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Recommended Reads is the annual reading guide of the Children’s Book Festival. Is é Rogha Leabhar an t-eolaí bliantúil léitheoireachta d’Fhéile Leabhar na bPáistí. Festival image / Íomha na féile: Sadie Cramer

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to anywhere in the world! We personally pack every envelope and put a surprise in every one. (A small one, but still.) So get shopping now on

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Children's Books Ireland Leabhair Pháistí Éireann

Children’s books Ireland Pantone Colours CMYK Colours 17 North Street Pantone Red 032 cGreat George’s Red C-0 / M-90 / Y-86 / K-0 Pantone 3005 c Blue C-100 / M-34 / Y-0 / K-2 Pantone 116 c Yellow C-0 / M-16/ Y-100 / K-o DublinGreen 1 C-50 / M-0 / Y-100 / K-0 Pantone 376 c Leabhair Phaistí Éireann 17 Sráid Mhór Seoirse Thuaidh Baile Átha Cliath 1 T: (01) 872 7475 www.childrensbooksireland.ie www.inismagazine.ie www.childrenslaureate.ie

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For more information, call 085 228 3060 or email i n f o @ l i t t l e i s l a n d . i e

e’re delighted to celebrate another year of great writing, illustration – and reading! The 23rd Children’s Book Festival takes place in October 2013 with an exciting month of workshops, readings, competitions and storytelling events happening countrywide. Children’s Books Ireland – with the support of publishers, booksellers, and librarians from all over Ireland – has produced this booklet of RECOMMENDED READS for you to enjoy. It’s full of reviews of books for all ages (the age categories are just a guideline – feel free to explore!), published in 2013. A very special thanks to all our reviewers (listed on the contents page), to Kieran Nolan our designer, Sadie Cramer for the festival image, and of course Jenny Murray of CBI whose dedication makes it all possible. For more information about the festival, see www.childrensbooksireland.com or ask in your local library for details of events.

Rogha Leabhar 2013

á lúcháir orainn bliain eile de scoth na scríbhneoireachta, an mhaisiúcháin – agus na léitheoireachta – a cheiliúradh! Beidh an 23ú Féile Leabhar Páistí ann i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2013 le mí corraitheach de cheardlanna, imeachtaí léitheoireachta, comórtais agus scéalaíochta ar siúl ar fud na tíre. Tá an leabhrán seo ROGHA LEABHAR curtha le chéile ag Leabhair Pháistí Éireann le cabhair ó fhoilsitheoirí, díoltóirí leabhar agus leabharlannaithe ar fud na hÉireann agus tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as. Tá sé lán de léirmheasanna ar leabhair do gach aois (níl sna haoisghrúpaí ach treoir – léadh daoine mar is mian leo féin), a foilsíodh i 2013. Ba mhaith liom buíochas ar leith a ghabháil lenár léirmheastóirí (liostaithe thall), le Kieran Nolan ár ndearthóir, Sadie Cramer a rinne íomhá na féile dúinn, agus ar ndóigh le Jenny Murray as CBI as eagar a chur ar an obair go léir. Tá tuilleadh eolais ar fáil faoin bhféile ag www.childrensbooksireland.com nó is féidir na sonraí a fháil i do leabharlann áitiúil. Paddy O’Doherty Editor/Eagarthóir 3

C o n te nts / C lár

L a u re a te na n Óg

Welcome and Contact Information / Fáilte agus Eolas Teagmhála . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laureate na nÓg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acknowledgements / Buíochas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reviewers / Léirmheastóirí . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CBI Book of the Year Awards / CBI Gradam Leabhar na Bliana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pictiúr, an exhibition of contemporary children’s picturebook illustration curated by Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey, showcases the extraordinarily rich talent present among contemporary Irish children’s book illustrators. Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council with the support of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Children’s Books Ireland, Poetry Ireland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Is sárthaispeántas é Pictíúr, an taispeántas de mhaisiúchán pictiúrleabhar atá á eagrú agus á choimeád ag Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey, den talann shíorshaibhir atá ar fáil i measc maisitheoirí leabhair pháistí Éireann sa lá atá inniu ann. Is togra de chuid na Comhairle Ealaíon é Laureate na nÓg le tacaíocht ón Aire Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige, Leabhair Pháistí Éireann, Éigse Éireann agus Comhairle Ealaíon Thuaisceart Éireann.

Draíocht, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 6th September 2013 – 5th October 2013 Baboró International Arts Festival for Children at the Galway Arts Centre, Dominick Street, Galway 13th October 2013 – 2nd November 2013 Irish Museum of Modern Art, Kilmainham, Dublin 8 14th November 2013 – 12th January 2014 www.childrenslaureate.ie

A c k no w ledg e ments / B u íochas

3 4 4 5 6

Recommended Reads / Rogha Leabhar Age / Aois 0–4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–17 Age / Aois 5–8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18–25 Age / Aois 9–11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26–37 Age / Aois 12–14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38–46 Young Adult / Daoine Fásta Óga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47–55 Poetry / Filíocht . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56–57 Information Books / Leabhair Faisnéise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58–64 Irish-Published Children’s Books 2013 /  Leabhair do Pháistí a Foilsíodh in Éirinn 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Competitions / Comórtaisí . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Editor / Eagarthóir:  Paddy O’Doherty Reviewers / Léirmheastóirí:  Carrie Anderson [CA], Irene Barber [IB], Sara Bennett [SB], Finn Bourke [FB], Helen Bradshaw [HB], Jane Burns [JB], Aoife Byrne [AB], Emma Byrne [EB], Helen Carr [HCa], Máiréad Casey [MC], Gráinne Clear [GC], Claire Cogan [CC], Laura Cassidy [LC], Valerie Coghlan [VaC], Vita Coleman [ViC], Catherine Ann Cullen [CAC], Donal Cumiskey [DC], Helen Cusack [HCu], Hannah Deacon [HD], Audrey Devereux [ADev], Peter Doherty [PD], Tina Dolan [TD], Aisling Donnelly [ADon], Ena Duffy [ED], Jenny Duffy [JD], Lorna Farrell [LF], Jean Flitcroft [JF], Louise Gallagher [LG], Kathleen Gallagher [KG], Kate Harvey [KH], Claire Hennessy [CHen], Colin Heslin [CHes], Rosemary Hetherington [RH], Emma Hutchinson [EH], Bob Johnson [BJ], Chris Judge [CJ], Mary Esther Judy [MEJ], Fiona Kennedy [FK], Marian Keyes [MK], Sally Kingston [SK], David Lee [DL], Becky Long [BL], Vivienne Luke [VL], David Maybury [DM], Natasha Mac a’Bháird [NMaB], Jessica McCarry [JMcC], Emma McDonnell [EMcD], Erika McGann [EMcG], Oisín McGann [OMcG], Paula McGeever [PMcG], Melanie McGilloway [MMcG], Áine McGillicuddy [ÁMcG], Jane Mitchell [JM], Liz Morris [LMo], Alison Mundie [AMun], Eilis Murphy [EM], Lisa Murphy [LMu], Aoife Murray [AMur], Ciara Ní Bhroin [CNíB], Áine Ní Ghlinn [ANíG], Caitríona Ó Broin [CÓB], Carol O’Connor [CO’C], Seán Ó Dubhchon [SÓD], Paddy O’Doherty [PO’D], Joanne O’Loughlin [JO’L], Elaina O’Neill [EO’N], Joanna O’Reilly [JO’R], Barbara O’Toole [BO’T], Eileen Phelan [EP], Helen Power [HP], Síne Quinn [SQ], Dympna Reilly [DR], Maedhbh Rogan-McGann [MRMcG], Eimear Ryan [ER], Juliette Saumande [JS], Peter Sirr [PS], Róisín Stronach [RS], Debbie Thomas [DT], Elizabeth Treacy [ET], Beth Tyrrell [BT], Carol Walsh [CW], Dympna Walsh [DW], Amy Wilson Sheldon [AWS], Sarah Webb [SW], Geraldine Whyte [GW], Enda Wyley [EW] Cover illustration / Pictiúr Clúdaigh:  Sadie Cramer

     

Production:  Jenny Murray Design & Layout / Dearadh & Leagan Amach: Oldtown Proofreading / Profáil: Deirdre O’Neill and larla Mac Aodha Bhuí

CBI is very grateful to all our funding partners. A special thank you to all participating publishing houses, who each year provide us with their forthcoming titles.

Print / Cló:  Character Print

 

denotes an Irish author / illustrator / publisher  údar / maisitheoir / foilsitheoir as Éirinn

Tá CBI an-bhuíoch do na comhphártithe uile a thugann maoiniú dúinn. Buíochas ar leith daoibhse go léir sna tithe foilsitheoireachta, a thugann bhur dteidil nua dúinn gach bliain.

CBI has made every effort to ensure the information provided in this guide is correct. However, it cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Tá gach iarracht déanta ag CBI le cinntiú go bhfuil an fhaisnéis a thugtar sa treoir seo cruinn. Ní féidir le CBI a bheith freagrach áfach as aon earráid ná easnamh.

4

Rogha Leabhar 2013

Recommended Reads 2013

5

c b i bo o k of t h e y ear a w a rds c b i gr a dam l e abhar n a B lia n a

A g e 0–4 ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

Book of the Year Award 2013  Gradam Leabhar na Bliana 2013 & Children’s Choice Award Gradam Rogha na bPáistí

Sheena Wilkinson

GROUNDED Little Island ISBN 9781908195173

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

JIMI LEE Honour Award for Fiction Gradam Onórach Ficsin

Sarah Crossan THE WEIGHT OF WATER

Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick DARK WARNING

Bloomsbury, ISBN 9781408830239

Orion, ISBN 9781842556788

Oliver Jeffers THIS MOOSE BELONGS TO ME HarperCollins Children’s Books ISBN 9780007263875

Judges’ Special Award Gradam Speisialta na Moltoirí

Anna Heussaff HÓNG Cló Iar-Chonnacht, ISBN 978909367616

EDITOR’S CHOICE

This unusual book for small children features a planet Earth-shaped hole at its centre and tells its simple story without the use of words. As plants are replaced by houses, houses by tower blocks, tower blocks by rubbish, what does the ROGHA AN EDITOR’S HÓRA EAGARTfor future hold our world? ICE CHO[BJ]

TADHG MAC DHONNAGÁIN  MAISITHE AG STEVE SIMPSON

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S Nuair a chloiseann Dainín sraith fuaimeanna nach n-aithníonn sé téann sé sa tóir CHOICE orthu in éineacht lena chompánach Líleo. Is scéal galánta é seo do pháistí 0–4

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

léirithe go gleoite trí léaráidí draíochtach Steve Simpson. [SÓD] EDITOR’S CHOICE

CLOISIM RUD ÉIGIN!  FUTA FATA 2012 (CRUA) 12 LCH €6.95 ISBN 9781906907570

Feicimid an tíogar Dainín anseo agus é i mbun taiscéalaíochta ina thimpeallacht.

bliana d’aois faoin turas samhlaíochta a bhíonn a dhéanamh ag páistí óga, atá

John Boyne THE TERRIBLE THING THAT HAPPENED TO BARNABY BROCKET

Patricia Forde (Údar) & Steve Simpson (Maisitheoir) MISE AGUS AN DRAGÚN

Random House, ISBN 9780857531469

Futa Fata, ISBN 97819069076501

Walker Books, ISBN 9781406332254

with a funny ending, cutaway pages and plenty of bright colourful pictures from Irish illustrator Mary Murphy. [BJ]

AN OR’S £9.99 ISBN 9789881595515 ROGHA2013 EDIT26PP MINEDITION RA (BOARD) EAGARTHÓ CHOICE

Shortlisted Titles / An Gearrliosta

Chris Haughton OH NO GEORGE!

EDITOR’S Mouse is small but tortoise is bigger. But who’s the biggest of them all? And who’s CHOICE the smallest? A delightful introduction to the idea of size for very small children

OUR PLANET

Eilís Dillon Award Gradam Eilís Dillon

Honour Award for illustration Gradam Onórach Maisiúchain

EDITOR’S MARY MURPHY CHOICE MOUSE IS SMALL  WALKER BOOKS Sept 2013 (BOARD) 16PP £4.99 ISBN 9781406348286

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

Other Awards / Gradama Eile

Aois 0– 2½

Laoise Ní Chléirigh (Údar) & Steve Simpson (Maisitheoir) NA LAOCHRA IS LÚ

BRITTA TECKENTRUP

FAST AND SLOW

ROGHA AN EDITOR’S RTHÓRA 2013 (BOARD) BAREFOOT EAGABOOKS CHOICE 14PP £4.99 ISBN 9781846869525

A lovely book for small children that compares machines that move quickly with ones that move more slowly. Great for building vocabulary as well as introducing the idea of differences, the illustrations are simple but beautifully textured and fresh. [BJ]  Read also: Big and Small

An Gúm, ISBN 9781857910988

YUSUKE YONEZU

PLEASE DON’T CRY MINEDITION 2013 (BOARD) 18PP £7.99 ISBN 9789881595362

Siobhán Parkinson (Author) & Olwyn Whelan (illustrator) SPELLBOUND

A clever and unusual board book for toddlers with cut-through pages that supply a wonderful surprise ending. Everyone cries at some point but this simple little story shows small children that even when they get upset, after the tears there will be happiness and smiles. [BJ]

Frances Lincoln, ISBN 9781847801401

6

Recommended Reads 2013

Rogha Leabhar 2013

7

A g e 2½– 4

a o i s 2½– 4

AARON BECKER

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

JOURNEY

EDITOR’S CHOICE

An award-winning book if ever I saw one. The only text in this book a A AN ROGHis EDITOR’S GARTHÓRAof dedication, everything else unfolds visually. A subtle story of theEApower CHOICE imagination and the freedom and fulfilment it brings to a lonely child in a busy world. The artwork uses colour as metaphor in a unique and intelligent ROGHA AN EDITOR’S way. It is an unusually deep and extremely powerful reading experience. RA EAGARTHÓ CHOICE An absolute must for all children. [EB]  See also: www.storybreathing.com ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ANT AND BEE EGMONT 2013 (HBK) 112PP £4.99 ISBN 9781405266710

WALKER BOOKS Nov 2013 (HBK) 40PP £12.99 ISBN 9781406342307

KEVIN WALDRON

ANGELA BANNER

This pocket-sized book is a joy to share with young children who are starting to read. It tells the A to Z story of a tall red ant who wears a bowler hat and his friend, a chubby bee who wears a red hat. Together they have an alphabet-led adventure on the back of their friend, Kind Dog, ending up in the zoo. The illustrations are brightly coloured and charmingly retro. These books taught Anthony Horowitz to read – quite a recommendation! [SW]  Read also: More Ant and Bee

EDITOR’S CHOICE

MARION BILLET

PANDAMONIUM AT PEEK ZOO  ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ALLAN

ROGHA AN RA AHLBERG  EAGARTHÓ

NOSY CROW 2013 (HBK) 32PP £9.99 ISBN 9780857631473

EDITOR’Sday at his zoo, but things do not go as planned. Every page opening reveals CHOICEmounting pandemonium, all brilliantly captured in Waldron’s retro, muted matt

With bright and busy illustrations, Littleland brings young readers through the day of a host of baby animal characters. Each colourful page is packed with visual information, while the text prompts discussion between parent and tot as they read. At the bottom of each page is a selection of items (such as a flower, ball, bird) and an invitation for the child to find them in the main illustration. An enjoyable way for toddlers to learn and practise new words. [BT]

colours. Fortunately, son Jimmy is on standby to rectify matters, and Mr Peek’s ’S ROGHA AN EDITORcan animal parade, shown on a RT special HÓRA fold-out, EAGA OICE begin on time. Wonderful CH ’S R O EDIT fun for readers of all ages in this superbly designed picturebook. [VaC] CHOICE Read also: Mr Peek and the Misunderstanding at the Zoo ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S ILLUSTRATED BY BRUCE INGMAN CHOICE

EDITOR’S CHOICE

HOORAY FOR BREAD

ROGHA AN EDITOR’S RA WALKER BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9781406337990 EAGARTHÓ CHOICE AN R’S O ROGHA IT ED RA crumb-by-crumb, Told slice-by-slice and Hooray for Bread is the story of a loaf EAGARTHÓ CHOICE

fresh from the baker’s oven. The baker’s wife, the baker’s boy, the dogs, the A AN your EDITOR’S ROGHhave ducks and even a mouse all have a nibble of bread! This story will RA EAGARTHÓ CHOICE little one shouting out ‘HoorayITfor R’SBread’ as they see how one simple loaf O ROGHA AN ED RA HÓ RT GA EA can keep a whole family happy ICE fed. It’s a wonderfully jovial rhyming tale CHOand accompanied by warm pastel illustrations with a classic and timeless look. [ET] ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

LITTLELAND: SPOT-AND-SAY FUN FOR LITTLE ONES!

TEMPLAR PUBLISHING 2013 (HBK) 40PP £6.99 ISBN 9781848778573 GHA AN ITOR’SMr Peek declares an open To celebrate the birth of veryROGA special RA pandaEDLulu, EA RTHÓ CHOICE

DELPHINE CHEDRU

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN… TATE PUBLISHING 2013 (HBK) 32PP £9.99 ISBN 9781849761031

With its clever fold-out pages, this book is an excellent interactive read. It asks questions such as ‘What happens when my balloon floats up, out of the zoo?’ and ‘What happens to Teddy when I leave him behind?’. There is an opportunity to discuss the question, before folding out the page to reveal funny scenarios, such as a snail falling in love with a dropped lollipop. The bright colours will appeal to young readers and there are plenty of questions for curious minds. [JD]

EDITOR’S CHOICEMARTA ALTÉS

REBECCA COBB

I AM AN ARTIST

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

8

AUNT AMELIA

MACMILLAN 2013 (HBK) 32PP £10.99 ISBN 9780230760400

MACMILLAN 2013 (HBK) 28PP £10.99 ISBN 9780230764811

EDITOR’S CHOICEA young artist, complete with pencilled Dalíesque moustache, is misunderstood

A brother, a sister and their minder get up to all sorts of mischief when Mummy and Daddy leave for a night. This story deals with a source of anxiety for many young children with great skill and tenderness. Enchanting mixed-media illustrations perfectly capture the (initially) sulking children and the anarchic Amelia. The simple text is a perfect counterpoint to the detailed pictures. Rebecca Cobb captures the fun and mischief of this age group with a warmth that is rare. [VaC]  Read also: Lunchtime See also: www.rebeccacobb.co.uk

by his mum. She just doesn’t appreciate his creative efforts; to her ‘A Window to the World’ is ‘A Hole in the Wall’, and so it goes on. Bold colours and variety EDITOR’Sin line, shapes and texture all replicate his magnificent chaos. Children will love CHOICEthese imaginative messes, and adults will empathise with mum’s impending horror when her post-clearing-up snooze is to be followed by an even bigger ’S R surprise: a complete artistic house ‘makeover’! [VaC]

EDITO CHOICE

Recommended Reads 2013

Rogha Leabhar 2013

9

a g e 2½– 4

a o i s 2½– 4

LUCY COUSINS

POLLY DUNBAR

PECK PECK PECK

TILLY AND FRIENDS: STAR PARTY

WALKER BOOKS Sept 2013 (HBK) £11.99 32PP ISBN 9781406345100

WALKER BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 24PP £3.99 ISBN 9781406348323

Little Woodpecker has just learnt how to peck, but now he can’t stop! He pecks his way through trees, a door, a hat, a copy of Jane Eyre, blue shampoo, a tangerine and more! Will he ever stop pecking? This is a fun read for parents and children, with bold colours and lots of objects to point out. The ‘pecking’ gives the story rhythm and the sound effects will appeal to young readers. Lots of laughs to be had! [JD] Read also: The Maisy books See also: www.maisyfunclub.com

Tilly and her friends decide to have a garden party and camp out, and when Tiptoe spots a lonely blue star in the sky, they all decide to make friends with it too. This sweet picturebook is illustrated with a mixture of the polished digital characters and backgrounds from the CBeebies Tilly and Friends TV series and some lovely mixed-media and oil pastel elements. They create a bright and cheerful text that will appeal to all readers, not just fans of the show. [LG]  See also: www.tillyandfriends.com

CATALINA ECHEVERRI

BENJI DAVIES

LION AND MOUSE

THE STORM WHALE

JONATHAN CAPE 2013 (PBK) 32PP £5.99 ISBN 9781780080178

SIMON & SCHUSTER 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9781471115677

The story of a big lion who is better at everything than his little tiny friend Mouse … but who does he need in a crisis? This charming and colourful story shows children why even the biggest and the strongest need a little help from their friends. The use of bright, unusual colours and interesting typography, combined with a strong yet simple story, make this a great book for sharing with younger children at home or in the classroom. [EB] Read also: There’s a Dinosaur in My Bathtub See also: http://cataverri.com

The Storm Whale is Benji Davies’ first self-penned picturebook, having worked on several well-known collaborations over the last 10 years. The wait is certainly worth it; this is a beautifully illustrated story about a small boy named Noi who discovers a baby whale washed up on the beach. Benji’s artwork is a stunning muted mix of hand-drawn and digital, which suits the delicate story. I really look forward to Benji’s next solo project. [CJ]

SHEENA DEMPSEY

NEIL GAIMAN  ILLUSTRATED BY ADAM REX

BYE-BYE BABY BROTHER! 

