Peter Costello
World of Books
This time of the year is the major occasion for people to buy books of all kinds, but especially for younger readers. There is fierce competition among the publishers, so it is easy to overlook interesting, even important books in the piled high melee.
In these pages today we make some suggests for interesting and appropriate titles for younger audiences. The suggestions are arranged in order of age, youngest to oldest approximately. But buyers should carefully consider the relevance of the book to the intended giftee.
Suggestions
Well Done, Mummy Penguin by Chris Haughton (Walker Books, €17.99)
From Chris Haughton comes a funny, suspenseful celebration of mothers, set against an atmospheric Antarctic backdrop, a frozen landscape full of challenges. Mummy Penguin is off to find a fishy dinner for her family. She has to swim very fast, climb a slippery cliff and even tiptoe quietly past some sleeping seals.
All the while, Little Penguin looks on in awe and says: “Well done, Mummy Penguin!” The icy – and treacherous – Antarctic landscapes are breath-taking in this funny and exciting celebration of all that mothers do for their brood.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Very Fist Encyclopaedia by the editors at Dorling Kindersley, illustrated by Eric Carle (DK Books, €24.99)
Beautifully illustrated, this first encyclopaedia is perfect for curious kids who love to learn about all kinds of everything.
Take part in an amazing journey of discovery with the Very Hungry Caterpillar and learn fascinating facts about everything from science and space to animals and dinosaurs.
Travel around the world to explore the continents, discover where different animals live, learn all about the people who came before us, and find out how your body works in this colourful and charming first reference book for children aged 3-7.
Young learners can find out all about light and sound, the planets in the solar system, how plants grow, and much, much more in this one-of-a-kind introduction to common core subjects.
We Disagree About This Tree by Ross Collins (Nosy Crow, €14.99)
A fantastically funny festive story about the Bear and Mouse who always disagree from the award-winning Ross Collins, creator of the popular title There’s a Bear on My Chair.
Bear and Mouse have finally overcome their differences and are living together in perfect harmony… until it’s time to decorate the Christmas tree! Bear wants dazzling lights, while Mouse prefers gigantic baubles… and, wait a minute, did Mouse just put a manatee on the top… well! A topsy-turvy tree is definitely the last straw, and it looks as if Christmas will be ruined… But maybe, just maybe, Bear and Mouse can reach a compromise in time…?
Goldilocks and the Three Crocodiles by Michael Rosen, illustrated by David Melling (HarperCollins, €14.99)
A fabulously funny take on a classic story from two giants of children’s books!
Goldilocks and her little dog are off on an adventure, looking for that house again – the one with the chairs, the porridge and beds. The sound of the sea calls to them and before they know it, they have found quite a different sort of a house… there are bowls, and chairs and sort-of beds… plus some rather unexpected and hilarious inhabitants!
Michael Rosen is the highly regarded author of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, while the revamped telling of the famous nursery tale, with its up to date heroine is brilliantly brought to life David Melling, the creator of Hugless Douglas.
Badger’s Band (Tales from Acorn Wood 8) by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (€10.00)
Lift the flaps and join in the fun with Badger’s Band, a new story in the bestselling Tales from Acorn Wood preschool series by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.
Badger wants to start a band and his friends are keen to join in the fun. Tortoise plays the trumpet, and Bear can play piano, but who else wants to join the band? Lift the flaps to find out. Join Badger and his friends for a special concert.
With sturdy flaps on every spread and rhyming stories that are a joy to read aloud, Badger’s Band joins the bestselling Tales from Acorn Wood which have been delighting children and their parents for over two decades.
Meanwhile Back on Earth written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (Harper Collins, €17.99)
A father takes his two children on a thrilling out-of-this-world adventure into space and invites them to look back at Earth and the conflicts that have taken place since the beginning of time. This becomes a brief history of the world and a whistle-stop guide to the universe, all rolled into one – and told with Oliver Jeffers’s inimitable perspective, wit and exquisite artwork.
Meanwhile Back on Earth gives a unique look at life on Earth with a cosmic perspective – and an enduring message that what binds us together matters more than what sets us apart. A timely story for families everywhere, and another great creation by the Belfast artist/writer.
The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage (Walker Books, £12.99)
A moving tale of grit, endurance and self-belief to inspire young explorers and dreamers from a stunningly talented debut.
Dr Morley is about to embark on a quest to the northernmost tip of the world, to discover a creature that everyone talks about but nobody has ever seen: the Giant Arctic Jellyfish.
After years of research and hard work, she gathers together a highly trained crew and a boat full of specialist equipment and sets sail for the vast icy water lands of the Arctic. Will she find what she is searching for? Or will it find her?
From debut author-illustrator Chloe Savage comes a beautifully detailed adventure into the unknown, sure to captivate the imagination of young explorers aged five and upwards. All enough to make that inquiring young naturalist into a cryptozoologist!
Mythical Irish Places, written and illustrated by Mark Joyce (Columba Books, €22.99)
Following the success of Mythical Irish Beasts (2018) and Mythical Irish Wonders (2020), Mark Joyce returns with Mythical Irish Places, a gazetteer of Ireland’s most magical and wondrous locations.
From Newgrange to the Hill of Tara, Ireland is a mysterious land steeped in folklore.
Learn how the Cliffs of Moher got their name, and why Uisneach is called “the bellybutton” of Ireland. Discover how ancient Ireland was divided, and which castle is reputably the most haunted. Explore the myths surrounding the picturesque Giant’s Causeway in Antrim and venture to the spot that Cú Chulainn was born.
Mark Joyce provides a magical journey around the country visiting some of the most mythical places in Ireland. Brimming with beautiful illustrations, this is a book that children (and adults too) will enjoy for years to come.
