Celebrating Irish Children's Books

1. Over the bar

by Michael Egan

€9.99

After joining the school hurling team, Declan must find a way to juggle training for this new sport and football at the same time. When Smithgreen’s goalkeeper gets injured, Declan convinces his brother, Daniel, to take the spot. But their parents mustn’t find out, as a childhood illness means Daniel is forbidden from playing sport. Declan struggles to hide the truth while competing in two championships. Has he finally bitten off more than he can chew? Over the Bar is book three in this fun, compelling series for children who are fans of the GAA. ‘Ideal for GAA-loving children aged 9+.’ Hogan Stand Magazine

2. Vetman and his bionic animal clan

by Noel Fitzpatrick

€12.99 €18.20

Join Vetman, Imogen, Findlay and a whole cast of incredible bionic animals as they save animal companions everywhere from the evil plans of The Man With No Name! An amazing animal adventure for readers aged 7-11 from Noel Fitzpatrick, Channel 4's SUPERVET. Vetman lives in a cottage outside a sleepy English village, where nobody realises that he's saving animals in incredible, bionic ways - except the animals themselves, of course! But trouble is brewing... because Vetman's old foe, The Man With No Name, has set up camp nearby and plans to poison dogs and cats across the land. When Imogen and Findlay stumble across an injured hedgehog and take him to Vetman's door, they have no idea that they are about to embark on an important mission to save more than just their spiky new friend. Together with Vetman and his brave bionic animal clan, they must take down The Man With No Name! This brilliant animal adventure is Noel Fitzpatrick's first book for younger readers, following his Sunday Times bestselling memoirs Listening to the Animals: Becoming the Supervet and How Animals Saved My Life: Being the Supervet. Black-and-white illustrations bring the story to life.

3. Tree dogs, banshee fingers and other Irish words for nature

by Manchán Magan

€17.99 €19.99

'In Irish there are so many great rain words and magic words and highly specific natural words (such as the material put on the hooves of donkeys to stop them slipping in ice), or words to communicate with animals, or evocative plant words, or the gorgeous words for different amounts of light in the sky, or words that hint at different ways of seeing colour, or twilight words . '   Manchán Magan is fascinated by words, particularly Irish words, with all of their complex meanings and associations and their connections to the natural world. Having enjoyed huge success with his bestselling book Thirty-Two Words for Field, Manchán now brings his infectious wonder and enthusiasm for the Irish language to a younger audience, offering delightful translations and explanations of animal, bird, fish, insect and nature words.   When you see the world through Irish, you see the world differently. Get ready to share the magic with this delightful book for readers of all ages.

4. Frankie's world

by Aoife Dooley

€8.99 €12.60

  How do you fit in and stand out when you feel different to everyone around you? "I loved Frankie's story and could really identify with her character. This is such an amazing graphic novel that represents neurodiversity really realistically." Libby Scott "Aoife Dooley captures Frankie's autistic experience with great care, humour and love." Lizzie Huxley-Jones "A fun and relatable read about awkwardness, self-acceptance, family and friendship." Sarah McIntyre "Unique and often funny ... I cheered Frankie on through her journey." Sue Cheung Frankie knows she's not like anyone else in her class: she's different, but she can't quite figure out why. Is it the new freckle on her nose, or the fact she's small for her age? Or that she has to go to the hospital sometimes? Everyone else seems to think she's weird too, and they make fun of her at school. Frankie's dad left when she was a baby - maybe he was different too? It would explain why she always feels like an alien. So she and her best-friend Sam, embark on a mission to track him down.  A graphic novel offering a unique perspective on Autism, told with humour and heart.  Brought to life with glorious colour artwork in a distinctive blue and orange palette. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier.