CHU’S DAY

WALKER BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9781406333404

BLOOMSBURY 2013 (HBK) 32PP £10.99 ISBN 9781408828007

Ruby loves nothing more than playing with her mum. But Mum is always busy now with baby brother Oliver. Babies are so boring! Maybe Ruby could be a magician and make Oliver disappear, or sell him at a nearly-new sale. Or maybe she could build a rocket and send him to the moon! But Mum’s plan is even better … they should all go together. A wonderful, warm story that perfectly expresses the frustrations and joys of a new baby in the family. [MEJ]

Little Panda Chu has a big, big sneeze, but neither library dust nor pepper in the dinner brings it on. The mighty sneeze saves itself for the circus when, not only does it blow down the big top, it also scatters the contents of dinner and library. Few words and painterly images build tension as we wait for Chu to erupt. Chu, with his one baby tooth, and his earnest parents are invested with character in a series of vignettes that tumble across the pages of this delightful picturebook. [VaC]

ELYS DOLAN

BRIANNE FARLEY

WEASELS

IKE’S INCREDIBLE INK

NOSY CROW 2013 (HBK) 28PP £10.99 ISBN 9780857631992

WALKER BOOKS Nov 2013 (HBK) 32PP ISBN 9781406349900

Lemmings, squirrels, meerkats, weasels – they’re all just harmless little critters, right? Well, maybe not weasels, as this hilarious book demonstrates. Rather than spending their days eating berries and frolicking in the forest, weasels are actually involved in a conspiracy to take over the world. But what happens when their all-important Machine suddenly malfunctions? With its commentary on office politics and plethora of visual jokes, this comic-book style tale is as much a treat for parents as kids. [ER]  See also: www.elysdolan.com

10

Recommended Reads 2013

Ike wants to write a story but realises he doesn’t have ink. He needs his very own ink, made from the right ingredients. This madcap, surreal story drives the protagonist on a hunt for ink: chasing shadows and going to space. The story goes off in all directions, but the splatter-inspired artwork is stunning, messy and fun. A good book to share with any young artists who do not always colour within the lines, and it’s sure to get any kid creating havoc. [EB] See also: http://briannefarley.com

Rogha Leabhar 2013

11

a g e 2½– 4

a o i s 2½– 4

TATYANA FEENEY

OLIVER JEFFERS

LITTLE OWL’S ORANGE SCARF 

THE HUEYS – IT WASN’T ME 

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9780192794543

HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £12.99 ISBN 9780007420674

Little Owl likes lots of things, but he hates the itchy orange scarf that his mummy knitted for him. One day on a visit to the zoo it ‘disappears’, but what has happened to it? This book, by Irish picturebook maker Tatyana Feeney, has distinctive, stylised illustrations and uses reduced colour in a very clever, attractive way. It will encourage children to look at objects carefully and will teach them to understand and appreciate the colourful world that surrounds them. [EB]  Read also: Small Bunny’s Blue Blanket

I think five Hueys are arguing over whether elephants can fly, but you will be distracted as sixth Huey, Gillespie, offers a chance to see a dead fly. Jeffers captures small childhood dramas with minimal text, and speech bubbles that show, rather than tell, the possible topic of argument. The Hueys will have us returning again and again to this seemingly sketchy and simplistic, although actually quite profound, tale to see what it’s really all about. [VaC] Read also: The Hueys in The New Jumper

CHRIS JUDGE

BOB GRAHAM

THE BRAVE BEAST 

THE SILVER BUTTON

ANDERSEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 32PP £5.99 ISBN 9781849395618

WALKER BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9781406342246

While the Beast is relaxing after a long day, something terrible is happening on the nearby island. The villagers have all been frightened off by the sound of what can only be a big, scary monster. The Beast is afraid too but determined to face his fears and restore peace. He makes the journey across the island and finds that monsters aren’t always big and scary. Lively, contemporary illustrations pull you along on another great adventure. Fantastic! [MEJ]  Read also: The Lonely Beast; The Great Explorer

Over the course of one minute, we are given snapshots of a busy city and its inhabitants. At 9.59 on a Thursday morning, a baby takes his first steps, a soldier leaves home and an old man plays with his granddaughter in the park. Beautiful pen and ink illustrations capture both the simplicity and intensity of everyday life. Rich with emotion and affection, this is another excellent book from the award-winning author. [LC]  Read also: A Bus Called Heaven

DOLORES KEAVENEY

LEIGH HODGKINSON

THE ADVENTURES OF JENNY, SYLVESTER … AND THEIR SIX LITTLE CHICKS 

TROLL SWAP NOSY CROW 2013 (HBK) 32PP £10.99 ISBN 9780857631626

Timothy Limpet is a terribly tidy troll. Tabitha Lumpit is a rather loud and messy little girl. When Timothy and Tabitha meet and decide to trade places, they both discover that maybe home is just where they belong after all. The humour in Hodgkinson’s text will appeal to children and adults alike. Her illustrations are wonderful – full of colour and action to draw in even the youngest readers. A great story for anyone accustomed to hearing the words ‘Clean up your room!’ [HB]

DBEE PRESS 2013 (PBK) 28PP €9.99 ISBN 9780957191730

Jenny is longing for adventure. So she, Sylvester and their cheeky chicks pop through a hole in the chicken run and head off to see the wide world. But Jenny had no idea how big the world outside the farm is and danger is everywhere! Will they ever get home safe and sound? Of course, with the help of friends. Vibrant, child-friendly illustrations make this a book to share. [MEJ] Read also: Meet the Fairies in My Backyard

YASMEEN ISMAIL

TIMOTHY KNAPMAN  ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID TAZZYMAN

TIME FOR BED, FRED!

12

ELEANOR’S EYEBROWS

BLOOMSBURY 2013 (HBK) 32PP £10.99 ISBN 9781408837009

SIMON & SCHUSTER 2013 (PBK) 32PP £6.99 ISBN 9780857078414

Fred the dog is not a fan of bedtime, especially when there are so many flowerbeds, trees and puddles in which to play and make a mess. However, this spiritual successor to Chris Haughton’s mischievous George eventually wears himself out and settles down for a bath and story time. The text’s gentle humour is perfectly offset by exuberant, sketchy illustrations full of texture and movement. A lovely bedtime read, particularly for reluctant sleepers. [ER]  See also: www.yasmeenismail.co.uk

Eleanor has no use for her eyebrows and decides that she doesn’t want them anymore. Unimpressed, they pack their bags and leave to find someone who appreciates them. Their adventures include a short stay in a house for caterpillars and a brief stint posing as a magician’s moustache. The eyebrows can’t seem to settle down, but will Eleanor ever want them back? Wacky drawings from the illustrator of the Mr Gum series perfectly complement Knapman’s hilarious text. Young readers are sure to be enthralled. [LC]

Recommended Reads 2013

Rogha Leabhar 2013

13

a g e 2½– 4

a o i s 2½– 4

SAMUIL MARSHAK AND VLADIMIR LEBEDEV

GEMMA O’NEILL

THE CIRCUS AND OTHER STORIES

OH DEAR, GEOFFREY! 

TATE PUBLISHING 2013 (HBK) 76PP £12.99 ISBN 0781849761024

TEMPLAR PUBLISHING 2013 (PBK) 32PP £6.99 ISBN 9781848773479

This beautifully produced book brings together brand-new translations of four classic tales by the Russian writer Marshak (1887–1964), illustrated by fellow countryman and painter Vladimir Lebedev (1891–1967). Both artists collaborated on an array of timeless books, believing that a children’s book should be an important cultural object. In these four stories, ‘The Circus’, ‘Ice Cream’, ‘Yesterday and Today’ and ‘How the Plane Made a Plane’, they have memorably united painting, narrative and typography to create an unforgettable collection for children. [EW]

This is the tale of a young giraffe learning to be himself. Skilfully told, the dynamic setting of the text brings great energy to each page, while repetition and rhyme create rhythm and momentum. Spatter painting and some digital wizardry create vibrant, distinctive illustrations that capture Geoffrey’s clumsiness so well. Kids will have great fun joining in the refrain ‘Oh dear, Geoffrey!’ [ViC] See also: http://gemmaoneill.co.uk

TARO MIURA

HIAWYN ORAM  ILLUSTRATED BY SATOSHI KITAMURA

THE TINY KING

BEETLE AND BUG AND THE GRISSEL HUNT

WALKER BOOKS Oct 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9781406348194

ANDERSEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 40PP £11.99 ISBN 9781849396257

Once upon a time there was a Tiny King who lived all alone in a big, big castle. But he was sad and lonely and never slept well in his huge bed. One day he fell in love with a Big Princess, and his life changed forever. This is a charming story but it’s the clever illustrations created with simple shapes and zingy, mouthwatering colour that really make it sing. Gloriously different. [SW]

Two insects hatch a madcap plan to become rich and famous, setting off on their magic rug to hunt for the never-before-seen Green-Spotted Grissel. Highly detailed mixed-media illustrations on colour-drenched pages create a surreal storybook experience. The text is a rhythmic, descriptive poem which will delight those with a taste for the ridiculous. [ViC]  Read also: Angry Arthur

INGA MOORE

HIAWYN ORAM  ILLUSTRATED BY JIMMY LIAO

CAPTAIN CAT

FILBERT, THE GOOD LITTLE FIEND

WALKER BOOKS Sept 2013 (HBK) 48PP £12.99 ISBN 9781406337303

WALKER BOOKS Sept 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9781406331479

Captain Cat is not a very successful trader, preferring to swap his wares for cats instead of turning a profit. But when he decides the time has come to go on a voyage to see the world, he discovers a place where his beloved cats are more valued than diamonds, rubies or pearls. Although the storyteller-style narration is at times overly condescending, this picturebook is delightfully illustrated and the underlying message about happiness, greed and the relative value of commodities is well handled. [LG]

Filbert doesn’t fit in – not at home with his fearsome parents, not at Fiend School with the other troublemaking tots. He prefers a quiet life of gardening and good deeds, and not even donning a pair of monstrous mittens can make him more fiendish. When he meets less-than-perfect angel Florinda, however, they might just figure out a solution to both their problems. With colours that pop and illustrations reminiscent of Maurice Sendak, this irreverent fairy tale is a delight. [ER]

IRENE NÍ MHUIREAGÁIN  Maisithe ag Fintan Taite

ANDY PRITCHETT

BATA DRAÍOCHTA 

14

STICK!

AN GÚM Mí na Nollaig 2013 (crua) 31 LCH € (le Deimhniú) ISBN 9781857918311

WALKER BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9781406340341

Tumtar muid i samhlaíocht an páiste sa leabhar álainn seo do pháistí 0–4 bliana ina dtéann Ádam ar thuras sa pháirc. Nuair a thagann sé ar phlanda ard caol ceapann sé gur bata draíochta é agus nach aige a bhíonn an spraoi. Is leabhar álainn, gleoite í seo ina bhfeicimid an domhan mórthimpeall orainn trí shúile agus mothúcháin an pháiste. Cuireann teanga shaibhir neamhfhoirmiúil agus an dialóg chroíúil idir Ádam agus a mhamaí go mór leis an leabhar mealltach comhlíonta seo. [SÓD]

A very simple story of a puppy with a stick, looking for a friend. He approaches a cow, a bird and a pig before finding a kindred spirit who understands just how great sticks are! The illustrations are extremely stylised and placed on flat colour backgrounds. The rich background colours change with each animal that Puppy meets, making this book an attractive page-turner. The text is kept short and repetitive – no more than one word per page. Great for sharing with very young children. [BT]

Recommended Reads 2013

Rogha Leabhar 2013

15

a g e 2½– 4

a o i s 2½– 4

CATHERINE RAYNER

LESLEY WHITE

ABIGAIL

THE HOUSE RABBIT

LITTLE TIGER PRESS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £10.99 ISBN 9781848956452

DAVID FICKLING BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9780857560186

Abigail loves to count, but it’s hard to count the stripes on a zebra or the splotches on a cheetah when they won’t stop moving! Can she find anything to count? The illustrations are stunning, particularly the last spread which has a fold-out page. Kids will enjoy counting along with Abigail, and can count the animals and flowers themselves in the illustrations. Both fun and educational, this book is a real joy for parents and children alike. [JD]  Read also: Harris Finds His Feet

A sudden noise in the night sends a nervous house rabbit into panic when he assumes that the house is collapsing, gradually spreading pandemonium among the other house animals until the tiniest of them all helps them see their fears are unfounded. The soft palette of colours and atmospheric artwork is teamed with a text that is gentle yet includes minor peril and tension, making this an exciting yet reassuring read. It will be useful in appeasing bedtime worries and night terrors. [MMcG]

MO WILLEMS

KOMAKO SAKAI

THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA!

HANNAH’S NIGHT

WALKER BOOKS Sept 2013 (HBK) 48PP £9.99 ISBN 9781406349412

GECKO PRESS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9781877579547

A very hungry, very sly fox meets a shy, innocent goose and off they go for a stroll. Soon he is inviting her to his house in the deep, dark woods … for dinner! Every step of the way, up pops a bright yellow chick to warn, ‘That is not a good idea!’ Mo Willems continues his contemporary take on familiar fairy tales with this humorous cautionary story. With join-in repetition and a surprise twist ending, even the youngest children will love it. [MEJ] Read also: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs; Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus See also: http://www.pigeonpresents.com

Hannah’s Night may be one of the quietest books I have ever read. The simple story follows Hannah as she wakes in the middle of the night and gets up to innocent mischief around the house with her sidekick, Shiro the cat. Komako’s sumptuous textured illustrations have a beautiful dreamlike quality to them. Using blues and deep shadows, she conjures up that silent calm atmosphere that only comes from being up in the dead of night while everyone else is fast asleep in bed. [CJ]

MARK SPERRING  ILLUSTRATED BY SARAH WARBURTON

EMMA YARLETT

MABEL AND ME: BEST OF FRIENDS

SIDNEY, STELLA AND THE MOON

HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £12.99 ISBN 9780007468362

TEMPLAR PUBLISHING 2013 (HBK) 38PP £12.99 ISBN 9781848779433

Unlikely friends often make the most entertaining characters and the duo in this book, a little girl called Mabel and a large mouse called Me, is no exception. This tale about the meaning of friendship seen through the eyes of the rather self-assured rodent revolves around a case of mistaken identity with comical consequences. The detailed artwork mirrors the witty and comical text wonderfully. This is a charming and joyful tale which celebrates friendship with its highs and lows, in all its forms. [MMcG] Read also: The Shape of My Heart; The Princess and the Peas

Sidney and Stella do everything together, except share. One night they can’t share a bouncy ball; it bounces out of their room and knocks the moon right out of the sky! Now Sidney and Stella have to work together to put the moon back where it belongs. This is a charming book with plenty of laughs and endearing characters. Yarlett’s illustrations are beautifully detailed, while being whimsical enough to capture the imagination. A sure winner! [HB]

JOHN YEOMAN  ILLUSTRATED BY QUENTIN BLAKE

VALERIE THOMAS  ILLUSTRATED BY KORKY PAUL

THE FABULOUS FOSKETT FAMILY CIRCUS

WINNIE’S PIRATE ADVENTURE

ANDERSEN PRESS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £19.99 ISBN 9781849396844

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9780192736017

Meet the Foskett family as they each perform a circus trick. Quentin Blake’s marvellous drawings and John Yeoman’s humorous verse combine once more and produce a fabulous fun escapade through the Foskett Family Circus. Blake’s messy watercolours capture perfectly the atmosphere and melee of this fabulous circus, while the jaunty rhythm will carry young readers delightedly from page to page. [ET] Read also: Rosie’s Magic Horse

Winnie and Wilbur are invited to a fabulous fancy-dress party at Cousin Cuthbert’s castle. But what will they wear? A pirate costume of course! When they arrive at the party they find a lot of other pirates already there, one even has a treasure map. Magic, pirates, treasure and Wilbur the cat dressed as a parrot! This book has everything a good swashbuckling adventure with our favourite witch should have, and of course it’s filled cover to cover with Korky Paul’s spectacular trademark illustrations. [ET]

16

Recommended Reads 2013

Rogha Leabhar 2013

17

A g e 5– 8

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

NICOLA DAVIES  ILLUSTRATED BY LAURA CARLIN

THE PROMISE WALKER BOOKS Sept 2013 (HBK) 48PP £12.99 ISBN 9781406337280

EDITOR’S CHOICE

a o i s 5– 8 CLAUDIA BOLDT

MELVIN THE LUCKIEST MONKEY IN THE WORLD TATE PUBLISHING 2013 (HBK) 32PP £8.99 ISBN 9781849760867

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

A story of personal and ecological redemption, The Promise is a moving and didactic story. The illustrations are high quality, transitioning from stark greys A AN age to beautiful eclectic full colour. The story will appeal to readers in the ROGH5–8 HÓRA EAGART group, but the full impact of the story may be suited to older readers. The Promise has potential to be a part of curriculum supplementary reading. [JB] See also: www.walker.co.uk AN ROGHA RA EAGARTHÓ

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

Aois 5– 8

Today is particularly unlucky for Melvin the Monkey – not only has he run out of bananas, he has an unpleasant encounter with a puppy and an awful doctor’s visit. To top it all off, he has a fight with his friend Pete. However, Pete soon teaches him that perhaps he is luckier than he thinks. With friendship and kindness to others central themes in Boldt’s beautifully illustrated story, this book is sure to delight readers of all ages. [SK]  Read also: Odd Dog

EDITOR’S CHOICE EDITOR’S CHOICE EDITOR’S CHOICE

EOIN COLFER  ILLUSTRATED BY RICHARD WATSON

MARY’S HAIR 

DREW DAYWALT  ILLUSTRATED BY OLIVER JEFFERS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

BARRINGTON STOKE 2013 (PBK) 79PP £5.99 ISBN 9781781122266

THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT 

ROGHA AN EDITOR’S HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (HBK) 40PP £12.99 RTHÓRAISBN 9780007513758 EAGA OICE

Mary despairs of her riotous hair. But cutting it herself only makes it worse. With a taste for experiment, she turns her attention to dyeing. Who’ll be her guinea pig? Not friendless Noely Rochford; there’s nothing but fuzz on his head. But what about his shaggy little dog? Colfer spices clear, spare prose with wit and mischief in this story for children beginning to read independently. The full-page black and white illustrations complement the simple language and impish characters perfectly. [DT]

CH

This is a very funny and colourful picturebook that’s great to read aloud.

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’SOne day Duncan finds letters of complaint from his disgruntled crayons – CHOICEblue and red need a rest, peach AN is Anaked, while OR’Sjust wants to be used. ROGH EDITpink HÓRA EAGART CHOICE and some fabulous Each double spread features the letter of complaint

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

crayoned images or pages from a very retro-looking colouring book. Duncan wants his crayons to be happy so he creates a wonderful picture ROGHA AN EDITOR’SRead also: Stuck using colour in a non‑traditional way. RA [MRMcG]  EAGARTHÓ ICE

CHO

ROGHA AN EDITOR’S RA GARY NORTHFIELD EAGARTHÓ CHOICE

THE TERRIBLE TALES OF THE TEENYTINYSAURS!

This is a brilliant book full of entertaining stories about our beloved, mysterious Newgrange. I especially enjoyed when Aengus Óg pesters, bamboozles and confuses his father, the Dagda, so much that he is given Newgrange, purely so his vexed father can have a bit of peace and quiet! With vibrant illustrations on every page, this is a great beginner reader. It is part of Poolbeg’s In a Nutshell series of books, each featuring an Irish legend. [VL]  Read also: The Children of Lir

CHOIC

stories following the hilarious adventures of a group of young dinosaurs that we can immediately relate to. They get up to all sorts of mischief, including climbing deep into ROGHA AN EDITOR’S dip-pen style mixed with flat digital A AN ROGH RA the belly of a huge dinosaur. Northfield’s colours EDITOR’S EAGARTHÓ RA CHOICE EAGARTHÓ CHOICE is a thing of beauty. I look forward to more adventures with the Teenytinysaurs! [CJ]

KATE DiCAMILLO  ILLUSTRATED BY KG CAMPBELL

FLORA & ULYSSES: THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES

AN EDITOR’SMAC BARNETT  ILLUSTRATED RO GHAJON BY EDITOR’S RA KLASSEN CHOICE EAGARTHÓ CHOICE

EXTRA YARN

WALKER BOOKS Oct 2013 (HBK) 240PP £10.99 ISBN 9781406345186

WALKER BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 40PP £11.99 ISBN 9781406342314

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’SA tale (a yarn!) of an unending box of wool in the hands ROGHA AN EDITOofR’Sa young girl, who CHOICE HÓRA EAGA ICE friends, and even CHOdog, starts out knitting for herself but soon is RT knitting for her

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’Sout beautifully against the muted browns and greys of the cold surroundings. GHA ANother JonEDKlassen CHOICE Look out for some familiar charactersROfrom ITOR’S books. An RA EAGARTHÓ ICE imagination. [CA] CH understated and enchanting picturebook that capturesOthe

for things that don’t wear jumpers. The ever-changing colours of yarn stand

18

ROGHA AN Recommended EDITOR’S RA EAGARTHÓ CHOICE

THE STORY OF NEWGRANGE  POOLBEG 2013 (PBK) 46PP €4.99 ISBN 9781842235980

ROGHA AN EDITOR’S ROGHA ANEAGARTHÓRA EDITOR’S CHOICE RA HÓ RT GA E EA CHOIC

WALKER BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 80PP £8.99 ISBN 9781406333268 A AN ROGH EDITOR’S is a new benchmark for children’s comics The Terrible Tales of theRATeenytinysaurs! and A AN R’S EAGARTHÓ ROGHA AN ROGHRTHÓRA CHOICE EDITOR’SEDITOOICE stands up with many contemporary adult comics. It’s a collection of EA beautifully EAGAillustrated GARTHÓRA E CH

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ANN CARROLL  ILLUSTRATED BY DERRY DILLON

Reads 2013

Flora Buckman is a cynic; her motto is ‘do not hope, instead, observe’. One day she observes a squirrel being sucked into an out-of-control vacuum cleaner. The squirrel is utterly changed; he can fly, is VERY strong … and he writes poetry. Flora names him Ulysses and vows to protect and assist her new superhero friend. Flora is also changed as she discovers that being a cynic only gets you so far. Don’t miss this heart-warming, quirky adventure. [MEJ] Read also: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Rogha Leabhar 2013

19

a g e 5– 8

a o i s 5– 8

MEL FISHER  ILLUSTRATED BY PATRICIA LUDLOW

ANNIE GRAVES  ILLUSTRATED BY GLENN McELHINNEY

THE GIANT OF ARAN 

The Nightmare Club: THE DEMON BABYSITTER 

O’DONNELL PRESS 2013 (PBK) 24PP £5.99 ISBN 9780957591004

Freckles, the little leprechaun, and his best friend, the Giant, meet on the beach in Salthill. They decide to race to the largest of the Aran Islands, Inishmore. The Giant uses his size to compete but Freckles, who is very small, uses his ingenuity to build a boat out of things he finds on the beach. The dialogue is engaging and humorous; the book is beautifully illustrated on every page and will captivate readers aged 5+. [JB]  See also: www.odonnellpress.com

