The greatest gift you can give a child is a love of reading
Keeping children occupied at any time of the day or year can be challenging – you don’t want them to watch too much TV, you’d like them to go outside but it’s raining, you want to spend more time playing with them but you also have to work/prepare dinner/do life admin etc etc.
It’s not easy but if the child in question loves to read, you’ve just cut your worries in half. Not only will they be entertained, they’re exercising their brain, expanding their mind, learning new words and generally letting their imagination run wild which can only lead to more creativity in the future.
There are no down sides!
With that in mind, here are some great Irish children’s books they’re sure to love:
Granny National by Rachael Blackmore
This delightful story by Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore with Rachel Pierce follows a young girl and her friends who have just one goal in mind for their Easter holidays – to make her Granny’s dream of becoming a jockey come true!
Legends of the Cliffs of Moher by Eithne Massey
Perfect for reading out loud to little ones, this beautiful book contains enchanting stories about Co Clare’s iconic cliffs. Legends include: The Mermaid of Moher, The Hag, The Lost City, The Magic Foals, The Giant Eel of Kilmacreehy.
The Story of Croke Park by Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh
This book is a must for all GAA fans as Gaelic sports icon Micheal O Muircheartaigh shares his lifelong passion for the GAA with young readers. As well as guiding them through Croke Park’s fascinating history, Micheal picks his favourite players, matches and incidents from history and describes what it was like commentating on games, and seeing the legendary cups being held high by the All Ireland winners.
The Great Irish Biodiversity Book by Éanna Ní Lamhna
In this book, wildlife expert Éanna Ní Lamhna takes us on a trip through Irish wildlife habitats – from bogs to beaches and woodland to grassland – with stunning illustrations each step of the way.
Disaster Dad by Donncha O’Callaghan
Filled with desperate ‘Dad jokes’, embarrassing incidents and lots of love, this is a laugh-out-loud story that is sure to tickle the fancy of any young reader, aged 7 and up.
The Friendship Fairies go to Paris by Lucy Kennedy
The best-selling author and TV presenter is basing her next book from the Friendship Fairies series in Paris where everything goes wonderfully until they lose the family pet….
Haunted Ireland – An atlas of ghost tales from every county by Kieran Fanning
Given Ireland’s strong ties to Halloween, it’s only fitting that there is a terrifying tale to go with every county in the country! Join master storyteller Kieran Fanning for 32 spooky stories from well-known hauntings like The Ghost of Loftus Hall and The White Lady of Kinsale, to lesser-known sightings like The Black Pig of Kiltrustan and Father Hegarty’s Phantom Horse.
Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher
Bring a different type of book into your home with a truly timeless verse novel set in snowy pre-historic Ireland. With beautiful themes of hope, kindness and the power of friendship, this story from new writing talent, Eilish Fisher, is brought to life with stunning illustrations from Dermot Flynn.
The Story of Irish Rugby by Gerard Siggins
This wonderfully illustrated book includes everything you could possibly want to know about Irish rugby and is perfect for young fans of the game.
Fixing Mum and Dad by Sinéad Moriarty
Sinéad Moriarty vividly explores family dynamics from a child’s perspective in this heartwarming story about dealing with the inevitability of change and a girl who just wants to keep her parents together.