5. A bad king is a sad thing

by Julian Gough

€7.99

Gorgeously illustrated and with a classic feel, this is a brilliantly funny story of a rabbit and a bear ... and how to defeat an icebear who wants to be king. Ideal for readers moving on from picture books. 'A perfect animal double-act.' The Times , Book of the Week Icebear has arrived in Rabbit and Bear's valley, and he wants to be king. He's big and scary, and the more kind and understanding the animals are, the meaner he becomes. Rabbit is confused: Bear has always been able to fix their problems in the past - but maybe this time he needs to ask for help from someone else. Does Wolf have the answer to the bad king's demands ... or will Rabbit and the other animals find the solution within themselves? From novelist and playwright Julian Gough, and the winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, Jim Field, this is a story of friends, enemies, and how to avoid being pooped on by an icebear. 'Rabbit's Bad Habits is a breath of fresh air in children's fiction, a laugh-out-loud story of rabbit and wolf and bear, of avalanches and snowmen. The sort of story that makes you want to send your children to bed early, so you can read it to them.' Neil Gaiman Read all the Rabbit and Bear books: 1. Rabbit's Bad Habits 2. The Pest in the Nest 3. Attack of the Snack 4. A Bite in the Night 5. A Bad King is a Sad Thing

6. A hug for you

by David King

€11.99 €18.20

IRISH BOOK AWARDS' CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021 Nothing warms us up quite like a hug, but what can we do when we can't be together? This is the story of a new hug's adventure and the boy who shared it with the world. Adam King stole the hearts of the nation when he introduced us to his Virtual Hug, a heart-shaped sign he carried during the COVID-19 pandemic to help him stay connected to his teacher while he was learning from home. He also took it to his regular hospital appointments to show his doctors, nurses, and care staff that he was still giving them a hug, just in a different way. This picture book, inspired by true events, tells the story of one little boy with a big idea that came straight from the heart. The virtual hug makes its way onto mugs, postage stamps and even all the way to outer space, spreading warmth and connection to people all over the world. _____________ 'A gorgeous, moving book' Irish Times 'A genuine ray of light' 2FM Breakfast

7. Rock, paper, killers

by Alexia Mason

€7.99 €11.20

The brand-new addictive thriller that fans of Karen M. McManus and Holly Jackson will be DYING to read.   The ROCK she fell from . . . The PAPER she clutched . . . The KILLERS she thought were friends . . .   When five Dublin teenagers arrive at a rural coastal college to cram for their final exams, their most pressing concern is the prospect of a month with no partying. Little do they know that one of them will never make it back home . . .   A page-turning and gripping thriller with a shocking twist, Rock Paper Killers is perfect for fans of Riverdale , One of Us is Lying and We Were Liars . See what readers are saying about Rock Paper Killers : 'I read it all in one sitting because I was so addicted' - NetGalley - Lily and Lucie, Reviewers 'Can't wait to see what else this author has to offer' - NetGalley - Natalie, Reviewer 'Rock Paper Killers is a tricksy book that keeps you second guessing everyone, even yourself' - NetGalley - Emily, Reviewer 'It was so addicting to read and the chapters flew by. I found myself tearing through it and near finishing it in a day. I was left reeling at the end' - NetGalley - Nicola, Reviewer

8. The summer I robbed a bank

by David O'Doherty

€8.99 €9.80

'Funny, warm as toast and packed full of ideas that fill up your head and burst in your brain like fizzy magic!' Noel Fielding 'A totally fun, madcap adventure that ends up robbing your heart' Stewart Foster, award-winning author of The Bubble Boy There's a feeling of relief that comes just after you've robbed a bank... Rex's parents have split up and, to make matters worse, he has to spend his summer holiday on a remote and rainy Irish island - with only unruly sheep for company. The only upside: he'll be staying with his strange and brilliant Uncle Derm. Then Rex discovers Uncle Derm is about to execute his most hair-brained plan yet . . . To rob the island's travelling bank! Like the local legend of medieval Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley, Uncle Derm plans to redistribute the money to local needy causes on the island. And he needs Rex's help . . . A chaotic robbery, plenty of sheep and a summer of discoveries come together in this hilarious and heart-warming novel from comedian, actor and author of Danger is everywhere, David O'Doherty . A perfect adventure for fans of Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ross Welford and David Walliams. ---------- Praise for David O'Doherty's Danger is Everywhere series: 'I dislocated my jaw laughing' Eoin Colfer 'Imagine the Mighty Boosh crashed into the Wimpy Kid' The Times ' Brilliantly funny' Gransnet