PATRICIA FORDE  MAISITHE AG JOËLLE DREIDEMY

Lísín: SCOIL NA bPÁISTÍ DEASA  FUTA FATA 2012 (BOG) 48 LCH €7.95 ISBN 9781906907587

Is foghlaí mara ón bhfarraige í Lísín, a sheoltar chuig Scoil na bPáistí Deasa ar an mórthír. Ní oideachas atá i gceist ag a muintir; teastaíonn uathu foghlaithe mara a dhéanamh as daltaí na scoile. Cuireann éagsúlacht idir pháistí na scoile agus Lísín í féin go mór le taitneamh, greann agus rithim an scéil. Nuair a théann francach Lísín, Guntar, ar strae taispeánann sí a sheiftiúlacht, rud a stiúrann cairdeas agus meas faoi dheireadh idir na páistí sa leabhar fíor-shuimiúil seo do pháistí 5–8 mbliana. [SÓD]

LITTLE ISLAND 2013 (PBK) 64PP €5.99 ISBN 9781908195807

At the Nightmare Club sleepover, Becky tells a disturbing story about Dervla the demonic babysitter from hell. Dervla manages to manipulate parents into thinking she is an ideal minder, but the kids she takes care of know differently. The story is well developed, with graphic black and white illustrations throughout. The darkness of the storyline, however, makes it unsuitable for younger children in this age group. [JB] Read also: The Nightmare Club: The Affair of the Egg

AF HARROLD  ILLUSTRATED BY SARAH HORNE

FIZZLEBERT STUMP AND THE BEARDED BOY BLOOMSBURY 2013 (PBK) 272PP £5.99 ISBN 9781408835210

A boy putting his head in a lion’s mouth sounds impressive enough to wow your average circus crowd. But when Fizzlebert Stump meets the Barboozle family and their amazing magical beards, he suspects his daring act has been trumped. And when the lion’s rubber dentures disappear, young Fizz smells a rat. Could some bearded skulduggery be at work? This story delights with its intimate, chatty narration and off-the-wall, lovable characters brought to the page by energetic black and white sketches. [DT]

CHRIS HIGGINS  ILLUSTRATED BY LEE WILDISH

NEIL GAIMAN  ILLUSTRATED BY CHRIS RIDDELL

MY FUNNY FAMILY GETS BIGGER

FORTUNATELY, THE MILK… BLOOMSBURY Sept 2013 (HBK) 160PP £10.99 ISBN 9781408841761

HODDER Children’s Books 2013 (PBK) 136PP £4.99 ISBN 9780340989869

Dad goes off to buy milk and takes ages (literally, as it turns out) to come back. What on earth has he been up to? This unashamedly madcap romp features many of the characters and props typically favoured by the age group it’s aimed at: pirates, slimy aliens, chic vampires, erupting volcanoes, time travel, ponies, space dinos, you name it. It’s fast, fun and the splendidly detailed pictures are a total treat. [JS]

The Butterfields return and this time they are preparing for a new arrival. Mattie is still creating ‘worry lists’, which now include the new baby, her sister Anika starting school, having suitable veggies grown for Christmas, and her sister V struggling with her lessons. Will all be sorted before the new baby comes along and will Santa deliver everything on the children’s lists? This highly enjoyable read about family dynamics will appeal to both boys and girls. [LF]  Read also: My Funny Family

SALLY GARDNER  ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID ROBERTS

PAUL HOWARD

THREE PICKLED HERRINGS

20

TROUBLE IN BUGVILLE 

ORION 2013 (PBK) 182PP £5.99 ISBN 9781444003734

EGMONT 2013 (pbk) 192pp £5.99 ISBN 9781405264723

Wings & Co is a fairy detective agency whose clients include a stony-broke tailor, a distraught bride-to-be and an unfortunate gentleman who has been bumped off! The agency suspect fairy folk are being overgenerous in their granting of wishes to humans. But could it possibly have anything to do with Toff the Terrible and his Band of Baddies? This is a fantastic story, full of mysteries to solve and intriguing characters. An absolute treat to read! [VL] Read also: Operation Bunny

The author describes Bugville as one super cool city filled with millions of bugs. Meet Superfly with his emergency-receiving antennae and his sidekick Midge. Bugville and its inhabitants keep our two heroes on their toes. The antics of these two heroes are sure to have children of all ages laughing at their ingenuity and will further enhance the reputation of bugs, especially with the boys and fearless females. Interested? Take a microscope and come on a journey into their world. It’s a busy and exciting place. [PM]

Recommended Reads 2013

Rogha Leabhar 2013

21

a g e 5– 8

a o i s 5– 8

SHIRLEY HUGHES  ILLUSTRATED BY CLARA VULLIAMY

WENDY MEDDOUR  ILLUSTRATED BY MINA MAY

DIXIE O’DAY: IN THE FAST LANE

WENDY QUILL IS A CROCODILE’S BOTTOM

BODLEY HEAD 2013 (HBK) 128PP £8.99 ISBN 9781782300120

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2013 (PBK) 176PP £5.99 ISBN 9780192794635

Introducing Dixie O’Day! Dixie loves his car and takes good care of it, even though it’s not very new or very fast. His neighbour, Lou Ella, buys a shiny fast car every year and takes every chance she gets to annoy Dixie. Surely Lou Ella will win the All-Day Race from Didsworth to Dodsworth? But with Dixie, adventure is never far away. Get ready for a surprise at the finish line! In the Fast Lane is a hilarious adventure for newly independent readers. [MEJ]

Wendy Quill wants to be ‘a little bit famous’, but plans don’t always work out. Still, nothing can stop her from trying. She becomes a crocodile’s bottom and a tap-dancing munchkin before fame finally comes her way when she saves her teacher, Miss Pinch, from Kevin, the escaped school rat. Her heroic deed makes the front page, where everyone can see her! Wendy Quill will be the new best friend of readers aged 8+. [MEJ] Read also: The Black Cat Detectives

GÉRARD MONCOMBLE AND PATRICIA MAC EOIN  MAISITHE AG FRÉDÉRIC PILLOT

DAVID MACKINTOSH

STANDING IN FOR LINCOLN GREEN

IS LINNE AN TOLG! 

HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (HBK) 32PP £12.99 ISBN 9780007463022

FUTA FATA 2013 (BOG) 28 LCH €5.95 ISBN 9781906907747

David Mackintosh is back with another brilliant book, this time about a boy called Lincoln Green who prefers playing and making a mess to doing his chores. Luckily, he has a double (who emerges from his bedroom mirror) to do all the boring housework. Mackintosh captures the fantastic imagination of our young protagonist in a similar vein to Bill Watterson’s Calvin, where boundaries between reality and imagination are thrown out the window. To top it off, the loose illustration style is just beautiful. [CJ]

MARGARET MAHY  ILLUSTRATED BY MARGARET CHAMBERLAIN

THE MAN WHOSE MOTHER WAS A PIRATE

Seo scéal taitneamhach do pháistí 5–8 mbliana d’aois, faoi Máire Treasa, caitín mí-abha a chónaíonn go suaimhneach le cailín óg d’arbh ainm Sibéal. Is aoibhinn leo an lá a chaitheamh ar tholg chompordach an tí; Sibéal ag ithe agus an cat ag cur snas ar a gcrúcaí. Nuair a fhaigheann Mam agus Daid tolg úrnua, cuirtear cosc ar Mháire Treasa agus leanann cath greannmhar corraithe eatarthu. Meallfaidh an scríbhneoireacht shaibhir, an greann leantach agus na léaráidí beoite go mór le léitheoirí an scéil seo. [SÓD]

MICHAEL MORPURGO  ILLUSTRATED BY FRANÇOIS PLACE

MEETING CÉZANNE

ORION 2013 (PBK) 60PP £4.99 ISBN 9781444009255

WALKER BOOKS Sept 2013 (PBK) 64PP £7.99 ISBN 9781406313796

Mahy tells the tale of a businessman who decides to take his mother, an old pirate, back to visit the sea. The sketchy atmospheric images show beautifully the transition from the man’s dull city life to the wonderful majesty of living on the sea. As the two travel by wheelbarrow, the colours of the ‘peacock-patterned sea’ entice the man to leave his job and embrace the freedom of sea life. A tale to appeal to the wanderer in all of us! [LF]

Morpurgo tells the story of Yannick, a young boy who spends a summer in the South of France. The beauty of the place is perfectly captured in both text and illustrations, as Yannick spends his time daydreaming about his cousin Amandine and working for his aunt and uncle. In this coming-of-age story, Yannick learns about cooking, first love and the disappointments and joys of life. Meeting Cézanne will appeal to art lovers and readers aged 7+. [LF] Read also: Homecoming

KAREN McCOMBIE  ILLUSTRATED BY ALEX T SMITH

YOU, ME AND THING: THE MUMMY THAT WENT MOO FABER & FABER 2013 (PBK) 138PP £4.99 ISBN 9780571272631

In Karen McCombie’s fourth book in the You, Me and Thing series, Ruby and her friend Jackson bring Thing, a magical jellybean-eating creature, to the museum, where madness and mayhem ensue! A fast-paced story, chock-full of illustrations courtesy of Alex T Smith. Children aged 7+ will love it. [ADon] Read also: You, Me and Thing: The Curse of the Jelly Babies

22

Recommended Reads 2013

MÁIRE NÍ GHALLCHOBHAIR  MAISITHE AG PETER DONNELLY

AN RÓBÓ-Mhadra  LEABHAR BREAC 2013 (BOG) 40 LCH €7.50 ISBN 9780898332889

Tá teannas agus neamhchinnteacht san aer ag tús an leabhair de bharr gadaí sa cheantar agus ní fada go maíonn tuistí Jeaic gur chor dóibh fáil réidh lena madra leisciúil Lúlú chun madra cosantach a fháil. Tógann Jeaic róbómhadra mar thoradh agus cé go bhfeicimid éifeachtacht an róbómhadra, is í Lúlú a thagann amach mar laoch. Leabhar greannmhar, sultmhar, léirithe go hálainn í seo a dhíríonn ar an aoisghrúpa 5–8 mbliana agus a dhearbhaíonn go mbíonn maitheas i ngach rud. [SÓD]

Rogha Leabhar 2013

23

a g e 5– 8

a o i s 5– 8

DAVID O’CONNELL

PHILIP REEVE  ILLUSTRATED BY SARAH McINTYRE

MONSTER AND CHIPS

OLIVER AND THE SEAWIGS

HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (PBK) 192PP £5.99 ISBN 9780007497133

Joe Shoe, our hero, sets out to find the best chips in the land for his tea. He encounters a bully named Grace and, in his attempt to escape her wrath, he wanders into an alternative universe where monsters rule. He befriends Fuzzby Bixington, a monster, who offers him a job in the Monster diner. Throughout the book there are entertaining black and white illustrations and comic panels with side stories. The funny dialogue is sure to tickle younger readers. [JB] See also: www.monsterandchips.com

LEENA PARKKINEN  ILLUSTRATED BY KATJA WEHNER

COW BELLE BEAUTY QUEEN 

Three outsiders – Oliver, Iris the mermaid, and Cliff the rambling island – meet by chance and set out on an amazing adventure to rescue Oliver’s parents. This fantastic story demonstrates the meaning of true friendship and loyalty, while teaching valuable lessons on how to deal with bullying and cheaters. The story is well developed and features fun, engaging dialogue and black and white illustrations by Sarah McIntyre. Suitable for children aged 7+. [JB]

ALEX T SMITH

CLAUDE ON THE SLOPES

LITTLE ISLAND 2013 (PBK) 79PP €8.99 ISBN 9781908195319

HODDER children’s Books Oct 2013 (PBK) 96PP £4.99 ISBN 9781444909302

Eight-year-old Milena has a task on her hands. How can she help her friend, SemiSkimmed Tetra Pak, a 500kg, chocolate-biscuit-loving Ayrshire cow, to win the Cow Belle Beauty Queen pageant? Naturally things do not go according to plan, but with Melina at her rollerskating friend’s side, surely she can succeed? This is Leena Parkkinen’s first children’s book and Katja Wehner’s green-tinged illustrations complement the text beautifully. [ADon]

Join Claude and his best friend Sir Bobblysock on their sixth adventure as they hit the ski slopes. High jinks abound as they have a snowball fight, try out skiing and learn about mountain rescue. When an avalanche-shaped disaster strikes, will Claude be able to use his newfound skills to save the day? The whimsical characters and wickedly funny text are sure to appeal to children and adults alike, and the simple yet stylish illustrations should also delight. [SK] Read also: Claude in the City

PHILIPPA PEARCE  ILLUSTRATED BY HELEN CRAIG

JENNIFER UMAN  ILLUSTRATED BY VALERIO VIDALI

AMY’S THREE BEST THINGS WALKER BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 40PP £11.99 ISBN 9781406339574

JEMMY BUTTON

Amy decides to stay with her granny all by herself, but first she packs her ‘three best things for a visit’: a mat, a toy horse and a tiny boat from her own home. Thanks to those special items, Amy overcomes the homesickness that night-time brings. In this gentle adventure, master storyteller Philippa Pearce weaves magic into a realistic tale seamlessly. The text is efficient, well observed and never twee, while Helen Craig’s soft illustrations bring to the fore the warm intimacy between the characters. [JS]

TEMPLAR PUBLISHING 2013 (HBK) 48PP £12.99 ISBN 9781848772229

This beautiful book is based on the real-life story of Jemmy Button, a native of Tierra del Fuego, who was brought from his magical homeland by missionaries to England in the 1800s to be ‘civilised’. The story follows Jemmy’s adventures and explores what it means to be far from home. The artwork is an incredibly brave mixed media, including inks, watercolour, acrylic, pastel and collage, among others. A book to return to time and time again. [CJ]

MAL PEET AND ELSPETH GRAHAM  ILLUSTRATED BY PJ LYNCH

MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER  WALKER BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 48PP £12.99 ISBN 9781406337075

Mysterious Traveller is the second tale in a trilogy by two acclaimed storytellers. The reader is taken to sub-Saharan Africa where an old guide of the desert recues a young girl. This is a story with disgruntled camels and lost princesses that embraces tradition, wisdom and ancestral folklore. PJ Lynch’s illustrations echo the tone of the story, while capturing the beauty and mystery of the desert landscape. A moving and captivating book for all ages. [CA] Read also: Cloud Tea Monkeys; Painting Out the Sky

24

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2013 (HBK) 208PP £8.99 ISBN 9780192734556

Recommended Reads 2013

SYLVIA VANDEN HEEDE  ILLUSTRATED BY MARIJE TOLMAN

WOLF AND DOG GECKO PRESS 2013 (HBK) 96PP £10.99 ISBN 9781877579479

This is an unusual little collection of stories about cousins Wolf and Dog. Each chapter relates a different anecdote from fleas to burglars and the tricks the cousins play on each other. The illustrations are charming and vary from full-page colour to small icons. The use of language and play on words make this book suitable for mature readers of 7+. [MRMcG]

Rogha Leabhar 2013

25

A g e 9– 1 1 ROGHA AN

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ITOR’S

ED RA GERALDINE McCAUGHREAN EAGARTHÓ CHOICE

Aois 9– 1 1

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

THE POSITIVELY LAST PERFORMANCE

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2013 (HBK) 272PP £12.99 ISBN 9780192733207 ’S ROGHA AN ROGHA AN dilapidated EDITORRoyal RA In Seashaw’s Theatre, spirited young Gracie stumbles upon aHÓ ‘motley RA EAGART EAGARTHÓ CHOICE

bus queue of ghosts’ visible only to her. As she begins to uncover their stories of the seaside town and of their own lives, her dream of bringing the theatre back to life, as well her own story, A AN ROGHas EDITORis’Srevealed. Beautifully written with real warmth, playful ROGHA AN RA HÓRA EAGARTHÓ ICE of character, this is a colourful, thoughtful book dialogue, humour and EAGARTabout CHOdepth life and death, happiness and friendship. Utterly captivating and a joy to read. [EO’N]

EDITOR’S CHOICE EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’SHILARY McKAY CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ROGHA AN EDITOR’S with her EDITOR’SAfter her father dies, Belinda (Binny for short) RA AN GHArelocates E OR’SCHOICtown EAGARTHÓ toEDaITseaside CHOICEmother, older sister and younger brother.EARO RA GARTHÓ They move intoCH a house OICE left to them by

BINNY FOR SHORT

a o i s 9– 1 1 KL ARMSTRONG AND MA MARR  ILLUSTRATED BY VIVIENNE TO

THE BLACKWELL PAGES: LOKI’S WOLVES LITTLE, BROWN 2013 (HBK) 358PP £10.99 ISBN 9780349001524

Matt Thorsen, descendent of Thor, must save the world from destruction. However, the ancient Norse myth predicts he will die in doing so. Unlikely comrades in this adventure are Fen and Laurie who are descendants of Loki, the trickster god. With quick wit and humour, these characters spark off each other as they combine to face wolves, raiders and many elements of Norse mythology. The first in the Blackwell Pages trilogy, this book will appeal to readers who like plenty of action. [DW]  See also: www.blackwellpages.com

MARY ARRIGAN

ROGHA AN ’S ITOR’S RED ROGHA AN GARTHÓRAEDITO CHOICE EARA HÓ RT GA EA CHOICE

THE MILO ADVENTURES: MILO AND ONE DEAD ANGRY DRUID  THE O’BRIEN PRESS Oct 2013 (PBK) 176PP €7.99 ISBN 9781847173515

HODDER children’s Books 2013 (HBK) 292PP £9.99 ISBN 9781444900545

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

horrible old Aunty Violet, who was responsible for giving away Binny’s beloved (but destructive) dog Max. In this warm story of aROfamily itsITfeet GHA AN findingED OR’S again after loss, RA A AN EDITOR’S Binny grows to love the little old houseROGH GARTHÓto OR’SCH EAeven ITher ICE enemy, Gareth, O and like sworn ED RA E HÓ CHOIC EAGART CHOICE who lives next door. [SB]  See also: www.hilarymckay.co.uk

A AN ALEX ROGHBARCLAY EDITOR’S RA EAGARTHÓ

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

CHOICE

EDITOR’S

THE TRIALS OF OLAND BORN: CURSE OF KINGS CHOICE

HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (PBK) 288PP £10.99 ISBN 9780007335770 A ANfirst bookEDin ’S by award-winning Irish crime writer Alex Barclay. ITOaRseries This RO is GH the RA ROGHA AN EAGARTHÓ ICE EDITOR’S CHOand RA King Micah is betrayed vanquished by Vilius Ren and the Kingdom ofHÓDecresian EAGART CHOICE descends into hellish, lawless squalor. Young Oland Born, of unknown parentage, is chosenA AN to find the Crest’Sof Sabian and restore Decresian. Aided by a mysterious ROGH EDITOR girl, EA Delphi, GARTHÓRAOland undertakes ROGHA AN CHOICE many hazardous journeys over treacherous EDITOR’S RA EAGARTHÓ lands and eventually saves the day. This dramatic and atmospheric fantasy CHOICE novel is a real page-turner. The next JK Rowling? [IB]

WILLIAM ALEXANDER

GOBLIN SECRETS

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

MUCH-IN-LITTLE 2013 (PBK) 223PP £6.99 ISBN 9781472108753 ROGHA AN EDITOR’S productions. But Goblins are not allowed in Zombay – and neither RTHÓRA are theatrical EAGA CHOICE

that doesn’t stop Rownie from falling in with both. When he joins a travelling acting troupe of goblins and learns the language of masks, Rownie starts off on a quest to find his brother and discovers somethingROfrom GHA ANthese outlawed EDITOR’S creatures: if you speak GARTHÓRA E enjoy this book full CHOICwill something aloud, it may just come true.EAFantasy enthusiasts of witches, people sporting gears as body parts, and other magical delights. [AWS] See also: http://goblinsecrets.com

26

In this first book in a new series, Milo’s friend Shane brings part of an ancient carved stone into school. It causes some strange happenings, including the appearance of a ghost and an old neighbour, Mr Lewis – who has been searching for the other half of what turns out to be a druid stone. This exciting supernatural adventure has great humour, pace and cliffhangers that will keep young readers turning the pages and looking forward to more in the series. [PO’D] See also: www.maryarrigan.com

Recommended Reads 2013

TOM AVERY

IN TOO DEEP FRANCES LINCOLN 2013 (PBK) 176PP £6.99 ISBN 9781847803894

Prince and his older brother Em escaped from Katanga to London. Four years later their mother and baby sister Grace join them and they endeavour to create a home. However, financial troubles and serious worries about the boys’ father, now in Tanzania, are mounting, so Prince hatches a plan to help his father escape. Brushes with the law and criminal gangs ensue in a novel that graphically shows how difficult life is for refugees. Much to discuss here. [VaC]  Read also: Too Much Trouble

TONY BRADMAN  MAISITHE AG KAREN DONNELLY Leagan Gaeilge le Bríd Ní Mhaoileoin

AN DOSAEN DAINSÉARACH  FUTA FATA 2012 (BOG) 51 LCH €7.95 ISBN 9781906907594

Nuair a fheiceann Rónán foireann sacair Chnoc na Coille ag imirt peile b’aoibhinn leis bheith ar an bhfoireann. Bíonn air teacht aníos le seift chun go bhfeicfidh siad a tallann agus a cheard; a fhoireann féin a chruthú. Sa scéal taitneamhach seo lán de theanga gonta saibhir, feicimid an tionchar a bhíonn ag piarbhrú, éad agus diongbháilteacht ar saol an déagóra. Is mór an chabhair d’fhoghlaimeoirí ó 9–11 bliana an ghluais iontach ag bun gach leathanach. [SÓD]  Féach ar: An Phluais; Dochreidthe; Amú; Cuileog

Rogha Leabhar 2013

27

a g e 9– 1 1

a o i s 9– 1 1

RACHEL CAMPBELL-JOHNSTON

JUDI CURTIN

THE CHILD’S ELEPHANT

EVA AND THE HIDDEN DIARY 

DAVID FICKLING BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 390PP £9.99 ISBN 9780857560766

THE O’BRIEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 256PP €7.99 ISBN 9781847175885

Bat adopts an orphaned baby elephant named Maya and his life changes forever. Years later Maya still has a part to play in his life. Bat and his friend Muka get caught up in a war and have to fight for their lives. This is a heart-wrenching and sometimes terrifying tale of the journey they undertake through the forests and deserts. Vivid description of Bat’s world makes Africa come alive. Compulsive reading for animal lovers at the older end of this age group. [EMcD]

