Father and daughter duo John and Fatti Burke on how they create their 'Little Library' of books

He writes, she draws, Eimear Ryan meets the dad and daughter teaching kids about Irish history

Illustrator Fatti Burke with her father, author John. Picture: Moya Nolan

John and Fatti Burke have a lively dynamic. Chatting to the two of them via Zoom in Fatti’s Drumcondra home is a delight: the father and daughter speak glowingly of each other’s work, gently rib one another, and occasionally finish each other’s thoughts. It’s a dynamic that translates to Little Library, their hugely successful series of illustrated biographies for kids, the latest edition of which is Michael Collins: The People’s Peacemaker, out now with Gill Books.

Fatti illustrates, John writes: it’s a simple formula for collaboration which has served them well since Irelandopedia, a compendium of facts about Ireland.