, illustrated by Katja Wehner €10.82). After an unfortunate incident with a car, eight year-old Milena’s tongue is split in two which prevents her from pronouncing the letter S. When she meets Semi-Skimmed, a cow who scorns Milena’s speech impediment and is generally rude, feisty Milena puts her in her place and they become friends. When the Cow Belle Beauty Queen Pageant is announced, Semi –Skinned is targeted by a herd whose rude jeers diminish her confidence. Can Milena help? A lively laugh-aloud read for age 7+.

SUN TIME SNOW TIME (Bloomsbury €10.82) is a delightful gathering of cross -cultural poems from the Caribbean and UK. “I like to stay up/ and listen when big people talking/ jumblie stories/ I does feel so tingly and excited/ inside me/ But when my mother say ‘Girl, time for bed’/ Then is when I does feel a dread/ Then is when I does wish I didn’t listen to no stupid jumblie story.” These bouncy, almost visual poems are a joy for age 9+ or to read aloud to younger children.

THE LOST PRISON by Joseph Delaney, with appropriately atmospheric illustrations by Scott M Fischer (Andersen Press €9.62 HB). When young Billy leaves the orphanage to take up his position as nightguard at the dreary castle prison, he enters into a life steeped in fear. His boss, Adam Colne, is a large, ruthless man with a twisted attitude of raw humour, shown when he introduces Billy to Netty, a mad ghost who haunts the gallows at Execution Square. But this is only an introduction to fearful events that escalate through the story. Not for the nervous, but a knuckle-clencher for the brave 10+