It’s holiday time again and teenagers Eva and Kate are reunited to solve a new mystery and a few problems of their own. The discovery of an old diary leads the girls on a path of self-discovery. With parallel storylines and some tough and at times grown-up issues, the girls find out more about the community they live in and the intricacies of human relationships. With themes of friendship and honesty, this latest in the series pulls no punches. [JO’R]  Read also: Eva’s Journey

ALAN EARLY

JOHN CHAMBERS

THE FATHER OF LIES CHRONICLES: ARTHUR QUINN AND HELL’S KEEPER 

GRANNY SAMURAI, THE MONKEY KING AND I  WALKER BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 288PP £5.99 ISBN 9781406340969

MERCIER PRESS 2013 (PBK) 384PP €8.99 ISBN 9781781171585

This is a quirky story about a granny with a difference. Her teeth are false and so is one of her legs and she is a woman of few words, mostly incomprehensible. The story is told by Samuel Johnson whose uncle has left him home alone to ‘be diplomatic’ in Azerbaijan. With Granny’s help he deals with the school bully and is used as bait to catch the Monkey King. The black and white drawings add to the mayhem. Will appeal, especially to boys. [ED]

EOIN COLFER

NATASHA FARRANT

WARP: THE RELUCTANT ASSASSIN 

AFTER IRIS: THE DIARIES OF BLUEBELL GADSBY

PUFFIN 2013 (HBK) 336PP £12.99 ISBN 9780141341750

Book 1 of Eoin Colfer’s WARP series sees Riley, a Victorian orphan and apprentice assassin, hurtle into a time-travel adventure between the 19th-century slums and contemporary London, where he encounters teenage FBI agent Chevie Savano. The story encapsulates all the familiar gadgetry Colfer fans will appreciate, which is nicely juxtaposed with the antiquated London of magicians and vagabonds. It also sets up strong characters that young audiences will instantly warm to and itch to read more about. [JO’L]  See also: www.eoincolfer.com

FABER & FABER 2013 (PBK) 282PP £6.99 ISBN 9780571278213

The Gadsbys are in crisis. It’s been three years since Iris died and no one is coping, least of all Iris’s twin, shy and thoughtful Bluebell. With marital difficulties, a stroppy older sister and pregnant rats to contend with, nobody notices Blue. The story unfolds through her diaries as she meets the enigmatic Joss and figures out just who she is now that Iris isn’t by her side. A gem, written with humour and empathy. [CW] Read also: The Things We Did for Love

BRIAN GALLAGHER

JUDI CURTIN

FRIENDS FOREVER: THE MYSTERY TOUR  PUFFIN Sept 2013 (PBK) 240PP £5.99 ISBN 9780141335124

In this third story of Tilly and Lauren’s adventures, they travel back to wartime England. Modern values and priorities are set in contrast to those of the 1940s and through their adventures the girls discover the true value of friendship. This is a well-written, perfectly pitched book. Curtin creates the world of London evacuees through the excellent use of language, from the ‘Oh fiddlesticks!’ of the 1940s to the ‘Omigod’ of today! [EP] Read also: The Time Spell; Double Trouble  See also: www.judicurtin.com

28

Arthur, Ash and the gang are back for the third instalment in the Father of Lies Chronicles. Loki is threatening mayhem by unleashing his third and most powerful child, Hell’s Keeper. Arthur faces a battle that goes beyond strength and wits right into the heart of his own family. Fast paced and action packed and featuring a hero with whom any reader can identify, Alan Early’s latest adventure is sure to delight the growing legion of Arthur fans. [CW] Read also: Arthur Quinn and the Fenris Wolf

Recommended Reads 2013

STORMCLOUDS  THE O’BRIEN PRESS Sept 2013 (PBK) 224PP €7.99 ISBN 9781847175793

When half-American, half-British twins Emma and Dylan Goldman move to Belfast because of their dad’s job in journalism, tensions are running high in the build-up to the riots of August 1969. The Jewish siblings befriend Catholic Maeve and Protestant Sammy, and through these relationships attempt to grasp bigger issues such as identity, conflict and family. Without glossing over violence or partisan attitudes, the book delineates the conflict in an age-appropriate manner. [AWS] Read also: Secrets and Shadows; Across the Divide

Rogha Leabhar 2013

29

a g e 9– 1 1

a o i s 9– 1 1

CHE GOLDEN

DEREK KEILTY

THE UNICORN HUNTER 

WILL GALLOWS AND THE ROCK DEMON’S BLOOD 

QUERCUS 2013 (PBK) 272PP £6.99 ISBN 9780857383808

The second of a trilogy, this book is set in Co Cork and moves between the contemporary and the faerie world. A unicorn has been attacked and Maddy is chosen to find the attacker. She is helped by her cousins Tommy and Roisin. Drawing on Irish folklore and mythology, this is a fast-paced book with strong female characters and plenty of action. It will appeal to those who like a mixture of fantasy and adventure. [ED] Read also: The Feral Child See also: http://chegolden.wordpress.com

ANDERSEN PRESS 2012 (PBK) 288PP £5.99 ISBN 9781849395359

Will Gallows, the young sky cowboy with elflin blood and a do-or-die attitude to righting wrongs, must face new dangers as he once again sets out to save the citizens of the Great West Rock from an evil influence. The third instalment in Derek Keilty’s wonderfully batty Fantasy/Western mash-up series sees Will struggling with both an old and powerful enemy and his own insecurities about his identity and future, all accompanied by Jonny Duddle’s perfectly pitched pen and ink illustrations. Great fun! [LG]

FE HIGGINS

THE PHENOMENALS: A TANGLE OF TRAITORS 

KEVIN KIELY

SOS LUSITANIA 

MACMILLAN 2013 (PBK) 223PP £5.99 ISBN 9780330507554

THE O’BRIEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 208PP €7.99 ISBN 9781847172303

The restless shades of executed murderers haunt the tar pit in the strange, superstitious city of Degringolade. Leopold Kamptulicon and his associates set out to re-embody one of these lurids or shades for their own evil purposes. A group of unlikely heroes – a thief, an heiress, a hunter and a harpoonist – find themselves thrown together to save the city. FE Higgins’s intriguing new world with its own supermundane language will captivate and delight young readers. [ÁNíG] Read also: The Eyeball Collector

PETE JOHNSON

An ingenuous mix of fact and fiction, this is a compelling read based on the real-life tragedy of the sinking of the Lusitania in May 1915. Thirteen-year old Finbar is a stowaway on the great ocean liner captained by his father. Troubled by premonitions and some bizarre events he witnesses once the ship embarks, Finbar’s uneasiness and fears for the ship’s safe passage are terrifyingly justified. A moving story that pays great attention to detail in bringing history to life. [ÁMcG]  See also: www.obrien.ie/childrens

PAULA LEYDEN

MY PARENTS ARE OUT OF CONTROL

THE SLEEPING BAOBAB TREE 

RANDOM HOUSE 2013 (PBK) 256PP £6.99 ISBN 9780440870135

WALKER BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 226PP £5.99 ISBN 9781406327939

Louis thought he was doing them a favour, making his parents (‘Yo blood!’) privy to the ‘current hip words’ of his generation, but it has disastrous consequences. On a quest for fame as a comedian, he must navigate their efforts sensitively and manage the repercussions responsibly. This entertaining sequel to How to Train Your Parents is filled with kooky characters and light banter but also explores themes of friendship and parental struggle. To expand ‘my homies’ vocabulary, check out the website. [TD] See also: www.petejohnsonauthor.com

From the award-winning author of The Butterfly Heart, this is a magical adventure in which three young friends travel to Ng’ombe Ilede, the place of death. The story captures the sights and sounds of the African landscape as they make their way to the sleeping baobab tree with the formidable great-granny Nokokulu. A beautifully written book that will hold readers’ attention until the very end. [EM] Read also: The Butterfly Heart See also: Teaching notes for both books available through www.seomraranga.ie

IAN JOHNSTONE

THE MIRROR CHRONICLES: THE BELL BETWEEN WORLDS HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (PBK) 512PP £12.99 ISBN 9780007491230

Marketed in the tradition of Lewis, Tolkien and Pullman, this is fantasy on a grand scale. It tells the tale of supposed orphan Sylas Tate’s journey to the Other, a parallel world of magic, where he must unravel the mystery of his origins and save both worlds from threat. The story is well woven and sprinkled with interesting ideas, although tangents sometimes complicate the narrative. Its appeal will possibly be to older children and confident readers. An enthralling mystery, rapid pace and wonderful characters. [PMcG]

30

Recommended Reads 2013

ROB LLoYD JONES

WILD BOY WALKER BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 312PP £9.99 ISBN 9781406341386

Oliver Twist meets Sherlock Holmes in this thrilling page-turner set in 19th-century London’s bleak underworld of workhouses, fairgrounds and sewers. Young Wild Boy leads a harsh, isolated existence in a travelling freak show until his special powers of observation lead him and his troubled companion Clarissa, a talented circus acrobat, on a highly dangerous adventure. A thoroughly gripping detective story that reveals the nature of true friendship. [ÁMcG] Read also: Wild Boy and the Black Terror See also: www.roblloydjones.com

Rogha Leabhar 2013

31

a g e 9– 1 1

a o i s 9– 1 1

GEOFFREY MALONE

SIMON MAYO

DEAD BOYS’ CLUB

ITCH ROCKS

HODDER Children’s Books 2013 (PBK) 255PP £6.99 ISBN 9780340999608

DOUBLEDAY 2013 (HBK) 434PP £10.99 ISBN 9780857531322

Geoffrey Malone’s depiction of a child soldier’s life reflects what is actually going on in our troubled world. The UN statistics show that 250,000 children are currently involved in armed conflict. Twelve-year-old Sam is taken prisoner when his village is attacked by armed rebels of his own age. He now becomes part of an evil warlord’s army. This harrowing tale is not for the faint-hearted, but it is a thrilling story. [DW] Read also: Brunner; Torn Ear

Element 126: the most wanted, the most dangerous element known to man. Itchingham Lofte believes that he has put the radioactive 126 rocks beyond reach. Unscrupulous scientists and international terrorists think otherwise. They will stop at nothing to get hold of Itch and the precious 126. It would have been useful to have read Itch first but, even as a stand-alone, this is an exciting, action-packed page-turner and a high-speed thriller. [ÁNíG]  Read also: Itch

NIGEL McDOWELL

KATE MARYON

TALL TALES FROM PITCH END 

INVISIBLE GIRL HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (PBK) 272PP £6.99 ISBN 9780007466900

Gabriella finds herself alone and homeless after her father fails to pay their rent and they are evicted from their flat. Her father disappears with his girlfriend and Gabriella sets off to find her long-lost older brother Beckett. On her search she moves to another city and finds a new family on the streets with Henny and Tia, among others. This is a thought-provoking and moving story, which explores themes of family, friendship and homelessness. Will appeal especially to girls. [EMcD]

HOT KEY BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 378PP £5.99 ISBN 9781471400407

The Elders of Pitch End enforce forgetting: of the dead, the past, and anything outside of their own teachings. But Bruno Atlas hasn’t forgotten the night his father was murdered, and when he finds a copy of a forbidden book by a famous Rebel leader, Bruno’s quest for truth begins. The world of Pitch End is rich, atmospheric and absorbing, while the story is gripping to the end. Strong writing, a thoughtful premise and a sympathetic hero make this a highly impressive debut. [EO’N]

BARBARA MITCHELHILL

EMILY MASON

A TWIST OF FORTUNE

GHOST DETECTIVES: THE MISSING DANCER 

ANDERSEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 236PP £5.99 ISBN 9781849395625

PUFFIN 2013 (PBK) 224PP £6.99 ISBN 9780141342047

The four ghost detectives – Abi, Sarah, Hannah and Grace – try to help the ghost of 10-year-old ballerina Felicity dance her final performance. The case involves their older friend and mentor, Simone. This latest Ghost Detectives adventure touches on themes of friendship, loss, coping with divorce and first crushes as well as the supernatural. A fast-paced mystery with smart and resourceful characters. [SB] Read also: Ghost Detectives: The Lost Bride

Abandoned, albeit reluctantly, by their aunt, orphans (perhaps!) Sam, Eliza, their younger brother Alfie, along with Patch the dog, have many adventures in Victorian London. They meet a variety of colourful characters with unusual names and sometimes hilarious physical features – Missus Beddows with ‘muscles like turnips’. They also meet a very famous author and spend a night in jail accused of murder. Will they find happiness like Oliver Twist did? An exciting story full of courage, adventure and loyalty, told with great humour. [RH]

DARRAGH MARTIN

MICHAEL MORPURGO  ILLUSTRATED BY EMMA CHICHESTER CLARK

THE KEEPER 

PINOCCHIO

LITTLE ISLAND Oct 2013 (PBK) 278pp €9.99 ISBN 9781908195845

HARPERCOLLINS Sept 2013 (PBK) £12.99 176PP ISBN 9780007339624

This magical novel set in modern Dublin follows the journey of three siblings as they are thrown into a dangerous adventure. The background in Irish mythology is prominent but not overwhelming – and a glossary at the end makes is suitable for all readers. The world of Tuatha De Danann is as memorable as Hogwarts. Magic is matched with a moving portrayal of sibling bonds and the creation of curious friendships. Step aboard and see where this rough DART ride takes you. [KG] Read also: The Mirror Chronicles

32

Recommended Reads 2013

In this very funny retelling of the classic story, Pinocchio himself verifies all the details of his story: running away from Geppetto and his wife to join a puppet show, meeting tricksters, the Talking Cricket and the Good Fairy, turning into a donkey, finding himself in the belly of a shark and finally reuniting with his family. Featuring beautifully rich illustrations, this engaging interpretation is sure to appeal to young readers and adults alike. [SB]  See also: www.michaelmorpurgo.com

Rogha Leabhar 2013

33

a g e 9– 1 1

a o i s 9– 1 1

JACKIE MORRIS

KATHERINE RUNDELL

EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON

ROOFTOPPERS

FRANCES LINCOLN 2013 (HBK) 176PP £9.99 ISBN 9781847802941

FABER & FABER 2013 (PBK) 278PP £6.99 ISBN 9780571280599

Jackie Morris has woven the threads of a Norwegian folktale into a breathtaking new story. A white bear comes to the city and asks a young girl to come away with him, promising all will go well for her asylum-seeking family. The girl agrees to go, first to his cavern palace, then to the mercy of the four winds, as she seeks to break his enchantment. Magical writing, a surprise ending, and gorgeous watercolours with an eastern twist add to the crowning glories. [CAC]

This is a charming and quirky tale of a young girl whose quest to find her mother brings her from the streets of London to the rooftops of Paris. Rescued from a shipwreck as an infant, Sophie has had an unconventional upbringing by her guardian and rescuer, Charles Maxim, who taught her always to believe in possibility. Readers will be immediately hooked and seduced into suspension of disbelief thereafter. [CNíB]  Read also: The Girl Savage

MÅRTEN SANDÉN  ILLUSTRATED BY MOA SCHULMAN TRANSLATED BY KARIN ALTENBERG

CÁITRÍONA NIC SHEÁIN  MAISITHE AG ANDREW WHITSON

A HOUSE WITHOUT MIRRORS

COGITO 

PUSHKIN CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 192PP £12.99 ISBN 9781782690078

AN tSNÁTHAID MHÓR (CRUA) 32 LCH €14.99 ISBN 9780955227165

Téann an tSnáthaid Mhór i mbun draíochta i Cogito, leabhar fantaiseach clasaiceach faoi chailín óg síogach. Níl fhios ag Cogito mórán fúithí féin agus feicimid í ag dul sa tóir ar an eolas sin ar thaisteal ó dhomhan go domhan trí phasáistí rúnda draíochtúla. Tá cluiche sainiúil le himirt ar an tslí agus tugtar fáilte don léitheoir súgradh chun toradh na faidhbe a fháil. Is iomaí diminsean a chuireann na léaráidí mealltacha gan éalang leis an scéal álainn seo do pháistí 9–11 bliana. [SÓD]

KEVIN STEVENS  ILLUSTRATED BY SHEENA DEMPSEY

LIZ PICHON

THE POWERS (THE NOT-SO-SUPER SUPERHEROES) 

TOM GATES IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC (AT SOME THINGS)

LITTLE ISLAND Oct 2013 (PBK) 128PP €7.99 ISBN 9781908195838

SCHOLASTIC 2013 (PBK) 272PP £6.99 ISBN 9781407134512

This is the fifth book in the multi-award-winning Tom Gates series. It takes the form of Tom’s battered homework notebook full of doodles, drawings and fun. Form 5 head off on an Activity Break, complete with midnight feasts and mischief. This is the sort of book you can come back to again and again and it will appeal to boys and girls alike. Instructions on how to doodle a banana included. [ED] Read also: Tom Gates Genius Ideas (Mostly) See also: www.lizpichon.co.uk

With ‘mutually contraindicative’ powers, Ted and Clare Powers were told never to marry but they did. Three children later, the family wreaks chaos. As they head to West Cork in their ‘Ford Fiasco’, they get the chance to redeem themselves and solve an old mystery. A laugh-out-loud story that will appeal to both children and parents! Written with a wicked sense of humour and inventive language, this publication is accompanied by a blog. [JO’R]  See also: www.readthepowers.com

JONATHAN STROUD

BOBBIE PYRON

LOCKWOOD & CO: THE SCREAMING STAIRCASE

THE DOGS OF WINTER

DOUBLEDAY 2013 (HBK) £12.99 464pp ISBN 9780857532015

ANDERSEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 348PP £6.99 ISBN 9781849395212

A heart-rending tale of a five-year-old boy abandoned in Moscow. Little Mishka falls in with a gang of street urchins, but as he struggles to survive the harsh winter, he finds friendship in a pack of dogs who adopt him into their extended family. Based on a true story, this is a tale of loss, of survival, of loyalty. Perhaps most striking is Mishka’s changing voice as he deals with his ever-changing environment and introduces us to his strange dog family. [ÁNíG]

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Thomasine’s very elderly great-great aunt is slowly dying. Events from the past reach into the present in her aunt’s mysterious house where things are not always as they should be, especially when Thomasine’s little cousin finds a mysterious room. Meanwhile, Thomasine’s father struggles to accept the death of her younger brother, and other family members come to grips with their own difficulties. This haunting tale from a well-regarded Swedish author will suit thoughtful readers who will also relish the evocative illustrations. [VaC]

Recommended Reads 2013

Fans of Stroud’s Bartimaeus series will know what a new book by this author means – and new readers are in for a treat. Lockwood & Co. is a new departure for Stroud with a darker, murkier world than Bartimaeus – it’s a book about a Psychic Investigation Agency to begin with! Stroud is one of the smartest and most talented writers around – and Lockwood & Co is a rich, twisted and intricate world. Be ready for lots of humour and some very creepy moments. You’re going to be hooked. [DM] See also: The Amulet Of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Sequence)

Rogha Leabhar 2013

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a g e 9– 1 1

a o i s 9– 1 1

DEBBIE THOMAS  ILLUSTRATED BY STELLA MacDONALD

JEAN URE

JUST PEACHY

JUNGLE TANGLE 

HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (PBK) 240PP £5.99 ISBN 9780007515684

MERCIER PRESS 2013 (PBK) 320PP €8.99 ISBN 9781781171165

Jungle Tangle begins with a birthday party for Fernando, the shrunken head of a Spanish conquistador, and gets weirder! Abbie and Perdita are our erstwhile heroes, travelling to the Amazon to find Fernando’s wife (also a shrunken head, naturally). The story romps along with bonkers humour, a plethora of quirky characters and snappy dialogue. Terrific fun. [CW]  Read also: Dead Hairy

ALAN TITLEY  MAISITHE AG PETER DONNELLY

Eleven-year-old Peaches, the third of five siblings in a boisterous and rambunctious family, can’t seem to make her voice heard. When she finally manages to express her desire to attend a different school, ‘Peachy’ begins a journey towards independence and discovering her unique identity. Tween girls will be drawn to themes of friendship, burgeoning curiosity about boys, and the loneliness one can feel when bucking the mainstream. Snappy dialogue and a sympathetic protagonist make this book a lively read. [AWS]  Read also: Lemonade Sky

SARAH WEBB

SMUF 

ASK AMY GREEN: WEDDING BELLES 

AN GÚM 2012 (BOG) 64 LCH €6.50 ISBN 9781857918236

WALKER BOOKS Sept 2013 (PBK) 208PP £5.99 ISBN 9781406327908

Seod eile ó Alan Titley ina mbuailimid le Smuf, coileán óg díbeartha óna gclann agus caite ón gcarr ag tús an scéil. Téimid ar thuras mothúchánach ina ndéanann Smuf iarracht grá, aire agus faoiseamh a lorg i saol atá gruama, gránna agus naimhdeach. Is leabhar léirsteanach í seo do pháistí 9–11 a thugann léargas do pháistí ar an leochaileacht a bhaineann le hainmhithe agus an tábhacht a bhaineann le haire a thabhairt dóibh. Déantar seo a dhearbhú trí scríbhneoireacht shaibhir ársa Titley agus léaráidí bríomhara Peter Donnelly. [SÓD]

The final instalment in the Ask Amy Green series will have fans gripped as they read of 13-year-old Amy’s ups and downs as she juggles wedding planning with moonlighting as a teenage agony aunt. Add to the mix boyfriend trouble, parental illness and school cheerleading squads and you have a story full of skilfully handled issues that will resonate with its young audience, whilst coasting along at a rip‑roaring pace. [JO’L]  Read also: Ask Amy Green: Boy Trouble

ROSEMARY WELLS  ILLUSTRATED BY JIM LaMARCHE

PIERS TORDAY

THE LAST WILD

IVY TAKES CARE

QUERCUS 2013 (HBK) 326PP £9.99 ISBN 9781780878287

Walker Books 2013 (HBK) 208PP £9.99 ISBN 9780763653521

Twelve-year-old Kester Jaynes is inexplicably mute and mysteriously incarcerated in a prison ‘for challenging children’. In Kester’s futuristic world, few animals remain and the surviving human population must live on pink sludge. Kester discovers he has a secret power and a connection with some renegade animals, which brings hope. But can he unlock the mystery of his past? The first in a series, this intriguing and inventive story, with themes of loyalty and friendship, will have wide appeal. [JO’R]

Wells is best known for her books for younger readers. Set in the wilds of Nevada in the early 1950s, she paints a picture of a lonely girl, Ivy, missing her best friend who has gone to a posh summer camp. Eleven-year-old Ivy sets to work, caring for animals. In doing so, she also learns a lot about human relationships. This book is a must for animal lovers; its soft detailed sketches by LaMarche complement the gentle tone of the story. [DW]

