Are you looking for a book to spark your love of stories? Luckily for you, Children's Books Ireland has a whole recommended reading guide to help you find one!
Launching as part of Culture Night 2024, Children's Books Ireland’s new reading guide Recommended Irish Reads 2024 highlights 100 great books for readers aged 0 to 18. The guide showcases some of Ireland’s brightest and best across fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, poetry and verse, with all books included having been written or illustrated by an Irish artist.
Below you will find some examples of the great reads included. Copies of the reading guide can be found at your local library and bookshops nationwide, or you can download the guide for free here from Friday, 20 September here.
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Plus, we hear from the winners of the Reading Heroes award as part of the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards who will share their favourite reads of the year.
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Our World: Ireland by Muireann Ní Chíobháin, illustrated by Fuchsia MacAree, Barefoot Books, 20pp, ISBN 9798888590768
A fresh, modern take on a first-words book following two children throughout their day in Ireland, with the characters using both English and Irish words to describe the weather, a hurling match, counting and greetings. Non-Irish speakers will appreciate the phonetic pronunciation of Irish vocabulary that is included underneath each word. The cheerful illustrations from MacAree are full of personality and feature a range of familiar Irish scenes. (Non-fiction, Age 0–2)
What is Peachick? by Erika McGann, illustrated by Clive McFarland, The O’Brien Press, 32pp, ISBN 9781788494571
This zany book does exactly what it says on the (pea) tin! Inquisitively and mischievously, it poses the question, what is a peachick? Using sound logic and clever wordplay, one little girl tries to get to the bottom of it. If peachicks exist then surely celery chicks, cake chicks, shoe chicks and more must exist too? The perfectly topsy turvy text is accompanied by bright and dynamic illustrations that will keep readers engaged and turning pages as they search for the answer. (Age 2–4)
Let Me Tell You A Joke by Sean Hegarty, illustrated by Jim Field, Nosy Crow, 40pp, ISBN 9781839949234
Sean Hegarty has perfected observational comedy on behalf of all the animals represented in this book, from worms to lions – you’ll be laughing at them all! With perfect delivery throughout, this joke book is bound to entertain, with a QR code which can be scanned to access a free audio version of the book too. Wonderfully illustrated and presented, the colourful and whimsical illustrations from Field match the humour and comedy of the book, and really assist the reader in visualising the scenarios that the author presents. (Non-fiction, Age 5–7)
The Minute Minders by Mary Murphy, Pushkin Children’s Books, 304pp, ISBN 9781782694229
Stevie and her father are fidders: tiny people who work with humans to help them with their problems, from making friends to encouraging them to overcome their fears. When Stevie and her father meet Sandra May, they team up to help her to navigate big emotions and translate her feelings into more compassionate actions. Illustrated throughout to be accessible to readers who are growing their confidence with reading, Murphy’s first chapter book for older readers is a delightful story. (Age 8–10)
Nina Peanut is Amazing by Sarah Bowie, Scholastic, 272pp, ISBN 9780702329876
This graphic-novel diary introduces us to Nina Peanut, a confident, plucky young girl who likes to make videos for her channel on Boogletoob. Having only two subscribers is not ideal, but when Nina is paired with her arch-nemesis for the school talent show, suddenly her likes and subscribers are sent soaring – but at what cost? Perfect for both reluctant and enthusiastic readers, with funny, bold and colourful illustrations, this is a thoroughly entertaining and highly relatable read, as most children will understand Nina’s desire for fame, likes and subscribers. (Age 8–10, 9–11)
Evil Duck and the Feather of Fortune by Chris Judge, Gill Books, 216pp, ISBN 9780717198825
If you are looking for a book that is sure to quack you up, then look no further! Eddie and Flo are staying with their grandad and while snooping around, they find a secret attic and accidentally release the supervillain Evil Duck. Discovering that there is a lot more to their boring old grandad than they realised, with Evil Duck on the loose once again, they must recapture him before he can get his wings on the Feather of Fortune. With zingy illustrations this is an action-packed adventure and an utterly hilarious first graphic novel from Judge. (Age 8–10, 9–11)
Ruth Concannon is the Publications Officer for Children’s Books Ireland, the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading.
Their mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people in Ireland, to share their expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence them, to champion every child’s right to excellent books and live literature events and support the artists who make that goal possible across the island of Ireland.
See www.childrensbooksireland.ie for more.
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