Children's books: 12 new releases from Irish authors and artists at home and abroad

Discover Irish children’s books this September with Ruth Concannon

Fri, 22 Sep, 2023 - 20:01

Ireland is a land of storytellers evidenced by the the wealth of talented Irish children’s authors and illustrators produced by this country.

Just as the children who call Ireland home deserve to see themselves reflected in the stories that they read, Irish authors and illustrators equally deserve to be celebrated for their work. This month’s recommendations shine a light on just some of September’s new releases from talented Irish artists at home and abroad. We hope it will inspire you to read, recommend and support the dedicated work of Irish children’s authors and illustrators.

Fuaimeanna na Séasúr by Risteard Mac Liam, Anne O’Hara and Anna Jordan (My Irish Books)

Creating gorgeous soundscapes for young readers that highlight seasonal changes in the natural world, this is one of the first noisy books as Gaeilge.

Accessible for both fluent Irish speakers and those improving their language skills, the fusion of atmospheric illustrations and carefully crafted soundscapes sharing the story is captivating.

Bonus points for having the parent-pleasing option of turning off the sound, (3+).

Too Many Cats by Kate Sheehy (The O’Brien Press)

What’s better than one cat? Lots of cats of course!

Lily loves her cat Lenny so much she decides to create the stinkiest, fishiest cat treats ever in the hopes of luring even more feline friends to her home. Soon discovering there can, in fact, be too many cats, Lily scrambles to sort the kitty-related chaos before she is accused of being a cat-napper. A joy-filled debut that is simply purr-fect for cat-lovers, (4+).

Brains by John Devolle (Pushkin Children’s)

Have you ever wondered how your brain works? This colourful fact book invites readers to take a peep inside our minds, discovering the inner workings of the brain.

With mind-blowing scientific concepts made simple John Devolle’s signature print-style artwork makes this a bright and accessible read for any young minds (6+).

An Mac Tíre Deireanach le Patricia Forde, maisithe ag Lauren O’Neill (Futa Fata)

Set in the midst of Oliver Cromwell’s tyranny of Ireland, brave Úna faces an impossible task of trying to defend Ireland’s native wolves from Cromwellian soldiers. Ireland’s Laureate na nÓg creates a stunning story centring on a bold female protagonist.

Children aged nine-plus who are confident reading as Gaeilge will devour this unmissable tale of courage, while less fluent readers aged 12-plus will equally find this an accessible and engaging read.

Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster by Leona Forde and Karen Harte (Gill Books)

One of the most enjoyable new series for readers who enjoy a funny read. While Milly McCarthy, does tend to cause disasters, no one can deny that her intentions are always good! Inspired to become a world champion Irish dancer, Milly hatches a plan: Step one, buy a curly wig; step two, enter a competition.

After all, learning to Irish dance is easy, right? A fantastic series with an Irish setting, relatable hero and a cúpla focail thrown in, Milly McCarthy is a must for Wimpy Kid fans, (9+).

Tread Softly: Classic Irish Poems for Children by Nicola Reddy and Erin Brown (The O’Brien Press)

A treasure trove of some of Ireland’s best-loved poets, this collection celebrates the magic of the written word in poetic form. While readers may recognise some famous names like WB Yeats, Katharine Tynan, Oscar Wilde, and Eva Gore-Booth, the selection of poems are a mixture of familiar classics and lesser-known verses.

Erin Brown’s sumptuous illustrations enhance the sense wonderment in what would make a beautiful keepsake gift for any child, (9+).

The Silver Road by Sinéad O’Hart (Piccadilly Press)

The ways of the seandraíocht, the old magic of Ireland, come crashing into Rose Darke’s world when she is entrusted with the power of a mysterious enchanted stone by an ancient ice giant.

The Silver Road, magic embedded throughout the land of Ireland is under threat from a host of gods, ghouls, and mythical creatures, but will Rose have the courage to defend it?

A joy to read for fans of Irish mythology and folklore, Sinéad O’Hart has hit her stride as one of Ireland’s most promising authors, (10+).

Finding Hope by Sinéad Moriarty (Gill Books)

Since her mum passed away, Hope has found it hard to feel enthusiastic about anything.

Inspired by Greta Thunberg, she resolves to solve the climate crisis; after all, focusing on encouraging her family to use the car less and take shorter showers is a great distraction from worrying about dad’s new girlfriend.

Sensitively dealing with themes of bereavement and climate anxiety, Hope’s earnest determination reminds readers we can all make a difference, (11+).

Show Me the Science: Life’s Biggest Questions and How Science Answers Them by Professor Luke O’Neill and Tara O’Brien (Gill Books)

Adapted from his bestselling adult non-fiction, Prof Luke O’Neill combines philosophical questions we’ve all wondered about life like ‘why is or world so unequal?’ and even ‘why can’t we just cheer up?’ explaining the scientific logic behind what can sometimes seem like illogical human behaviour.

Tara O’Brien’s illustration bring an element of effortless cool and break up the dense information on everything from germs to aliens.

A reference book for the modern world designed to challenge your thinking, (12+).

In Between Worlds: The Journey of the Famine Girls by Nicola Pierce (The O’Brien Press)

Shedding fresh light on a lesser-known aspect of the story of the Irish famine, Nicola Pierce takes readers on a journey through time, beginning on the eve of Maggie’s 100th birthday, as she casts her mind back to her childhood and adolescence during the Great Hunger of the 1840s.

When the potato crops fail, Maggie is offered a unique opportunity to escape the workhouse and start afresh in Australia, joining the numbers leaving Ireland’s shores for good. Pierce masterfully collapses time in this affecting historical fiction highlighting survival and sacrifice, (12+).

Welcome to Camp Killer by Cynthia Murphy (Barrington Stoke)

The old Miller house provides a stately English setting for an American-style summer camp, if you are willing to ignore the local legend of the curse of former owner Dorothea Miller. When spooky campfire stories become a reality, Holly and her fellow camp counsellors find themselves experiencing a series of near-fatal accidents that soon take a sinister twist. A horror-thriller aimed at reluctant readers who don’t mind a gruesome tale, (13+).

Wise Creatures by Deirdre Sullivan (Hot Key Books)

Daisy has worked hard to forget her past as a child psychic and The Creatures that adults have tried to convince her were never real, but how long can you really out-run the ghost of your past?

As her beloved cousin Nina begins to experience a supernatural haunting, normal life becomes increasingly impossible with The Creatures clawing their way back into Daisy’s reality.

Fans of the supernatural and Stranger Things will be drawn to this tense, poetic story; no one creates a slow-burn of suspense quite like Deirdre Sullivan, (15+).

If you’d like to play your part in championing Irish children’s books, there are plenty of ways to do so. During September and October, Discover Irish Children’s Books will produce a top ten Irish children’s book chart, featuring Irish children’s writers and illustrators. There are loads of ways for teachers, booksellers, parents and readers to get involved in this project. Children’s Books Ireland will also be publishing our annual reading guide this month, bringing together over 250 of the best books for young people from the year in both English and Irish.

For more information, visit: childrensbooksireland.ie.

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