MÁIRE UÍ DHUFAIGH

SHEENA WILKINSON

MACDARA Ó FÁTHARTA 

TOO MANY PONIES 

AN GÚM 2013 (BOG) 48 LCH €8.00 ISBN 9781857918144

Tugann Máire Uí Dhufaigh mionchuntas saibhir tréitheach dúinn ar óige, ar ghairm, ar aosacht agus ar aistear Macdara Ó Fátharta óna thús ar Inis Meáin go rath aisteoireachta ar an stáitse agus mar réalta theilifíse. Cuireann ionchur Mhacdara go mór leis an leabhar agus é ag athchomhaireamh ar a shaol ar an stáitse, forbairt gairme lena ról ar Ros na Rún agus gnéithe pearsanta dá shaol. Ní beathaisnéis amháin seo; faighimid léargas den scoth ar cheard an aisteora trí shúile athlaoch d’aisteoireacht na hÉireann. [SÓD]

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Recommended Reads 2013

LITTLE ISLAND 2013 (PBK) 176PP €6.99 ISBN 9781908195258

Winning a cross-country competition could save Rosevale, a sanctuary for abandoned horses. Dynamic, enthusiastic Lucy is determined that Rosevale enter a team but can Aidan overcome his fear of jumping? This is a traditional pony story about the challenges of preparing for a competition and the importance of team effort, but the subtheme of bullying gives the story much wider appeal. Aidan is cruelly bullied at school and it is only at the end that his true skill and bravery become apparent. [RH]

Rogha Leabhar 2013

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ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

A g e 1 2– 1 4 GARETH HINDS

Aois 12 – 1 4

RJ ANDERSON

QUICKSILVER ORCHARD 2013 (PBK) 376PP £6.99 ISBN 9781408316283

ROMEO AND JULIET

ROGHA AN EDITOR’S HÓRA E 144PP £9.99 ISBN 9780763668075 EAGART CHOIC(pBK) WALKER BOOKS Oct 2013

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Shakespeare’s tragedy needs no introduction and Hinds’s sensitive adaptation sticks closeROtoGHthe a multiracial version, without making a statement about A AN original.EDHe R’S ITOcreates ROGHA AN EDITOR’S RTHÓRA is no mean E The Capulets are an Indian family; the Montagues EAGAwhich RA racism, CHOICfeat. EAGARTHÓ of AfricanCHOICE origin. The absorbing text ensures that after a few pages the difference is no longer noticeable. This graphic novel with its drawings of Kung Fu kicks, set in an historic Verona, A AN OR’S RO ANHÓ will appeal tale. [EB] AGHRT RA ROGHA ANto the modern ROGH ITOITR’S EDITOR’Sreader and bring a new audience to this classic EDED RA EAGARTHÓ

a o i s 12 – 1 4

EAGA RA EAGARTHÓ

CHOICE

The companion novel to Ultraviolet, Quicksilver is another strong science-fiction novel that can be read independently of its predecessor. In this novel, Tori, the strong female heroine, runs away from her old life because of her unique DNA. While the technology terminology is overpowering at times, the novel is still a great coming-of-age story. Tori, despite her odd DNA, has a very teenage uncertainty towards her own independence and sexuality. It is a gripping young adult version of a psychological thriller. [KG]  Read also: Ultraviolet

ICE OICOE CHCH

TIM BOWLER

JO KNOWLES ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

SEE YOU AT HARRY’S

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ WALKER BOOKS 2013 (pBK) 320PP £6.99 ISBN 9781406346077

SEA OF WHISPERS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2013 (HBK) 224PP £12.99 ISBN 9780192728395

Hetty lives with her grandmother on the remote island of Mora, but being a headstrong mystic she doesn’t fit in. When an old woman, whom the locals brand as evil, is shipwrecked on the island and is fighting for survival, Hetty helps her escape. Together they sail off in stormy seas, solving the mystery of the stranger’s past and transforming Hetty’s life in the process. It’s an atmospheric read. The characters are wonderfully eccentric and the hostile environment expertly drawn. [JF]

Jo Knowles’s well-written characters, Fern and her siblings, could easily be the family who lives next door. They are funny, messy, complicated and ROGHA AN ITOR’S She sensitively EDloving. HÓRA EDITOR’S deals with typical family and growing-up issues: EAGARTemerging OICE bullying and sexuality, CH E IC O CH sibling rivalry. Fern and her family find their way into the reader’s heart from the very beginning. Read this to find out what happens when their lives are unexpectedly A AN OR’S and tears. [AMun] ROGH EDITlove ’SA AN ’S turned upside A beautiful, moving book, full of RAlaughter, EDITORORGH EDITORdown. EAGARTHÓ RA HÓ CHOICE RT OICGAE Read also:CHPearl; OICE Jumping off Swings CHEA

PENELOPE BUSH NATASHA A’BHÁIRD ROGHA AN MACED ITOR’SA AN RTHÓRA

ROGH

EAGA OICGAERTHÓRA CHEA MISSING ELLEN 

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

THE O’BRIEN PRESS Oct 2013 (PBK) 176PP €7.99 ISBN 9781847173539

Told in a series of letters andA diary entries, Missing Ellen focuses on a young teenager, ROGHA AN ROGH AN ITOR’S EDITOR’S RA RTHÓthe HÓRA withED Maggie, and her struggle the rollercoaster of emotions she feels EAGAby E EAGAtoRTcope IC CHOICE CHO disappearance of her best friend Ellen. Readers are sure to identify with the pressurised environment of the school setting and the exploration of themes such as peer pressure, GHA AN OR’S ROGHA AN and loss. bullying, first crushes, friendship of which makes Mac a’Bháird’sROsensitive EDITOR’S EDITAll RA RA E EAGARTHÓ EAGARTHÓ IC O CHOICE CH and well-written book an excellent read for mature readers. Highly recommended. [HCu]

ORNA ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

OR’S NÍ EDITCHOILEÁIN ICE

CHO VAIMPÍR SAN ÁILÉAR 

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

éagsúlacht i measc daoine daonna agus vaimpírí agus méadaíonn a chuid fadhbanna de réir mar a fhorbraíonn an scéal. Léiríonn Orna Ní Choileáin a mbua scríofa OR’S í ag déanamh scéal mealltach suimiúil a spréadh le teanga shaibhir, ROGHA AN iontach EDITagus RA HÓ EAGART OICE CH deisbhealaí, greann, coinsias agus samhlaíocht. [SÓD] ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Milly is a 14-year-old desperate to step out of the shadow of her confident twin sister and come to terms with ‘The Incident’ that threatens to unravel her. As we hurtle towards its revelation, we are faced with difficult and emotional issues, the complexities of a unique family unit and a mother struggling to cope. Not a light read but compelling and well crafted. [TD] Read also: Alice in Time

ANNA CAREY

REBECCA ROCKS  THE O’BRIEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 252PP €7.99 ISBN 9781847175649

COIS LIFE (BOG) 160 LCH €8.00 ISBN 9781907494369 ROGHA AN ITOR’S veigeatórach RA Sa scéal leantach anEDvaimpír OR’S fairithe seo bogann ár bpríomhphearsa, ROGHA AN EAGARTHÓ IT OICE ED CH RA EAGARTHÓMarius, ónCH OICE ar chúl tí Ailfí isteach ina áiléar. Ní éasca atá an saol aige toisc a scioból

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ME MYSELF MILLY PICCADILLY PRESS 2013 (PBK) 183PP £6.99 ISBN 9781848122529

Recommended Reads 2013

The third instalment of Anna Carey’s Rebecca series sees Bex and her two best friends at a summer rock camp, determined to make their band the best it can be. Despite her ever-embarrassing parents, a fear that she will never love again, and a deeply problematic fringe situation, Rebecca copes with the trials and tribulations of being almost 15 with humour and warmth. A fun, light read that also touches on some important issues around bullying and acceptance. [CHen] Read also: The Real Rebecca; Rebecca’s Rules

Rogha Leabhar 2013

39

a g e 12 –1 4

a o i s 12 – 1 4

GILLIAN CROSS

CORNELIA FUNKE

AFTER TOMORROW

FEARLESS

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2013 (PBK) 304PP £6.99 ISBN 9780192756268

CHICKEN HOUSE 2013 (PBK) 435PP £6.99 ISBN 9781906427269

This dystopian tale tells of a world where food is short and money is worthless. It is the strength we find within ourselves that determines who survives and flourishes. We follow the journey of 12-year-old Matt and his brother Taco as they flee from a hunger-and-violence-ridden England to a French camp, where thousands of people scramble for a new life. Strong and endearing characters combined with a swift and engaging narrative make this a very enjoyable read. [GC] Read also: Wolf; The Great Elephant Chase

Fearless continues Jacob Reckless’s adventures in the enchanted world beyond the portal in his father’s study. In this second novel in the series, Jacob’s quest becomes darker and more dangerous. Jacob, joined by Fox, the beautiful shape shifter, must find a cure to the curse that an evil fairy burned into his heart. With constant action, heartfelt relationships, wonderful illustrations and fascinating maps of the bewitched Mirrorworld, this fantasy extravaganza is an imaginative winner. [AB] Read also: Reckless See also: www.corneliafunke.com

NEIL GAIMAN, MICHAEL REAVES AND MALLORY REAVES

KATHERINE FARMAR

THE SILVER DREAM

WORMWOOD GATE 

HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (PBK) 256PP £10.99 ISBN 9780007523474

LITTLE ISLAND 2013 (PBK) 282pp €8.99 ISBN 9781908195241

The book follows the exploits of Joey Harker, a posthuman ‘Walker’, who possesses the ability to travel between parallel universes. The novel is ambitious in its attempt to assimilate contemporary speculative physics to a familiar young adult narrative. It draws on established tropes in the posthuman science-fiction genre: cyborgs, time travel, quasi-science nomenclature. However, in places the book appears to suffer for its triple authorship. In particular, the fantasy element, which somehow cohabits in a universe of (post)modern science, lacks credibility in places. [PD]

When they are whisked through the mysterious Wormwood Gate away from the Dublin we know to the strangely familiar City of the Three Castles, an awkward night out is turned into the adventure of a lifetime for Aisling and Julie as their fate becomes entwined with that of the eccentric cast of characters they meet. Wormwood Gate is a modern urban fantasy firmly rooted in myth and legend, with a refreshing approach to the modern teen love story. [CÓB]

KEITH GRAY

MARIE-LOUISE FITZPATRICK

YOU KILLED ME

HAGWITCH 

BARRINGTON STOKE TEEN 2013 (PBK) 77pp £6.99 ISBN 9781781121887

ORION 2013 (PBK) 266PP £8.99 ISBN 9781444006377

Aboard Ladybird, a theatre barge touring the canals of England, Lally’s life is a happy but uneventful one. That is until her father carves a new puppet from an ancient piece of hawthorn, and Lally discovers a terrifying force, deep inside the wood, that threatens to tear her family apart. With wonderful descriptions of life on the rivers and canals, past and present collide in this exciting and mysterious story. [EMcG] Read also: Dark Warning See also: www.marielouisefitzpatrick.com

CORA HARRISON

MICHAEL FOREMAN

THE AMAZING TALE OF ALI PASHA TEMPLAR PUBLISHING Oct 2013 (HBK) 128PP £14.99 ISBN 9781848779990

The years of World War I are relived through the diary of a soldier, Henry Friston, set in his old age. Beautifully illustrated by Foreman, this tale is filled with real sadness and grief, but also with hope and humour. In the midst of the battlefield, of shells and gunfire, Henry finds a tortoise, and a new kind of friendship begins. A good wartime story about the side of battle we don’t usually see. [GC] Read also: War Game; War Boy

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Len Grimsby, the man at the end of the bed with a ‘ragged and messy’ hole in his head where his eye had been, was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He now informs young Toby Link he’s a murderer. Len is, naturally, very aggrieved that Toby’s actions have caused his death, and takes the boy back in time, so that he can right the wrong he so thoughtlessly caused. A seriously gruesome thriller for mature reluctant or struggling readers, from a master storyteller. [LMo]

Recommended Reads 2013

DEBUTANTES: IN LOVE  MACMILLAN 2013 (PBK) 320PP £6.99 ISBN 9781447205951

In this sequel to Debutantes, the Derrington sisters, Poppy and Daisy, are hoping to go to London for their first season, if finances and relatives allow. Poppy is preoccupied with her jazz band and her growing romance with Baz, while Daisy is determined to develop her career as a film director. But with the family fortunes fading, at least one of them must marry for money. An evocative and stylish novel which brings 1920s London to life. [NMaB] Read also: Debutantes

Rogha Leabhar 2013

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a g e 12 –1 4

a o i s 12 – 1 4

GERRY HUNT  COLOURED BY ALAN NOLAN

DJ McCUNE

1913: LARKIN’S LABOUR WAR 

DEATH & CO. 

THE O’BRIEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 64PP €14.99 ISBN 9781847175830

HOT KEY BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 278PP £6.99 ISBN 9781471400926

The Lockout of 1913, in which employers tried to break the rising power of the new trade union movement, led by Jim Larkin, is graphically documented here. There is a focus on the tribulations of one striker’s family, but the more general scene is also captured. The muted tones of the images lend atmosphere to a very grim story. Unfortunately, a tendency to tell too much in words rather than trusting the visual text to do more work results in an unnecessarily didactic tone. [VaC] Read also: At War with the Empire: Ireland’s Fight for Independence

A member of an elite and secret group of spirit guides, Adam Mortson must negotiate the Hinterland, his Luman heritage and his increasingly complicated personal life, while helping the souls of the dead to reach their ultimate destinations. As he sets out to find his place in the world, Adam must risk everything in order to be true to himself. Guaranteed to appeal to teenage readers, this book is a chilling and thrilling adventure, filled with exciting characters and memorable events. [BL] See also: www.hotkeybooks.com

ERIKA McGANN

DEREK LANDY

THE BROKEN SPELL 

THE MALEFICENT SEVEN  HARPERCOLLINS 2013 (PBK) 288PP £10.99 ISBN 9780007512379

THE O’BRIEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 256PP €7.99 ISBN 9781847172969

Tanith Low is back with a remnant bonded to her soul and leading a team of maleficent misfits in a thrilling race against her enemies to save Darquesse. This standalone, action-packed novel is set weeks after the final book in the award-winning Skulduggery Pleasant series. With cracking dialogue and a good mix of humour as well as treachery and betrayal, Skulduggery fans will not be disappointed. Crammed with necromancers, vampires and elementals, plus hilarious new characters, it makes for an exciting read. [SQ]  Read also: Skulduggery Pleasant series

This is the second book in an action-packed story about Grace and her friends. The girls are discovering the world of magic and test out a time-travelling spell, which brings the young witches back to the past. The spell keeps drawing Grace back in time and sets off a chain of events, which could have dire consequences! A gripping page-turner with a fast-moving plot, it will keep the reader guessing until the end. Fans of fantasy will love this. [EMcD] Read also: The Demon Notebook

OISÍN McGANN

SACI LLOYD

RAT RUNNERS 

QUANTUM DROP

CORGI 2013 (PBK) 400PP £6.99 ISBN 9780552566209

HODDER children’s Books 2013 (PBK) 277PP £6.99 ISBN 9781444900828

With his girlfriend in a coma, Anthony ventures into the virtual world of the Drop to track down the gang boss who ordered her death in this dystopian revenge drama. While the plot and characters are fairly standard fare for the genre, what set this novel apart are the reflections on evolution and the human condition that permeate Anthony’s inner monologue and call into question the ethics of his planned revenge. Watch out for the evolution-inspired animal illustrations at the start of each chapter. [KH]

RORY McCONVILLE  ILLUSTRATED BY PADDY LYNCH

BIG JIM: JIM LARKIN AND THE 1913 LOCKOUT 

Nimmo, Scope, Manikin and FX inhabit a skewed, futuristic version of London, where the populace are observed by the ominous presence of WatchWorld. McGann creates a complex, intriguing and believable world in this thriller. He sucks readers in and carries them breathless through the twisted alleyways and underground lairs of the city, making them part of the rat runners hurtling headlong towards the climax that will decide their fate. A must-read for anyone who enjoys action-packed and wellwritten young adult books. [LG]  Read also: Small-Minded Giants; Strangled Silence

SOPHIE McKENZIE

CASTING SHADOWS

THE O’BRIEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 80PP €14.99 ISBN 9781847173065

One hundred years after the seminal 1913 Strike and Lockout, this graphic novel explores the life and times of Jim Larkin, as well as his impact on trade unionism and workers’ rights in Ireland. Even-handed in its representation, Paddy Lynch’s understated artwork complements McConville’s engaging and historically accurate material, contextualising these events with a wide cast of figures, the reactions of ordinary Dublin residents and enlightening detail. With an evident respect for history, they bring the pages of textbooks to life for the young adult reader. [MC]

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Recommended Reads 2013

SIMON & SCHUSTER 2013 (PBK) 279PP £6.99 ISBN 9780857071033

River and Flynn are young and madly in love – but the course of true love never did run smooth. Flynn’s anger issues turn the world against him, but River is the only one that he wants. Now that Flynn has returned from Ireland to be with River and is committed to working on his problems, the future seems bright. But is River right to stand by Flynn? Is he really able to change? This is a thrilling tale of a fervent first love! [CC] Read also: Burning Bright

Rogha Leabhar 2013

43

a g e 12 –1 4

a o i s 12 – 1 4

PAULINE McLYNN

KATY MORAN

JENNY Q, UNRAVELLED 

HIDDEN AMONG US

PUFFIN 2013 (PBK) 288PP £6.99 ISBN 9780141341514

WALKER Books 2013 (PBK) 304PP £6.99 ISBN 9781406324211

The Ten Guitars have made it to the finals of Teen Factor X. Jenny takes charge of their fan mail, which brings her into agonisingly close contact with her major crush, Stevie Lee Bolton. Meanwhile, Jenny’s mum is not herself after the birth of baby Harry, and Jenny is worried about her. Luckily best friends, Dixie and Uggs, and their ‘knit and knatter’ group are always on hand. Another funny, entertaining novel from McLynn, with brilliant, believable characters. [NMaB]  Read also: Jenny Q, Stitched Up!

Lissy has always been different, and her mother Miriam has always been overly protective of her. After a long absence, her family are travelling back to Hopesay Reach when Lissy misses her train stop, and meets a mysterious boy she can’t stop staring at. What does everyone else know that she doesn’t? Fourteen years of hidden family secrets are about to spill out into the open in this compelling fantasy novel. The plot is full of twists and the result is a brilliantly dark mystery. [ET]

STEPHENIE MEYER  ART AND ADAPTATION BY YOUNG KIM

ROBERT MUCHAMORE

HENDERSON’S BOYS: SCORCHED EARTH

NEW MOON: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, VOL 1

HODDER children’s Books 2013 (PBK) 352PP £6.99 ISBN 9781444902334

ATOM 2013 (HBK) 162PP £12.99 ISBN 9780349001494

Set during the last days of the Nazi occupation of France (June 1944), the seventh book in this gritty World War II series brings the Henderson’s Boys’ mission to a close. It’s their final and most difficult task: to take down a tank battalion before it reaches the D-Day beaches. The end of the series, the loss of a much-loved character and the set-up for the origins of the Cherub series make this absolutely unmissable. [DC] Read also: The Escape; Eagle Day; Cherub: Black Friday  See also: www.hendersonsboys.com

In Meyer’s second instalment of the phenomenally successful Twilight series, Edward decides to vacate Bella’s life for what he believes to be in her best interest. Events that follow prove he couldn’t be more wrong. Young Kim’s beautiful, stylised artwork skilfully adapts the emotional tumult of Bella’s existence sans Edward, her growing affection for Jacob and the fast-paced action scenes of a world populated by vampires and giant wolves. Sure to please fans of the series and provide an entertaining introduction to the uninitiated. [MC]  Read also: Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vols 1 & 2

SALLY NICHOLLS

ASHLEY EDWARD MILLER AND ZACK STENTZ

A LILY, A ROSE

COLIN FISCHER PUFFIN 2013 (PBK) 256PP £6.99 ISBN 9780141343990

BARRINGTON STOKE 2013 (PBK) 78PP £6.99 ISBN 9781781121962

Teen detective Colin Fischer is beginning his first year at West Valley High School. A challenging enough experience for the average teen, it is exacerbated for Colin who has Asperger’s syndrome. He hates to be touched and has difficulty interpreting social cues. When a gun goes off in the school cafeteria, however, Colin’s analytical powers are ideal for solving the problem. A very enjoyable book that works well as a detective story, and provides a valuable insight into the personality of a teenager with Asperger’s. [EM]

Lady Elinor of Hardford Castle seems a big title for someone who ‘feels like a little girl’. Fourteen-year-old Elinor has a lonely life with her father, her maid and her horse until cousin Dan comes to stay. But her father’s plans for his daughter include marriage to an older man. Elinor makes her moves with care, as befits her expertise at chess, and finds herself growing up. A gentle, brief meditation on love and duty. Dyslexia friendly and also suitable for younger confident readers. [CAC]

ANDY MULLIGAN

SARAH MOORE FITZGERALD

THE BOY WITH TWO HEADS

BACK TO BLACKBRICK 

DAVID FICKLING BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 386PP £10.99 ISBN 9780857560674

ORION 2013 (HBK) 232PP £9.99 ISBN 9781444006599

The story centres on Cosmo, a young boy struggling to come to terms with his grandfather’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, the death of his brother and his mother’s emigration to Australia. Cosmo’s adventure begins with a key to the gates of Blackbrick Abbey and a promise to meet his grandfather on the other side. The premise is very creative, yet the plot seems to lose its way slightly and some details need to be clarified. However, overall it’s a touching and engaging read. [FK]

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Recommended Reads 2013

This gripping dark comedy features an 11-year-old boy who grows a second head with an entirely different personality to his own. Mild-mannered Richard Westlake is shocked by the outspoken and subversive Rikki, who turns his world upside down. A sinister plot involving the Rechner Institute of Neuroscience adds intrigue and suspense to this clever portrayal of a boy on the cusp of adolescence struggling to reconcile opposing impulses within himself as he comes to terms with the death of his beloved grandfather. [CNíB]  Read also: Trash

