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

Above from left: Author of ‘The Doomsday Club’ Kevin Moran; ‘Let’s Play Rugby’ co-authors Gordon D’Arcy and Paul Howard, and ‘The Lost Dogs’ author Patricia Forde. Pictures: City Headshots Dublin; Brendan Moran/Sportsfile; Julien Behal Photography

The Doomsday Club by Kevin Moran (O’Brien Press, €9.99)

Life for Conan has just become infinitely scarier. “We’re dead,” he groans. “My ma’s genuinely going to kill me. Then my da will dig up my body and kill me all over again.”