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, with illustrations by P. J. Lynch (Walker Books, €14.99)
One of the most famous and best loved of modern American poets by Robert Frost, who spans the last century in his universal appeal.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Award-winning artist-author P.J. Lynch brings Robert Frost’s insightful poem from 1923, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening to life with his atmospheric and exquisitely detailed illustrations. The horse and its mysterious rider are expertly rendered against the striking background of a dark woods shrouded in snow. This edition is the perfect gift for adults and children alike.
The Truth about Riley by Sinead Moriarty (Gill Books, €13.99)
When Riley’s dad dies suddenly, leaving behind a mountain of debt, the life she’s used to starts crumbling around her.
Suddenly finding herself homeless, Riley tries to keep up appearances at school, hiding the truth from her lovely but clueless friend Sophie and spiteful, suspicious Vanessa.
But as strangers step up to help her and her mum, Riley realises that sometimes it is those you least expect who will change your life for the better…
The Truth About Riley is the timely and thought-provoking new story for young readers from one of Ireland’s best-loved storytellers.
The Magic of the Ballet: seven classic stories by Vivian French, illustrated by Lauren O’Hara (Walker Books, €19.99)
A book of beautiful, lively retellings of classic ballet stories. From Swan Lake to The Firebird, and The Nutcracker to Coppélia, Vivian French breathes new life into seven ballet favourites in her timeless, gloriously-immersive retellings.
Her evocative words are perfectly complemented by Lauren O’Hara’s characterful illustrations, which strike the perfect balance between classic and contemporary, and the result is a treasury which shimmers with the magic of the ballet… certain to leave readers of all ages spellbound!
The Worry Jar by Lou John, illustrated by Jenny Bloomfield (Oxford University Press, £11.99)
Frida worries all the time. Big worries, small worries, and all-the-time worries. Her worries feel heavy, just like the pebbles she collects every day. Some days, Frida’s worries become the only thing she can think about.
When she goes to the swimming pool, she’s worried that she may sink out of sight. But then, one day, her granny teaches her an ingenious way to keep her worries in check-and Frida finally feels the weight of her fears slip away… She puts a stone in the jar for every worry and so keeps them all in control.
This sensitively written picture book explores how a young girl learns to manage her worries. Jenny Bloomfield’s beautifully observed illustrations bring Frida’s feelings and experiences vividly to life.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas and other Festive Poems, gathered and illustrated by Chris Riddell (Macmillan, €12.99)
This is the perfect Christmas selection for poetry lovers of all ages. Includes much loved traditional verse: The Night Before Christmas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Deck the Halls, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and We Three Kings. Together with poems by: Neil Gaiman, William Wordsworth, Thomas Hardy, Hollie McNish, Sue Hardy Dawson, Roger Stevens, Benjamin Zephaniah, Clare Bevan, Sara Teasdale, A.F. Harrold, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Ogden Nash, Robert Burns and Jackie Kay. The old and the new, a cornucopia of poetry for all tastes.
A Dinosaur a Day by Miranda Smith (HarperCollins, €22.99)
A different dinosaur for every day. Dip in each day to discover a new dinosaur and enjoy sharing with friends or family. Immerse yourself in this unforgettable year-long encounter with the most astonishing creatures ever to walk the Earth. From ferocious Tyrannosaurus to gentle giant Titanosaurus.
You’ll find familiar and lesser-known names, alongside newly discovered species, all brought to life with stunning illustrations and fascinating facts. With beautiful illustrations of every dinosaur and gorgeous presentation, this is the ultimate gift for dinosaur fans aged six and up.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not 2023 (Century, €11.99)
Robert Leroy Ripley was an American journalist who created and developed the world-famous Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, a syndicated graphic panel for newspapers in the 1920s. He travelled the globe in search of unusual objects and strange stories, and astonishing human beings, building up an extraordinary collection of everything from shrunken heads to dinosaur eggs and iron maidens. These are now exhibited in the Ripley museums around the world. Though the creator has passed on, this annual publication and the related museums continues his spirit of energetic curiosity. A far better buy, many readers think, than that other celebrated book of records.
And Everything Will Be Glad to see You edited by Ella Risbridger, illustrated by Anna Shepeta (Nosy Crow, €24.99)
A forceful, passionate and uplifting collection of poems by women and girls that is guaranteed to inspire, delight and empower.
From well-loved poets, including Maya Angelou, Wendy Cope, Lucille Clifton and Christina Rossetti, to newer voices such as Amanda Gorman, Yrsa Daley-Ward and Ada Limón, this outstanding collection from talented anthologist Ella Risbridger has poems for every mood and every moment. Ella’s selection is wide-ranging but accessible, and will appeal to poetry lovers both young and old alike. This is the perfect gift to begin a lifelong love of poetry.
Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan (Rock the Boat, £12.99)
Chernobyl 1986. Those left behind must fight to survive. The world is coming to an end. Dragged from her bed in the middle of the night and forced to leave her beloved puppy behind, Natasha has no idea if she’ll ever return home.
Abadoned the mother hound Zoya and her pups growing up in the shadow of the ruined nuclear power plant, pups Misha and Bratan need to learn how to live wild – and fast. Creatures with sharp teeth, scythe-like claws and yellow eyes lurk in the overgrown woods. And they’re watching the brothers… But will the dogs survive without humans? And can humans live without them?
A devastating tale of courage, companionship and hope which could be plucked from today’s news from Eastern Europe, for the young adult readers who are the citizens of tomorrow, from the award-winning author of Lark – Jack London meets Richard Adams.
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