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ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Young Adult

a g e 12 –1 4 SIOBHÁN PARKINSON

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

HEART SHAPED: Love and Death and Everything in Between 

EDITOR’S CHOICE

MARGO LANAGAN

YELLOW CAKE

HODDER children’s Books 2013 (PBK) 227PP £6.99 ISBN 9781444903607

Things are not going so well for Annie, the 14-year-old narrator of this engaging, heart-warming story. She feels (for very good reasons) that Death is stalking her. Unfortunately, so too is the horrible Keith Butler. Yet, Jono, the boy she really likes, has disappeared into thin air along with his little sister. Set in contemporary Dublin, this story will make you laugh and cry. The sharp, witty dialogue belies a darker complexity of emotions just beneath the surface. Age 13+ [AMur] Read also: Bruised See also: www.siobhanparkinson.com

ROGHA AN EDITOR’S RA EAGARTHÓ CHOICE2013 (PBK) 256PP £7.99 ISBN 9781849921114 DAVID FICKLING BOOKS

THE DEAD MEN STOOD TOGETHER

EAGARTHÓ

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ORO’SR’S EDIT ICEICE OIT CHEDCH O

ROGHA AN

EDITOR’S

MORE THAN THIS

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

AN OR’S town where A boy drowns. Or does he? Because he is alive –ROorGHisAHÓ he? EDITEnglish RA – in the EAGART OICE CHGudmund. he used to live. Before his brother died. Before H and Monica and Treacherous memories, ‘fractured pictures’, now surprise him, bringing gut-wrenching pain – and moments of tenderness, of unalloyed pleasure. Rarely do questions about the OR’S ROGHA AN – or such EDITtension! meaning of life evoke such empathy, such recognition – in the reader. RA EAGARTHÓ OICE CH An exceptional book, beautifully crafted, one to be read and re-read. [LMo]

FRIDAY BROWN

Ross’s supernatural gifts have forced him into hiding where he is haunted by his past battles. While helping to rescue a kidnapped gifted child, he learns more of the mysterious Guild he is part of, but is also drawn into a struggle against a formidable opponent. An exciting thriller exploring the motivations for fighting on either side of a ‘just’ battle, it also reveals the effects of such actions on those involved. This novel is a satisfactory sequel to Million Dollar Gift. [RS]  Read also: Million Dollar Gift

DEIRDRE SULLIVAN

EDITOR’S CHOICE

WALKER BOOKS Sept 2013 (PBK) 480pp £10.99 ISBN 9781406350456

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

GHA AN

EDITOR’S CHOICE

HOT KEY BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 315PP £7.99 ISBN 9781471401350

THE O’BRIEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 464PP €7.99 ISBN 9781847173089

RO RA When her wayward and fiercely independent mother dies, 17-year-old Friday misses EAGARTHÓ the nomadic lifestyle and rejects the home offered by a grandfather she doesn’t know. Running away, she finds an alternative, if temporary, security and protection in Silence and the other street children. But increasingly tense and manipulative relationships ROGHA AN RTHÓRA EAGAtowards threaten to destroy her as she slowly journeys, literally and metaphorically, a greater understanding of her true self. Beautiful, atmospheric descriptions of both city and outback add to the power of this novel. [LMo]

EDITOR’S CHOICE

MALORIE BLACKMAN

IMPROPER ORDER  LITTLE ISLAND 2013 (PBK) 240PP €7.99 ISBN 9781908195234

Primrose Leary returns in this very funny, very moving sequel to Prim Improper. Prim lives alone with her dad because her mum was killed by a drunk driver, so she has to handle this part of her life, alongside her more usual teen concerns like friends, romance and school. Prim’s distinctive, witty voice is pitch perfect. Her friends – animal-loving Ella, weirder-than-she-seems Ciara and best pal Joel – are well drawn and the book mixes quirkiness and humour with flashes of raw emotion. Recommended. [HCa]

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PATRICK NESS

VIKKI WAKEFIELD

THE HIDDEN GIFT 

ROGHA ANA AN HÓRA RTGH EAGARO RA EAGARTHÓ

CHOICE

Chris Priestly, an author already associated with darkly funny and compellingly written children’s horror, reimagines ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ for this new Gothic fantasy. A wonderfully eloquent yet nameless young narrator recounts the tale of the crew’s hellish journey to seek riches in foreign lands, and his uncle’s descent into madness along the way. Not a tale for the faint-hearted, this gruesome and engrossing book will charm and horrify fans of the macabre in equal measure. [LG] Read also: The Dead of Winter

IAN SOMERS

Daoine Fásta Óga EDITOR’S CHOICE

HÓARA RTGH AN Lanagan.OIT GARO Another beautifully crafted collection of literary short stories from the penEAof Margo CHED ICOER’S HÓRA GART EAto One to reach for again and again, each rereading will offer another chance luxuriate in CHOICE AN A ’S R GH O RO EDIT RTHÓRA of the language. the Each story offers more than one ‘moment of startlement’ EAGArichness CHOICE GHA AN that may illuminate our experience of real and surreal worlds where love,ROloss and EDITOR’S HÓARA AN RTGH EAGARO ICOER’S CHEDOIT tenderness can be as unsettling as cruelty, revenge or fear. For thoughtfulEAand GARTHÓRA OICE CH ROGHA AN youngED ITOR’S(and adult) readers. [LMo] reflective adult RA

CHRIS PRIESTLEY BLOOMSBURY 2013 (HBK) 224PP £9.99 ISBN 9781408841730

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

Recommended Reads 2013

NOBLE CONFLICT DOUBLEDAY 2013 (HBK) 368PP £12.99 ISBN 9780385610421

Kaspar is a proud member of the Guardians, the elite peacekeepers of the Alliance. Years after a cataclysmic war, it is the Guardians’ job to protect the Alliance from the Insurgency, a vicious rebel force plotting against the peace they know. However, a chance encounter with a rebel named Rhea leaves Kaspar questioning all he thought he knew about his society, and what he’s really fighting for. A gripping, conspiracy-filled read worthy of any fan of speculative fiction. [HD]  See also: www.malorieblackman.co.uk

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MELVIN BURGESS

CAT CLARKE

THE HIT

UNDONE

CHICKEN HOUSE 2013 (PBK) 301PP £7.99 ISBN 9781908435330

QUERCUS 2013 (PBK) 502PP £6.99 ISBN 9781780870458

A drug named Death. Take it and you’ll have one week to live – but you’ll be smarter, stronger, more alive than you’ve ever been. In a reckless, pain-filled moment, Adam takes the drug. But before he can go on a pleasure spree, he and girlfriend Lizzie are dragged into a dangerous world of villains and revolutionaries. Part social drama, part thriller, the pace stumbles in places, but overall it’s a gritty, chilling and thoughtprovoking read. [OMcG]  Read also: Kill All Enemies; Nicholas Dane  See also: www.melvinburgess.net

When Jem’s best friend Kai commits suicide, she is left bereft and blaming her school’s ‘Team Popular’ for his death. Letters she receives from Kai throughout create an interesting foil to Jem’s life after his death. She sets herself on a path of vengeful destruction against those she deems guilty, unaware of the damage she is doing to herself in the process. A poignant, emotional novel with a razor-sharp narrative that deals tastefully and expressively with young suicide, love and mental health. [HD] Read also: Entangled; Torn; Falling

DONNA COONER

ISOBELLE CARMODY

SKINNY

METRO WINDS

ELECTRIC MONKEY 2013 (PBK) 304PP £6.99 ISBN 9781405263986

ALLEN & UNWIN 2013 (PBK) 386PP £7.99 ISBN 9781865084442

Grieving for her mother, Ever Davies self-comforted with food as her father and stepmother haplessly looked on. She now weighs over 300 pounds and is eating in secrecy, while her negative alter-ego ‘Skinny’ whispers poison in her ear. Unable to control her eating, she opts for gastric-band surgery and, like Cinderella, undergoes a dramatic transformation. Donna Cooner evokes her character’s self-obsessed world with precision, as Ever slowly realises her friends and family value her much more than Skinny lets her believe. [ADev]

A collection of six short stories, with both fantastical and real-world elements, which investigate the plot of a traditional quest fairy tale. The stock characters – princes, princesses, evil witches and jealous stepmothers – are all given backstories and depth. The stories all have a dark mystery at their core, which gives some intrigue for the reader. A rewarding collection, particularly interesting for those young adults who still have a passion for fairy tales. [KG] Read also: The Merchant’s Daughter; Ella Enchanted

PHIL EARLE

NATASHA CARTHEW

HEROIC

WINTER DAMAGE

PENGUIN 2013 (PBK) 304PP £6.99 ISBN 9780141346274

BLOOMSBURY 2013 (HBK) 310PP £10.99 ISBN 9781408835838

In a ‘broken’ world where the rule of law no longer holds, four children and a dog trek across Bodmin moor in the depths of winter searching for a long-gone parent. Gradually, bonds of friendship and family become stitched among the ‘ragtag’ four, while around them, adults are ‘lost and limpin’ everywhere you turn’. This riveting debut novel draws the reader in slowly but surely: it is a story of trust and comradeship set against the backdrop of a chaotic and muddled world. Highly recommended. [BO’T]

ANNE FINE

YANGSZE CHOO

BLOOD FAMILY

THE GHOST BRIDE

DOUBLEDAY 2013 (HBK) 304PP £12.99 ISBN 9780857532404

HOT KEY BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 400PP £7.99 ISBN 9781471400797

Seventeen-year-old Li Lan’s inheritance has been squandered by her opium-addicted father, who reluctantly suggests that she become ghost bride to Lim Tian Ching, recently deceased son of his old business partner. Repulsed by the thought of such a grotesque marriage, she enters, at first unwillingly, a shadowy spirit world. She must discover the truth about her dead suitor and her own ancestors if her sojourn in the afterlife is not to prove fatal and she is to return to her own life in 1890s Malaya. [LMo]

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This gritty tale is told in alternating sequences by two hard-bitten and streetwise brothers, Jammy and Sonny, in two locations, Afghanistan and a bleak council estate in England. Each boy struggles with his own demons and the challenges of the environment, but they find their relationship tested to the limit when Jammy returns from his tour of duty. The language is brassy, with plenty of formulaic slang, and while the overall tale is grim, strong characterisation and smart dialogue make for an appealing story. [JM]  Read also: Being Billy; Saving Daisy

Recommended Reads 2013

A sombre novel with little to lighten the dark mood, this book focuses on the appalling abuse of Eddie, the main protagonist, and his mother by the man in their lives. It is told from the viewpoint of multiple characters: healthcare professionals, police, foster parents, psychologists and Eddie himself, who becomes the dominant voice as he matures. The style is introspective, with minimal superficial description. It explores the dominance of nature or nurture as a child grows and the residual damage that occurs following abuse. [JM]  Read also: The Devil Walks  See also: www.annefine.co.uk

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y o u ng a d u lt

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CJ FLOOD

CJ HARPER

INFINITE SKY

THE DISAPPEARED

SIMON & SCHUSTER 2013 (HBK) 271PP £9.99 ISBN 9780857078025

SIMON & SCHUSTER 2013 (PBK) 376PP £6.99 ISBN 9780857076984

When a Traveller family turns up in the field next to Iris’s house, she soon becomes friends with Trick, a Traveller boy her age. As she relishes this new summery, outdoors romance, her brother Sam becomes involved with violent friends and her father prepares to use harsh measures to get the Travellers off his land. This beautifully written, well-observed and gentle-paced story starts off with a light touch, but events are slowly twisted into ugliness by circumstance and human nature. [OMcG]

Jackson is bright, ambitious and being trained to join the elite of a nation headed by The Leader. The shocking, violent death of his friend changes everything and, confused and upset, he is plunged into a different layer of society, where he learns that his previous life was based on lies and he must now fight for his very existence. Can he gain his freedom and strike back at the corrupt Leader and his henchmen? An action-packed futuristic thriller that looks at how the powerful treat the weak. [DL]

SALLY GARDNER  ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID ROBERTS

STEPHANIE KUEHN

TINDER

CHARM AND STRANGE

INDIGO Nov 2013 (HBK) 256PP £9.99 ISBN 9781780621494

ELECTRIC MONKEY 2013 (HBK) 272pp £10.99 ISBN 9781405267847

In the heart of Saxony during the Thirty Years War, a young wounded soldier, Otto Hundebiss, is taunted by death as he lurches from the battlefield. A mysterious creature intervenes and what follows is a compelling tale of dark fantasy and savage reality, desire and impotence, where the hunted turn tables on the hunter. Gardner weaves a profoundly beautiful tale from the rich fabric of folk archetypes, keeping readers on tenterhooks to the closing moments of this dreamlike novel of memory, loss and love. [MK]  Read also: Maggot Moon See also: www.sallygardner.net

ALAN GIBBONS

With an ominous atmosphere and sense of menace from the opening lines, this book recounts the story of fragile and volatile Andrew Winston Winters through his own words. An unreliable narrator and complex character, this isolated boy leads the reader on an unpredictable and not always comfortable journey, with constant twists and turns. Leaps of location and chronology in alternate chapters further add to the sense of impending threat, which is realised through the devastating denouement. An edgy psychological thriller. [JM]

RICHARD KURTI

RAINING FIRE

MONKEY WARS

INDIGO 2013 (PBK) 269PP £8.99 ISBN 9781780620275

In a bleak housing estate, where unemployment and poverty is the norm, Ethan tries to focus on football as his escape route, but his brother gets too close to a local gang and the whole family is sucked into a world of violence and retribution. Full of realistic dilemmas and tests of loyalty, this gripping story shows the power gangs can exert on a despairing community. Ethan is a brilliantly real and sensitive character at the heart of a powerful and involving story. [DL] Read also: An Act of Love

ABIGAIL HAAS

WALKER BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 400PP £7.99 ISBN 9781406346107

Papina and her Rhesus monkey relatives are torn from their safe life in the cemetery in Kolkata by a brutal invasion of Langur monkeys. Mico, a young Langur, is drawn into a double life as he refuses to accept the violence of the invasion and attempts to prevent future attacks against monkey troops. A fast-paced and evocatively written novel, Mico’s story engages with complex issues of war, the abuse of power, and the wish for peace and safety. [RS]  See also: www.monkeywars.co.uk

NICK LAKE

DANGEROUS GIRLS

50

HOSTAGE THREE

SIMON & SCHUSTER 2013 (PBK) 400PP £6.99 ISBN 9781471119149

BLOOMSBURY 2013 (HBK) 369PP £12.99 ISBN 9781408828212

This fast-paced commercial read is inspired by recent real-life crimes of passion where ‘ordinary’ people get caught up in a horrific drama. A spring break of fun and partying on the Caribbean island of Aruba turns into a nightmare for some East Coast teens. Told in a mixed-media style, shuffling emergency-call recordings, newspaper clippings, police transcripts and before and after narratives, what unfolds are the sad and shocking facts behind a mysterious death that will appeal to mature fans of crime and thriller genres. [PO’D]

Showing other young adult authors how it’s done, Nick Lake takes us on a heartpounding, sometimes uncomfortable voyage from leafy London to poverty-stricken Somalia. Amy is, reluctantly, on a luxury cruise with her father and stepmother when life becomes a lot more exciting – and terrifying! – with the arrival of a band of desperate pirates. Weaving a touching love story around themes of extremes of wealth and poverty, First World arrogance and race, this novel is a must for the thoughtful reader. [AMur]  Read also: In Darkness

Recommended Reads 2013

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ERIN LANGE

EMILY MURDOCH

BUTTER

IF YOU FIND ME

FABER & FABER 2013 (PBK) 352pp £6.99 ISBN 9780571294404

INDIGO 2013 (HBK) 292PP £9.99 ISBN 9781780621524

The 16-year-old boy everyone calls Butter achieves phenomenal, if morbid, popularity by promising to eat himself to death live on the Internet. At 423 pounds and with type-two diabetes, this is no idle threat. His newfound status amongst his peers gives him a reason to live … but if he doesn’t go through with his plan, he’ll lose everything. A dark, funny and razor-sharp novel that forces you to question the accountability of the complicit and what it really means in this day and age to be bullied. [HD]

Carey’s been surviving in the woods, caring for her little sister, isolated from the modern world and abandoned by their mentally ill mother. One day two strangers stroll into their world and change their lives forever. Carey finds herself in a daunting new world full of boys, jealous sisters and good food. She also brings with her a dark secret that threatens to ruin their new lives. A moving, and sometimes disturbing, story of survival, love and strength. [FB]  Read also: Divergent See also: www.emilymurdoch.com

JULIE MAYHEW

DAWN O’PORTER

RED INK

PAPER AEROPLANES

HOT KEY BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 320PP £6.99 ISBN 9781471400759

HOT KEY BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 270PP £7.99 ISBN 9781471400360

Fifteen-year-old Melon Fouraki is trying to come to terms with the death of her mother. She is plunged into a rawness of loss exacerbated by well-meaning social workers and counsellors, and a friend who suddenly has nothing to say to her. Her observation of other people’s discomfort around grief is spot-on and often hilarious. She exposes family myths, and eventually journeys to Crete, where she tries to reconnect with her mother’s estranged family. Her character is authentic and believable, and is the heart of this engaging book. [BO’T]

ANTHONY McGOWAN  ILLUSTRATED BY STAFFAN GNOSSPELIUS

MEG ROSOFF

PICTURE ME GONE

BROCK

PENGUIN 2013 (HBK) 208PP £12.99 ISBN 9780141344034

BARRINGTON STOKE 2013 (PBK) 104PP £6.99 ISBN 9871781122082

Nicky has had to look after his older brother Kenny since Mum left and Dad’s on bail struggling to get it together. When Kenny drags him out of bed one morning to unknowingly witness a senseless act of violence, Nicky manages to save something precious from the destruction, forever changing his and his brother’s lives. An uncondescending and atmospheric novella with young adult content, particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers of 14+. [HD]  See also: Jon for Short

Mila is not an ordinary 12-year-old. She can read people and rooms, picking up on emotions and atmosphere. When her father’s friend goes missing, Mila hopes to find the tiny clues everyone else has overlooked, but in searching finds more than she’d bargained for. This is a fresh and gripping new novel from bestselling author Meg Rosoff, with an unforgettable lead character. Both a compelling mystery and a moving comingof-age story, this is not to be missed. [JD]  Read also: How I Live Now; There Is No Dog

CATE SAMPSON

SOPHIE McKENZIE

CARNABY

SPLIT SECOND

SIMON & SCHUSTER 2013 (PBK) 304PP £7.99 ISBN 9781471115813

SIMON & SCHUSTER SEPT 2013 (HBK) 368PP £12.99 ISBN 9781471115974

In a London of the near future, a terrorist attack has shocked the population. An extremist group, the League of Iron, has claimed responsibility for the attack and Charlie is determined to get revenge for her mother’s death. Nat also wants answers, but does he know more than he’s telling Charlie? This is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of twists; short chapters and dual narrative make it a real page-turner. Thoughtprovoking and action-packed, this is an exciting read. [JD]  Read also: Girl, Missing

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A delightful coming-of-age story that follows the unlikely friendship of 15-year-olds Renée Sargent and Flo Parrot. Despite their differences, the girls form a close friendship and soon realise that they cannot imagine their lives without each other. Set in the mid-1990s in rural Guernsey, the novel celebrates an intense adolescent female companionship that overcomes betrayals, jealousies and even dysfunctional families. Brave, moving and incredibly funny, with graphic content and scenes of a sexual nature, this novel will charm a female young adult audience. [AB]  See also: www.dawnporter.net

Recommended Reads 2013

Sarah Carnaby has a tough life, but things get much worse when her mother is murdered and her sister Jude’s boyfriend is the main suspect. When Jude’s second baby is born, Sarah must struggle to keep their family together. Another murder in the same block of flats, and some shocking revelations, indicate that her mother’s killing may not be so straightforward after all. A gritty thriller with an interesting (although not entirely likeable) protagonist and clever plot twists. Suitable for those who like dark, gripping crime reads. [JD]

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MARCUS SEDGWICK

SUSAN VAUGHT

SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE

FREAKS LIKE US

INDIGO OCT 2013 (HBK) 224PP £9.99 ISBN 9781780621098

BLOOMSBURY 2013 (PBK) 240PP £6.99 ISBN 9781408836163

When writer Jack Peak goes missing, only his daughter Laureth notices. A mysterious email begins her journey with her brother Benjamin and his raven Stan. Not only does Laureth live with an unusual name, she is also blind. Sedgwick handles her blindness with credibility and sensitivity. How she navigates her way round in New York is paralleled by her father’s disappearance. A profound and evocative story, which engages with the complex issues of vision, perception, prejudice and acceptance. [SQ]  Read also: Revolver; Midwinterblood See also: www.marcussedgwick.com

Jason, Derrick and Sunshine are best friends. They meet in a special education class as they all suffer various mental disorders, ranging from schizophrenia to selective mutism. When Sunshine disappears, Jason (Freak) must push through all the voices in his head and overcome the schizophrenia, which is stopping him from clearly remembering the events leading up to her disappearance. This book’s strong central theme of mental illness is well worked, and well worth a read to better understand the unstable minds of teenagers with these disorders. A funny and compelling thriller. [LMo]

RUTA SEPETYS

ELIZABETH WEIN

OUT OF THE EASY

ROSE UNDER FIRE

PUFFIN 2013 (PBK) 352PP £7.99 ISBN 9780141347332

ELECTRIC MONKEY 2013 (PBK) 480PP £7.99 ISBN 9781405265119

Set in 1950s New Orleans, Out of the Easy follows 17-year-old Jo Moraine in her efforts to escape the seedy French Quarter. Spurred on by great friends and an even greater determination, Jo has much to overcome: her evil mother (an irredeemably selfish prostitute), her protector (a dictatorial madam), not to mention an obvious lack of money. Jo is a curious mix of naiveté and brashness, but what really makes this book special is a wonderfully rendered setting and very strong dialogue. [JS] Read also: Between Shades of Gray

Rose Justice is an American Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) pilot, working for the RAF during World War II. Her journal recounts her experiences as she discovers the atrocities of war and, in Ravensbrück concentration camp, a place of horror beyond anything she could have imagined. Her account is interspersed with her poems, which make the text lyrical and expressive. A moving, poignant tale of survival, bravery and friendship that gives a harrowing insight into some of the darkest moments in history. [JD]  Read also: Code Name Verity

DARREN SHAN  ILLUSTRATED BY WARREN PLEECE

RICK YANCeY

ZOM-B CITY 

THE 5th WAVE

SIMON & SCHUSTER 2013 (pBK) 233PP £12.99 ISBN 9780857077608

PENGUIN 2013 (PBK) 480PP £7.99 ISBN 9780141345833

Becky Smith, known to her friends as B, is a zombie with a conscience. B is the main character in this fantastically gory story about a zombie apocalypse. Having escaped a top-secret underground military base, B travels through post-apocalyptic London in search of safety from soldiers and other zombies. The novel is as funny as it is bloody, and its excellent illustrations will appeal to young adult readers with an interest in the macabre. [AB]  Read also: Zom-B; Zom-B Underground; Zom-B Angels  See also: www.darrenshan.com

WILL SLINEY

CELTIC WARRIOR: THE LEGEND OF CÚ CHULAINN  THE O’BRIEN PRESS 2013 (PBK) 128PP €14.99 ISBN 9781847173386

This exciting new graphic novel from The O’Brien Press is a Marvel comic-type take on the Irish legend of Setanta / Cú Chulainn. Its action-packed battle sequences are as bloody and dramatic as any reader could wish for, complete with muscle-bound, barechested warriors and curvaceous, scantily dressed goddesses. The text is sparse, with the illustrations (including some nicely designed panel sequences) carrying the weight of the story with ease. Comic-loving older children and young adults will really enjoy this. [AG]

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Recommended Reads 2013

With the human population decimated, unable to trust that those left are even still human, and Earth’s last survivors scattered, Cassie is left alone with her M16 rifle, Luger, and her brother’s teddy bear, struggling to choose between defiance and surrender. To stay alone is to stay alive, until she meets Evan, who may be her only hope of finding her brother. But is he as human as he claims to be? A blockbuster new sci-fi series that’s both thought-provoking and epic. [HD]  See also: http://the5thwaveiscoming.com

GABRIELLE ZEVIN

BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD MACMILLAN 2013 (PBK) 368PP £7.99 ISBN 9780330537902

Set in late 21st-century America, Anya Balanchine is heir to her family’s governmentprohibited chocolate dynasty. Desperately trying to keep the Balanchine chocolate name alive, she pits herself against dangerous figures in the chocolate underworld and in the administration. On discovering that cacao has health benefits, a fact long hidden by the government, her fortune takes another turn. A futuristic thriller, written with a stylish nod to Jane Austen, this book is the second in the series of the Birthright Trilogy. [ADev]  Read also: All These Things I’ve Done; Elsewhere; In the Age of Love and Chocolate

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P o e tr y

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

THREE LITTLE OWLS TATE PUBLISHING 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9781849760805

F i l í oc h t

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

EMANUELE LUZZATI  ILLUSTRATED BY QUENTIN BLAKE, TRANSLATED BY JOHN YEOMAN

A charming story in rhyme by the Italian artist Emanuele Luzzati, made available here in English by John Yeoman and wonderfully illustrated by Quentin ROGHA AN EDITOR’S Blake. Three mischievous owls take off on a world journey of entertaining RA EAGARTHÓ CHOICE adventures from one Christmas Day to the next, until at ‘a real Christmas feast’ this playful poem reaches its happy conclusion with ‘a bip/ and a bip/ and a bop’. A real gem of a book that will appeal to all ages. Highly recommended.ROAge 3+ [EW] GHA AN OR’S RA EAGARTHÓ

f i l í oc h t

EDITOR’S CHOICE

GABY MORGAN (ED.)

POEMS FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR MACMILLAN 2013 (HBK) 208PP £10.99 ISBN 9781447226161

Published in association with the Imperial War Museum in London to mark the centenary of the start of World War I, this is a powerful, thought-provoking and moving collection of poems. The poems were written by soldiers, nurses, mothers, sweethearts, family and friends, recording both the early excitement and enthusiasm for the war and the later heartbreak and disillusionment as the mass destruction ruined an entire generation. It includes poems by Wilfred Owen, Rupert Brooke, Vera Brittain, Eleanor Farjeon, Edward Thomas, Siegfried Sassoon and many more. Age 10+ [PS]

EDIT CHOICE

BRIAN MOSES

THE MONSTER SALE

JAMES CARTER AND GRAHAM DENTON  ILLUSTRATED BY CHRIS GARBUTTROGHA AN EDITOR’S HÓRA

FRANCES LINCOLN 2013 (PBK) 96PP £6.99 ISBN 9781847803665

In this first collection for younger children by well-known poet Brian Moses, you’ll find a funny and witty snapshot of family life, with a bit of fantasy added in. Titles of poems include ‘Spooked’, ‘A Good Scary Poem Needs…’ and ‘If I Had Ears the Size of Satellite Dishes’. And any family that lives with a dog will love ‘Worst Crimes Our Dog is Guilty Of…’, ‘Our Dog’s Response to a Leaflet about a Lost Cat’ and ‘There’s Not a Lot a Labrador Won’t Eat’. Perfect for sharing at home or at school. Age 5+ [PO’D]

EAGART CHOICE BEASTIE POEMS GRRR! DINOS, DRAGON AND OTHER

MACMILLAN 2013 (PBK) 88PP £4.99 ISBN 9781447220343

How do you steal a dragon’s egg? What’s recipe for aITDamsel Pie? Just what do GHA AN ROthe ED OR’S GARTHÓRA collection you do if you meet a swamp thing? ThisEAgruesome CHOICE of poems about beastly beasts, myriad dinosaurs, dragons and mythical monsters is great fun to read and will have young poetry enthusiasts smirking from cover to cover! Packed with fun rhymes, illustrations and jokes, this is a perfect compact collection. Age 7+ [EW]

ROGER STEVENS  ILLUSTRATED BY SPIKE GERRELL PAUL COOKSON AND DAVID HARMER  ILLUSTRATED BY CARL FLINT

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE!

OFF BY HEART A&C BLACK 2013 (PBK) 112PP £5.99 ISBN 9781408192948

MACMILLAN 2013 (PBK) 82PP £4.99 ISBN 9781447220350

Nasty aliens, marching robots, intergalactic squibble ball, not to mention Grandma’s rocket and Greasy Pete’s space takeaway – poets and long-established entertainers Paul Cookson and David Harmer assemble a lively cast of very strange places and characters in an enjoyable collection of poems. The poets may not be from outer space, or so they say, but they happily wander the outer reaches of the imagination in a fast-paced collection, nicely set off by Carl Flint’s spacey illustrations. Age 7+ [PS]

A collection of poems easy to learn and great for reciting aloud from a wide range of authors, both modern and classic, edited by performance poet, author and musician Roger Stevens. The shortest poem in the book is a single word – ‘Shhhhh…’ – but there are plenty of poems of various lengths and styles. There’s a nice emphasis on performance for friends, family or in school, with useful tips for readers and teachers to make it more fun. Age 5+ [PS]

JOHN HEGLEY

I Am A POETATO: AN A–Z OF POEMS ABOUT PEOPLE, PETS AND OTHER CREATURES

AA MILNE  ILLUSTRATED BY EH SHEPARD

CHANGING GUARD AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

56

EGMONT 2013 (HBK) 98PP £12.99 ISBN 9781405268639

FRANCES LINCOLN 2013, (PBK) 60pp £12.99 ISBN 9781847803979

‘But now I am Six,/ I’m as clever as clever./ So I think I’ll be six now/ for ever and ever.’ From the team that gave the world Winnie-the-Pooh, this book gathers in a handsome gift edition the best of AA Milne’s poems from the two volumes he published, with charming illustrations by EH Shepard. A portrayal in verse of the lifestyle, customs and countryside of Edwardian Britain, this is a book to return to time and again for both poems and pictures. Age 5+ [PS]

This collection creatively explores the traditional format of the alphabet book. There is humour in many of the poems and important messages such as ‘you can’t get on with everyone, can you?’ and ‘it’s important to get difficult things done – and even when we think we can’t, it’s important to try’ (the Youcan bird can help!). Hegley explores a variety of poetic forms, and the rhyme and rhythm make them great for reading aloud. This poetry collection would be an excellent classroom resource. Age 8–10. [BM]

Recommended Reads 2013

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Information books

L e ab h ai r Fa i sné i se

ANNA CLAYBOURNE

CAR-SIZED CRABS AND OTHER ANIMAL GIANTS A&C BLACK 2013 (HBK) 96PP £12.99 ISBN 9781408181836

MARCIA WILLIAMS

THE ROMANS: GODS, EMPERORS AND DORMICE WALKER BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 40PP £12.99 ISBN 9781406339185

OR’S

GHA AN

EDIT This is a delightful exploration of Ancient Rome. Williams’s trademarkEAROcartoon GARTHÓRA style isCHOICE colourful and cheerful. A mixture of cartoon strips and full-page illustrations describe creation and foundation myths, children’s lives, and the best and worst emperors. The pages are detailed, and asides, both factual and humorous, are supplied by ROGHA AN EDITOR’S RA Dormeo the dormouse. This book is gorgeously detailed, a perfect introduction EAGARTHÓ CHOICE to Rome, its gods, emperors, and one dormouse in particular. Age 6+ [HP]

MO WILLEMS

l e ab h ai r fa i sné i se

Did you know a giant squid’s eyeballs are bigger than your head or that a hippo is deadlier than a shark? Find out these and other fascinating facts about the world’s giant animals in this book. Excellent photographs throughout, combined with well-laid-out text, make this a great read. A couple of interesting features are the world map at the back, indicating where these giants may be found, and the silhouette of man beside animal on each page highlighting the sheer size of these animals! Age 5+ [LMu]

ANNA CLAYBOURNE

SUPER SKELETON

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

DON’T LET THE PIGEON FINISH THIS ACTIVITY BOOK!

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

This book is part of a series of four, covering the heart, muscles, brain and skeleton. It’s packed with photos, diagrams and detailed information on bones, covering everything from what they’re made of to how to keep them healthy. I particularly liked the part comparing different kinds of joints with mechanical parts! The information is backed up with practical experiments to better understand how the skeleton works, such as simulating joints with rulers and elastic bands, and even making a working hand! Age 8+ [CHes]

A AN 9781406347319 ROGHISBN WALKER BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 272PP £12.99 EDITOR’S RA EAGARTHÓ CHOICE

EDITOR’S Mo Willems’s popular and engagingly subversive Pigeon character is the star of this CHOICE remarkable activity book. Each page has a different activity: colouring and drawing; puzzles and games; tearing out perforated pages, and using the easy-to-follow ROGHA AN EDITOR’S RA HÓ RT instructions to create things with the help of scissors and tape. Each activity leads GA E EA IC CHO EDITOR’S CHOICE to the next in a natural progression of ideas and guaranteed hours of fun. Highly recommended. Age 5+ [JMcC]  Read also: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

OR’S ROGHA AN EDIT Aleksei Bitskoff and HÓRA EAGART CHOICE

RUTH SYMONS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

THERE’S A DIPLODOCUS AT THE DOOR

QED PUBLISHING 2013 (HBK) 24PP £10.99 ISBN 9781781714799 ROGHA AN RA OR’S ROGHA AN IT EAGARTHÓ ED RA This fun EA book places the diplodocus in modern life through a variety of scenarios; GARTHÓ ICE

CHO

EDITOR’S CHOICE

if a diplodocus needed a shower, he would have to go to a car wash or that a diplodocus would be the length of three buses! With lively illustrations and funny OR’S ROGHA AN RA of a EDIT E HÓ RT situations, dinosaurs are introduced in an amusing way, making this title, one GA EA R’S CHOIC O ROGHA AN IT ED RA for youngerE readers. Age 4+ [LMu]  Read also: There’s a T-Rex GARTHÓ series of EA four, ideal CHOIC in Town; There’s a Triceratops in the Tree House; There’s a Stegosaurus on the Stairs ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

QED PUBLISHING 2013 (PBK) 31PP £10.99 ISBN 9781781711217

OR’S BOYD EDITMARK CHOICE

COOK IT STEP BY STEP DORLING KINDERSLEY 2013 (HBK) 128PP £12.99 ISBN 9781409366225

This is the ideal cookbook for the absolute beginner. Full-colour photographs are used throughout from the glossary of cooking techniques and equipment to each individual step of the recipes. Both the preparation and cooking times are included alongside the ingredients and equipment lists. The recipes cover breakfast, light bites, main meals and sweet things. Menus are given for a party, three-course meal and picnic. Emphasis is placed on getting assistance from an adult for anything involving knives or heat. Age 6+ [HP]

EDITOR’S CHOICE

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

LUCY COUSINS

RSPB CHILDREN’S GUIDE TO NATURE WATCHING

DOODLE WITH MAISY

A&C BLACK 2013 (PBK) 160PP £7.99 ISBN 9781408187579

58

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

ORa’S practical introduction to wildlife watching, this is a great book. There are tips EDITAs OICEhow, when, and what to watch. However, the habitat guide refers solely to the UK. CHon

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

The spotter’s guide utilises full-colour wildlife illustrations and smaller text to feature two species per page. Each ‘Don’t confuse it with’ segment lists further species. EDITOR’S The odd pinch of humour is combined with an emphasis on safety for both the E IC O CH observer and the observed. A must for all budding active naturalists! Age 9+ [HP]

ROGHA AN RA EAGARTHÓ

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Recommended Reads 2013

WALKER BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 80PP £7.99 ISBN 9781406344998

Maisy is the star of a bright, practical workbook for children who are just gaining confidence with doodling and drawing. Each page starts a task and leaves it for the child to finish – for instance, on one page there is a picture of Maisy blowing bubbles, and the child is invited to fill the page with bubbles. The activities are an enjoyable way to build pencil-use confidence for young children. Age 3+ [BT] Read also: Make with Maisy; Maisy’s First 123; Maisy’s First Colours

Rogha Leabhar 2013

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i n for m ati o n b o o k s

l e ab h ai r fa i sné i se

rosie dickins  illustrated by carles ballestros

Agnieska Biskup

My Very First Art: Famous Paintings

Fuinneamh Is Fáilte 

Usborne 2013 (Hbk) 48pp £9.99 Isbn 9781409549918

An Gúm 2013 (Bog) 32 lch € (le Deimhniú) Isbn 9781857918304

A vibrant introduction to well-known paintings and their famous creators, this fact-filled book examines some of the most celebrated artworks throughout history. Following each discussion are useful tips for budding artists on how to recreate the styles and techniques used in the featured images. Suitable for all ages, the colourful presentation and interesting content in this book will engage even those without artistic ambition, while a website address is included for anyone eager to explore the topic further. Age 4+ [EH]

Cuirfear an-fáilte roimh Fuinneamh is Fáilte, leabhar eolais den scoth atá dírithe ar pháistí óga agus iad i mbun foghlaim faoi chúrsaí eolaíochta. Cuireann an leagan amach, mar leabhar grinn, go mór le suim a chothú don ábhar léitheoireachta. Tá teanga shaibhir, gonta in oiriúint do pháistí a úsáid chun spéis i bhfuinneamh a chothú ar leibhéal oiriúnach. Spreagann an leabhar seo greann, gné atá fite fuaite le hardchaighdeán scríbhneoireachta agus dearadh. Leabhar cliste, tráthúil a rachaidh i ngleic ar pháistí ar fud na tíre. Aois 7+ [SÓD]

Anita Ganeri  Illustrated By Fiammetta Dogi And Dan Cole

Suma Din  Illustrated By Christiane Engel

One Day: Around The World In 24 Hours

Record Breakers: Astonishing Animals

A&C Black 2013 (Hbk) 36pp £12.99 Isbn 9781408180235

Templar Publishing 2013 (Hbk) 16pp £9.99 Isbn 9781848774117

Jam-packed with information, this book demonstrates the concept of time zones through the narrative of the day-to-day life of children around the world. Always staying age appropriate, topics such as civil unrest in the Congo are skilfully broached and sit easily alongside evocative descriptions of different food cultures. Beautiful illustrations painted in a naive style greatly emphasise the similarity and differences between each child’s experience. A wonderfully rich book! Age 7+ [ViC]

Evelyn Goldsmith agus Andrew Delahunty Pól Mac Fheilimidh a rinne an leagan Gaeilge

This engaging book presents astonishing facts in bite-sized portions with buckets of attitude. The jaunty text is dynamically presented, making great use of space and fonts. Pop-up animals and lift-the-flaps feature on every page, making this a truly interactive experience. Detailed lifelike illustrations delight and horrify in equal measure. A great introduction to the world of non-fiction for young readers. Age 6+ [ViC] Read also:  Horrible Geography series  See also:  www.anitaganeri.co.uk

Robie H Harris  Illustrated By Nadine Bernard Westcott

What’s In There? All About Before You Were Born

Foclóir Tosaigh  An Gúm 2013 (Bog) 120 lch €9.50 Isbn 9781857918243

Is foclóir cuimsitheach, daite, úsáideach í seo do pháistí óga, tuistí agus múinteoirí agus iad i mbun teagasc agus foghlaim na Gaeilge. Faighimid ceannfhocail i mBéarla aistrithe go Gaeilge in éineacht le réimse leathan eolais faoi na focail féin. Ní hamháin go bhfuil an leagan Ghaeilge den fhocal ar fáil ach abairtí samplacha a léiríonn brí an fhocail go soiléir, chomh maith leis an gné ghramadaí lena mbaineann an focal. Cuireann an leagan amach eagraithe agus na léaráidí taitneamhacha go mór le héifeacht an leabhair. Aois 6+ [SÓD]

Alex Frith  Illustrated By Ian Mcnee And Adam Larkum

Walker Books Nov 2013 (hbk) 40pp £11.99 Isbn 9781406349313

Based in a fictional context, this colourful picturebook uses full-page illustrations and simple language to explain the various stages of prenatal growth and development. While awaiting the new arrival to their family, a young brother and sister share their wonder at where the baby will come from. Their excitement and curiosity make this book an ideal choice for parents who want to prepare their children for a new sibling, while also teaching them the basic biology of pregnancy. Age 3+ [EH]  Read also:  Who Has What?

Mary Hoffman  Illustrated By Ros Asquith

The Great Big Book Of Feelings

The Usborne Human Body Sticker Book

60

Usborne 2013 (Pbk) 48pp £6.99 Isbn 9781409532781

Frances Lincoln 2013 (Hbk) 32pp £11.99 Isbn 9781847802811

This book is sure to satisfy lots of curious questions about the human body. It contains a wealth of information presented in easily assimilated chunks with lots of illustrations. Different facets of the human body are explored in a direct and sensitive way, and later chapters delve into the history of medicine as well as providing the type of fun facts and figures that children love. A helpful glossary and eight full pages of stickers of illustrations from the previous pages complete the book. Age 5+ [JMcC]

How are you feeling today? Happy or sad? Confident or shy? Jealous or satisfied? This clever book lists the range of feelings that any child (or adult) might have and describes what each emotion feels like. ‘Anger: a hot horrible feeling bubbles up inside you and you want to shout at someone or throw things.’ The colourful, cartoon‑style illustrations are excellent. This book would be especially useful for sharing with children who find understanding facial expressions difficult. Age 6+ [SW]

Recommended Reads 2013

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i n for m ati o n b o o k s

l e ab h ai r fa i sné i se

RAYMOND HUBER  ILLUSTRATED BY BRIAN LOVELOCK

Dr MARK NORMAN

FLIGHT OF THE HONEY BEE

FUNNY BUMS

WALKER BOOKS OCT 2013 (HBK) 32PP £11.99 ISBN 9781406348477

Walker BOOKS 2013 (PBK) 32PP £6.99 ISBN 9781742032504

This is both a compelling storybook and an educational natural science book. The story follows the adventures of a little bee as she leaves the hive in search of a meadow, then returns to tell her sister bees about this wonderful place to collect nectar. The illustrations are beautifully saturated with colour, and the insights into the world of bees are fascinating. It ends on a thoughtful note on how to save our bee populations from decline. Age 5+ [BT]  See also: www.raymondhuber.co.nz

The average 5-year-old finds nothing funnier than the subject of bums, and this inspired natural science book was an absolute winner with the two young boys in my house. Beautifully illustrated with bright glossy photographs, Funny Bums explores the diversity of life on our planet by looking at the wide range of interesting bottoms to be found in the animal kingdom. A great, fun book and packed with fascinating animal facts! Age 4+ [BT]

ADEL KAY, DANIELLE LOWY, MICHELLE POWELL AND LAURA TORRES

TONY ROBINSON  ILLUSTRATED BY DEL THORPE

TONY ROBINSON’S WEIRD WORLD OF WONDERS: WORLD WAR II

CRAFT SMART: PAPERCRAFT QED PUBLISHING 2013 (Flexibound) 32PP £10.99 ISBN 9781781710944

MACMILLAN 2013 (PBK) 155PP £5.00 ISBN 9781447227687

This attractive, colourful book contains 12 original projects for beginner to more advanced crafters to make with readily available materials. The projects, which will appeal to both boys and girls, are graded with a ‘difficulty rating’ of 1 (e.g. paper roses) to 4 (e.g. origami butterflies). Step-by-step illustrations are easy to follow, but adult input and supervision is also required. Recommended for school libraries, parents and teachers and for any creative child. Age 7+ [PO’D] Read also: Craft Smart series: Recycling; Knitting; Jewellery

Tony Robinson tackles World War II in the sixth book of his Weird World of Wonders series. Similar in style to Horrible Histories, it uses photos, illustrations and a breezy narrative to race through WWII at breakneck speed. Packed with entertaining facts and quirky asides, it includes instructions on how to put on a gasmask and clear landmines. Despite the avuncular narrative style, it deals quite delicately with anti-Semitism and the Holocaust and offers a good if Anglo-centric overview of WWII. Age 8+ [DR]  See also: www.weirdworldofwonders.com

ALEXANDRA KOKEN  ILLUSTRATED BY JOËLLE DREIDEMY

SHARKY AND GEORGE

SPOT THE ZEBRA AT THE ZOO

DON’T YOU DARE

QED PUBLISHING 2013 (PBK) 24PP £8.99 ISBN 9781781714867

EGMONT 2013 (PBK) 83PP £12.99 ISBN 9781405258296

This introduces young children to zoo animals, including penguins, big cats, elephants, sharks and gorillas in a fun and easy-to-understand way. Each page is packed with colourful illustrations and fun facts. Children are asked to spot the zebra in every scene along with other items that are hidden in the picture. This book would be great before a first visit to the zoo, or while away on a long journey. Age 4+ [GW]  Read also: Spot the Puppy in the City  See also: www.qed-publishing.co.uk

Sharky and George are kids’ party planners advocating a return to old-school play and games. This gem of a book is packed full of outdoor and indoor activities, including revamped versions of old favourites such as tag, hide-and-seek and capture the castle. Props required include jam jars (fart-catching), coins (butt darts, table football) and messy bedrooms (bedroom minefield). Some activities, such as ‘Fill Your Pants’, may need adult supervision, but this book is a godsend for parents during the summer holidays. Age 5+ [DR]  See also: www.sharkyandgeorge.com

EMILY KRIEGER  ILLUSTRATED BY TOM NICK COCOTOS

ISABEL THOMAS

MYTHS BUSTED!

62

FIRST BOOK OF TRAINS

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY 2013 (PBK) 208PP £4.99 ISBN 9781426311024

BLOOMSBURY 2013 (PBK) 48PP £4.99 ISBN 9781408192917

I’m not sure I’ve ever met anyone who really believes that scientists have managed to bring dinosaurs back to life, but this and 60 other myths are tackled by this book! The illustrations and photographs are very vibrant and colourful. Although one or two of the myths presented are probably unknown outside of America, there is still a good variety of legends to be debunked and interesting trivia to be learned. Age 8+ [CHes]

Over 30 different types of trains are illustrated and explained in this handy, pocketsized book. Trams, cable cars, steam locomotives and funiculars, they’re all there. The illustrations are clear and carefully labelled, and the text is just right for early readers. There’s even a spotter’s guide at the back, which doubles up as an index, and a list of useful words, such as buffers and cab. Perfect for a young transport fan and ideal for the school library. Age 4+ [SW]  Read also: First Book of Aircraft; First Book of Cars

Recommended Reads 2013

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i n for m ati o n b o o k s

I r i sh - Publ i shed C h i l dren’s B o ok s 2013

TRACEY TURNER  ILLUSTRATED BY GARRY DAVIES

Leabhair do Pháistí a Foilsíodh in Éirinn 2013

WORLD’S WORST JOBS A&C BLACK 2013 (PBK) 110PP £4.99 ISBN 9781408181720

A selection of the worst occupations from the Stone Age to the present is covered in a lively fashion. Included are dangerous jobs, disgusting jobs, poisonous jobs, gory jobs and horrible jobs. The humorous style of writing and entertaining illustrations will appeal to both boys and girls. Children might find some of the jobs eye-opening, for example, in the 17th century children as young as six were sent to work as chimney sweeps for very little money. A good choice for reluctant readers. Age 7+ [GW]  Read also: Writers and Their Tall Tales

Agnieska Biskup

An Oíche Sin

Stories by Fourth Year Students from St Mary’s Holy Faith Secondary School

€ 12.00 (Bog) ISBN 9781909367685

Blank Pages

Micheál Ó Conghaile

€ 9.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9780956832641

Foclóir Tosaigh € 9.50 (Bog) ISBN 9781857918243

These three-dimensional expanding pocket-sized guides are more two-sided friezes than books. Twelve animals are described in each guide. A short paragraph on the animal is prefaced by its name in both English and Latin and accompanied by a pop-up illustration. The drawings show the animal in its natural habitat, all rendered in a calm, serene palette. A glossary and a description of where the animals can be found are also included. These short, snappy guides would please any animal buff! Age 6+ [HP]  Read also: A Pocket Pop-Up: Ocean Creatures

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Irene Ní Mhuireagáin, Fintan Taite a mhaisigh

Bata Draíochta € (Le deimhniú) (Crua) ISBN 9781857918311

Janet Slingerland, Fidelma Ní Ghallchóir a d’aistrigh

Cuán Clúmhach agus Scéal an Damhna € (Le deimhniú) (Bog) ISBN 9781857918335

Alan Titley, Peter Donnelly a mhaisigh

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The O’Brien Press, 12 Terenure Rd East, Dublin 6 The The O’Brien O’Brien Press, Press, 12 12 Terenure Terenure RdRd East, Dublin Dublin 6 6 Tel: +353 1 492 3333; Fax: +353 1 East, 492 2777 Tel:E-mail: Tel: +353 +353 1 492 1 492 3333; 3333; Fax: Fax: +353 +353 1 492 1 492 2777 2777 [email protected]; www.obrien.ie E-mail: E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; www.obrien.ie www.obrien.ie

An Diabhal ar an Ól € 12.00 (Bog) ISBN 9781909367678

FUTA FATA CLÓ MHAIGH EO http://www.leabhar.com/

Eddie Kennedy, Fintan Taite a mhaisigh

Teach Solais Mhamó – Pictiúrleabhar Gisela Pizatto, Bruno Büll a mhaisigh, dathadóireacht le Bruno Büll & Lais Bicudo, Iarla Mac Aodha Bhuí a d’aistrigh

Gráinne Mhaol – Úrscéal Grafach € 11.00 (Bog) ISBN 9781899922901

Gabriel Rosenstock, Olivia Golden a mhaisigh

€ 6.50 (Bog) ISBN 9781857918236

Máire Uí Dhufaigh

€ 8.00 (Bog) ISBN 9781899922918

Macdara Ó Fátharta € 8.00 (Bog) ISBN 9781857918144

http://www.futafata.com/

Gemma Breathnach, Delphine Bodet a mhaisigh

Luán Luch agus an Mórpianó € 9.95 (Crua) ISBN 9781906907808

€ 9.00 (Bog) ISBN 9781899922956

Scéalta ó Oileán an Turtair – Gearrscéalta

COIS LIFE

Patricia Forde, Joëlle Dreidemy a mhaisigh

Lísín: Scoil na bPáistí Deasa € 7.95 (Bog) ISBN 9781906907587

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin, Steve Simpson a mhaisigh

Dainín: Bog Chun Siúil! € 6.95 (Crua) ISBN 9781906907778

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin, Steve Simpson a mhaisigh

Dainín: Cá bhfuil Teidí? € 6.95 (Crua) ISBN 9781906907563

http://www.coislife.ie/

AN tSNÁTHAID MHÓR http://www.antsnathaidmhor.com

ut l ab uto out end lvvaeebl oab eo vn raeft o o c n y d d ll e ft ft fu d ti y-llcyra -crandshipndan ‘A beaau ufutillfu sheaiptwaneden.’ ‘A b‘Aeabueti ve,,iefr dsnhdip lo nie ie e,vfr e frin b .’ n in lovlo e eno.’use, g e e th ing binetw bedtw ryin eve moH nmo usoeu,se, ao ryethGgin R H , veeth o every m y o d d nRan y H hellGeyG o,yRoa,rm Mhic n a ll ll e e h G MicMic anyany rm erm GeG Ellen and Maggie have been best friends for as long as they can remember – sharing clothes, passions Ellen Ellen andand Maggie Maggie have have been been best best friends friends forfor as as long long as as they they can can remember remember –left sharing – alone. sharing clothes, clothes, passions passions and secrets. But now Ellen’s not there and Maggie’s andand secrets. secrets. But now now Ellen’s Ellen’s notnot there there and and Maggie’s Maggie’s left alone. alone. Maggie needsBut her best friend now more than ever, butleft where is Ellen? Maggie Maggie needs needs herher best best friend friend now now more more than than ever, ever, butbut where where is Ellen? is Ellen?

Follow the story @MissingEllen Follow Follow the the story story @MissingEllen @MissingEllen #showafriendyoucare #showafriendyoucare #showafriendyoucare

http://www.fightingwords.ie/

Meadhbh Ní Eadhra

Evelyn Goldsmith agus Andrew Delahunty, Pól Mac Fheilimidh a d’aistrigh

WALKER BOOKS 2013 (HBK) 15PP £5.00 ISBN 9781406344844

kk

FIGHTING WORDS

www.cic.ie

€ (Le deimhniú) (Bog) ISBN 9781857918304

ENDANGERED ANIMALS

g g

CLÓ IAR-CHONNACHTA

http://www.forasnagaeilge.ie/ forasnagaeilge/an_gum.asp

Fuinneamh Is Fáilte

SARAH YOUNG

ralyal rtrartya er po ndpo teer dnd e dante teensan ‘Ans sing isng ‘A te M si . is ss M lo . d ss an lo ip sh ip d nd ie shan ndip of iesh and frnd dan d en of fr ofiefr tt an ri en en w tt tt fu wriwri lly au fully be tilly is aufuti nbe beti leisn is au Elnle ’ e. iv ElleEl ’e.’ ct di e. iv iv ad ct ct y di di el et ad ad pl m etyely co plel met com copl th of of of auor or thor si au,, th au dy si,dy Ja asdy CasC Csias aur ne La Jane a-ne Ki urJa sseess en Laur Laase te is isss K K gh Ei en en d te te an gh gh ss Ei Ei s dand ng A Ksisan elisKi ngKel Ang Ael

AN GÚM

Andrew Whitson, Caitríona Nic Sheáin a mhaisigh

POP!  £9.99 (Crua) ISBN 9780955227172

Orna Ní Choileáin

Vaimpír san Áiléar € 8:00 (Bog) ISBN 9781907494369

DBEE PRESS http://www.doloreskeaveney.com

Dolores Keaveney

BLACKSTAFF PRESS www.blackstaffpress.com

Meet the Fairies in my Back Yard € 9.99 (Pbk) ISBN 978095191723

Dolores Keaveney

Aibítir: An Irish abc

The Adventures of Jenny, Sylvester … and their Six Little Chicks

£5.99 (Crua) ISBN 9780856409172

€ 9.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9780957191730

René Mullin

Rogha Leabhar 2013

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin, Steve Simpson a mhaisigh

Dainín: Cloisim Rud Éigin! € 6.95 (Crua) ISBN 9781906907570

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin, Írisz Agocs a mhaisigh

Uinseann Donn € 9.95 (Crua) ISBN 9781906907792

Gérard Moncomble, Patricia Mac Eoin a d’aistrigh, Frédéric Pillot a mhaisigh

Is linne an Tolg! € 5.95 (Bog) ISBN9781906907747

65

I r i sh - publ i shed c h i l dren’s b o ok s 2013 LEABHAR BREAC http://www.leabharbreac.com/

Máire Ní Ghallchobhair, Peter Donnelly a mhaisigh

An Róbó-Mhadra

MERCIER

Anna Carey

http://www.mercierpress.ie/

Rebecca Rocks

Alan Early

Judi Curtin

€ 8.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781781171585

€ 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847175885

Debbie Thomas, illustrated by Stella MacDonald

Brian Gallagher

Jungle Tangle

€ 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847175793

with adventurous children taking

Gerry Hunt

to the high seas with their favourite

1913: Larkin’s Labour War

books. We couldn’t help but wonder,

€ 14.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847175830

what might the name of the ship be?

Kevin Kiely

So we’re looking for the help of young

€ 8.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781781171165

http://www.littleisland.ie/

Katherine Farmar

O’DONNELL PRESS

Wormwood Gate

http://www.odonnellpress.com/

€ 8.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781908195241

Mel Fisher, illustrated by Patricia Ludlow

Annie Graves, illustrated by Glenn McElhinney

The Nightmare Club: The Demon Babysitter

CBI POSTer Competition

Arthur Quinn and Hell’s Keeper: Father of Lies Chronicles

€ 7.50 (Bog) ISBN 9780898332889

LITTLE ISLAND

€ 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847175649

C o m pe titio ns /Comór tai sí

The Giant of Aran £5.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9780957591004

Eva and the Hidden Diary

Stormclouds

SOS Lusitania € 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847172303

Natasha Mac a’Bhaird

In this year’s festival poster image, illustrator Sadie Cramer shows a scene

readers countrywide to come up with the perfect name for this ship that sails

Missing Ellen

the high seas of children’s books and in

ORPEN PRESS

€ 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847173539

the process win some fantastic prizes!

http://www.orpenpress.com/

Rory McConville and Paddy Lynch

Pamela Woodford

King Giggle

Big Jim: Jim Larkin and the 1913 Lockout

Drop into your local library or visit

Annie Graves, illustrated by Glenn McElhinney

The Nightmare Club: The Affair of the Egg

€ 6.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781871305807

€ 14.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847173065

Pamela Woodford

Erika McGann

€ 5.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781908195869

Lilly and Harry

The Broken Spell

€ 6.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781871305791

€ 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847172969

Pamela Woodford

Ning

Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Paul Young

€ 6.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781871305814

A Rosette for Maeve?

€ 5.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781908195807 

Darragh Martin

The Keeper € 9.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781908195845 

Leena Parkkinen, illustrated by Katja Wehner

Cow Belle Beauty Queen € 8.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781908195319

Pamela Woodford

Sid, Spark and the Signal Man € 6.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781871305821

Pamela Woodford Kevin Stevens, illustrated by Sheena Dempsey

Sort of the Snail

Colm’s Lambs € 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN9781847173993

Will Sliney

Pamela Woodford

Celtic Warrior: The Legend of Cú Chulainn

€ 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781908195838

€ 6.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781871305845

€ 14.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847173386

Ian Somers

Improper Order

THE O’BRIEN PRESS

The Hidden Gift

€ 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781908195234

http://www.obrien.ie/

€ 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847173089

Sheena Wilkinson

Mary Arrigan

Too Many Ponies

The Milo Adventures: Milo and One Dead Angry Druid

€ 6.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781908195258

€ 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847173515

66

  Design-a-cover   Competition

Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Paul Young

The Powers: The Not-So-Super Superheroes

Deirdre Sullivan

for an entry form.

€ 7.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847173409

€ 6.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781871305838

Watching Raindrops

www.childrensbooksireland.ie

Previous winners

Oscar Wilde, illustrated by Charles Robinson

Oscar Wilde: Stories for Children € 14.99 (Pbk) ISBN 9781847175892

Recommended Reads 2013

Rogha Leabhar 2013

2013 sees the return of the incredibly popular O’Brien Press Cover Design Competition, which gives budding designers the opportunity to have their artwork featured on the cover of a professionally published book. To celebrate the sixth year of The O’Brien Press competition, Wolfgran by Finbar O’Connor, first published in 2001, has been chosen for re-jacketing. The lucky winner will not only see their design gracing the shelves in their local library or bookshop, but will have their entire class invited to a glitzy awards ceremony and will win five sets of all Finbar O’Connor’s O’Brien Press titles for their school! Drop into your local library or visit www.childrensbooksireland.ie for an entry form. 67

Enter Enterthe thewonderful wonderful world world of Enter the wonderful world of books! books! books! New from bestselling author New from bestsellingauthor author New from bestselling Judi Curtin! Judi Curtin! Judi Curtin! Age 10+ €7.99/£6.99 pb Age 10+ €7.99/£6.99 Age 10+ €7.99/£6.99 pbpb ISBN 978-1-84717-588-5

ISBN 978-1-84717-588-5 ISBN 978-1-84717-588-5 Eva’s back & this time she’s Eva’s this timeshe’s she’s Eva’s back && this time trying toback solve a mystery from trying solve a mystery trying toto solve aEva mystery the past! When finds from anfrom old the past! When Eva fi nds anold old the past! When Eva fi nds diary she’s determined toan right diary she’s determined toright right diary she’s determined old wrongs. And can shetohelp old wrongs. And she help old wrongs. And she help her friend Kate fican ndcan her happyher friend Kate find herhappyhappyher friend find her ever-aft er?Kate ever-aft er? ever-aft er? From the author of Taking From the author Taking From the author ofofTaking Sides comes a powerful tale of Sides comes a powerfultale taleofof Sides comes a powerful enduring friendships enduring friendships enduring friendships

Age 10+ €7.99/£6.99 pb Age 10+ €7.99/£6.99 Age 10+ €7.99/£6.99 pbpb ISBN 978-1-84717-579-3 ISBN 978-1-84717-579-3 ISBN 978-1-84717-579-3

It’s the summer of ‘69 in Belfast. the summer ‘69ininBelfast. Belfast. It’sIt’s the summer ofof ‘69 Maeve, Sammy & twins Emma & Maeve, Sammy & twinsEmma Emma&& Maeve, Sammy & twins Dylan overcome their suspicions Dylan overcome theirsuspicions suspicions Dylan their of eachovercome other to become firm of each other to becomefirm firm of each other to become friends. But change is in the air friends. But change is in the air friends. But change is in the air suddenly their friendship & lives suddenly their friendship & lives suddenlythreatened their friendship become ... & lives become threatened ... become threatened ...

A beautiful new collection Abeautiful beautiful newcollection collection A new of Oscar Wilde’s stories for ofOscar OscarWilde’s Wilde’sstories storiesfor for of children children children €14.99/£12.99 hb €14.99/£12.99 hb €14.99/£12.99 hb ISBN 978-1-84717-589-2 ISBN978-1-84717-589-2 978-1-84717-589-2 ISBN

This gorgeous edition brings Thisgorgeous gorgeous edition brings This Wilde’s magicaledition storiesbrings to a Wilde’s magical storieswith toaa Wilde’s magical stories to whole new generation whole new generation with whole new generation with Charles Robinson’s original Charles Robinson’s original Charles Robinson’s original and iconic illustrations. andiconic iconicillustrations. illustrations. and

A magical time-travelling magicaltime-travelling time-travelling AAmagical mystery! mystery! mystery! Age 10+ €7.99/£6.99 pb Age10+ 10+€7.99/£6.99 €7.99/£6.99pb pb Age ISBN 978-1-84717-296-9 ISBN978-1-84717-296-9 978-1-84717-296-9 ISBN Trainee witch Grace & her four Traineewitch witchGrace Grace&&her herfour four Trainee best friends love to have fun bestfriends friendslove loveto tohave havefun fun best with their spells. But the daring withtheir theirspells. spells.But Butthe thedaring daring with friends make a magical mistake friendsmake make amagical magicalmistake mistake friends that drags theapast into the thatdrags dragsthe thepast pastinto into the that present. Can Grace savethe her present. Can Grace save her present. Grace save her friends - Can and herself? friends - and herself? friends - and herself? For more gr

eat chFo ildrremn’or great Fo r reorseebo s, as ch grok welildl m ea s bo asn’ ch okts, ild celle w n’ex elre teas nt sexbo l as ac ok hi ng ce as lles,nt wel source teac asre hilng ex s, ce cent teaching visire t sourlle sources,s, www.ovire si t br wwwvi ie .osibrtieien. n.ie www.o brien.ie

New from Irish Book New from Irish BookAward Awardwinner winner New from Irish Book Award winner Anna Carey! Anna Carey! Anna Carey! Age 12+ €7.99/£6.99 pb Age 12+ €7.99/£6.99 pb Age 12+ €7.99/£6.99 pb ISBN 978-1-84717-564-9 ISBN 978-1-84717-564-9 ISBN 978-1-84717-564-9

Rebecca && her band Rebecca her bandHey HeyDollface Dollface Rebecca &toher bandsummer Hey Dollface are going a cool are going to a cool summercamp camptoto are going to a cool summer camp to become total rock stars. become total rock stars.But Butthere’s there’s become band total rock stars. But there’s another - the Crack another band - the CrackParrots Parrots band - the Crack Parrots -another that are going toto be && - that are going betrouble trouble - that are going to be trouble & Cass’s love life gets complicated. Cass’s love life gets complicated. Cass’s love lifehelp gets complicated. Can Rebecca her Can Rebecca help herfriends friendshave have Can Rebecca helpever? her friends have the best summer the best summer ever? the best summer ever? AnAn exciting new series exciting new seriesfrom fromawardawardAnwinning exciting newMary series from awardwinning author author MaryArrigan Arrigan winning author Mary Age 7/8+ €7.99/£6.99 pbArrigan

Glenmore GlenmoreValley Valley Glenmore AAfantastic all fantasticnew newseries seriesValley allabout aboutfarming farming A fantastic new series alllife! about farming and andcountry country life! country pb life! Age 5+/Reading aloudand €7.99/£6.99 Age 5+/Reading aloud €7.99/£6.99 pb Age 5+/Reading aloud €7.99/£6.99 pb ISBN 978-1-84717-399-3 ISBN 978-1-84717-399-3 ISBN 978-1-84717-399-3 Colm’s Lambs

Age 7/8+ €7.99/£6.99 pb Colm’s Lambs Age 7/8+ €7.99/£6.99 pb ISBN 978-1-84717-351-5 Colm’s ISBN 978-1-84717-351-5 Colm aagreat ColmisisLambs greathelp helpatatlambing lambingtime timeon onthe thefarm. farm.But But ISBN 978-1-84717-351-5 When Shane’s gran digs When Shane’s gran digsupupa astrangestrange- can Colm is a great help at lambing time thesave farm. But &&his Molly help the canColm Colm hisfriends friends Molly&&Daisy Daisyon help save the

When Shane’s gran digsbest up abuddies strangelooking ancient stone, looking ancient stone, best buddies looking ancient stone, best buddies Milo && Shane have totoface Milo Shane have faceits itsowner owner &dead Shane have toangry face its owner -Milo one && very angry druid! Then - one dead very druid! Then - one dead & very & angry druid! Then Shane disappears needs aa Shane disappears &Milo Milo needs Shane disappears &it’s Milo needs rescue plan before late! rescue plan before it’stoo too late!a rescue plan before it’s too late!

can Colm lamb &lamb his separated friends Molly & its Daisy help save the newborn from newborn separated from itsmum? mum? newborn lamb separated from its mum? ISBN ISBN978-1-84717-340-9 978-1-84717-340-9 ISBN 978-1-84717-340-9 A eefor ARosett Rosett forMaeve? Maeve?

ALisa’s Rosett e has for Lisa’s dad asked dad hasMaeve? askedher herto toshow showtheir theirnew newcalf calfMaeve Maeve Lisa’s dad hasshow. asked her to calf Maeve at village going to hard work as atthe the village show.But Butit’s it’sshow goingtheir tobe benew hard work as at the village show. But it’s going tomischief! be hard work as Maeve knows how lots Maeve knows howto tomake make lotsof of mischief! Maeve knows how to make lots of mischief! The TheO’Brien O’BrienPress, Press,1212Terenure TerenureRd RdEast, East,Dublin Dublin66 TheFax: O’Brien Press, 122777; Terenure Rd [email protected]; East, Dublin 6 Tel: +353 1 492 1 1492 www.obrien.ie Tel: +353 1 4923333; 3333; Fax:+353 +353 492 2777;E-mail: E-mail: [email protected]; www.obrien.ie Tel: +353 1 492 3333; Fax: +353 1 492 2777; E-mail: [email protected]; www.obrien.ie