9. Dead or alive

by Derek Landy

€8.99 €11.20

Skulduggery, Valkyrie and Omen return in the 14th and penultimate novel in the internationally bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant series - and their most epic test yet. In a matter of days, the world will change. Billions of lives will be wiped away in a final, desperate search for the Child of the Faceless Ones - she who is destined to bring about the return of humankind's ancient overlords. To prevent this, Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain have one last - terrible - option: the assassination of Damocles Creed. With protests stirring in the magical city of Roarhaven, with riots and revolutions on the horizon, Valkyrie must decide who she wants to be: the hero who risks everything for a noble ideal, or the killer who sacrifices her own soul for the fate of humanity. The decision must be made, and time is running out.

10. The gifts that bind us

by Caroline O'Donoghue

€8.99 €11.20

A spellbinding supernatural teen drama - and sequel to All Our Hidden Gifts . Maeve and her friends have revealed their powers and banded together as a coven: Roe can pick locks, Lily sends sparks flying, Maeve can read minds and Fiona can heal any injury. And even better than their newfound talents? Roe and Maeve are officially an item. But with strange things happening at school, and old enemies appearing in new places, it soon becomes clear their powers are attracting all the wrong attention. It's not long before Maeve's gift start to wane, drained by someone - or something - that's hiding even from her second sight... The brilliant second installment in the Hidden Gifts series, with further titles to come. Praise for All Our Hidden Gifts "So gripping, so intriguing, so layered - All Our Hidden Gifts feels like a book that should have always existed." - Kiran Millwood Hargrave "A seductive and brilliant book. Fiercely, furiously good." - Melinda Salisbury "The most authentic teenage voice I've read in ages... I was utterly bewitched." - Holly Bourne

11. Aldrin Adams and the cheese nightmares

by Paul Howard

€8.99 €11.20

*Shortlisted for the Children's Book of the Year - Irish Book Awards* The laugh-out-loud funny children's book from Number-One-Bestselling Ross O'Carroll Kelly author, Paul Howard. Illustrated throughout by Lee Cosgrove. An adventure full of mystery, magic and cheeses that seriously, SERIOUSLY pong! ALDRIN ADAMS is an ordinary boy with an EXTRAORDINARY SUPERPOWER. When he eats cheese just before he goes to sleep, he can enter into other people's dreams . . . AND THEIR NIGHTMARES! But why has he got this power? And what is he supposed to do with it? HE NEEDS ANSWERS . . . AND FAST! What Aldrin doesn't realize is that he is being watched by a MYSTERIOUS, SUPERNATURAL VILLAIN who's creating nightmares for millions of children every night. Will an ordinary boy, armed with his pet frog and the STINKIEST CHEESE in the world, be enough to stop him? A brilliantly funny, heartwarming story, perfect for fans of David Baddiel and Sam Copeland.

12. Where are you, puffling?

by Erika McGann

€8.99

A brand new board book edition for young readers! A puffling has gone in search of adventure - now her puffin parents can't find her anywhere! They talk to the seal and the gannet and the rabbit; they walk to the huts and the cliffs and the cove. They hear lots of stories of the puffling helping others, but they just cannot find their fluffy, black chick. Finally, they spot her - on a boat out at sea! The puffling is too small to fly home, so the animals of Skellig work together and come up with something very clever .

13. Mr Spicebag

by Freddie Alexander

€11.99 €18.20

Be warned, Reader, this book isn't about a normal spice bag, nor is it about a normal boy. Quite the opposite. This book is about the Spice Bag, and our unlikely hero: a 10-year-old boy named George. It also has: A dash of adventureA sprinkle of mysteryA greasy villainAnd a talking mouse And then there's Mr Spicebag's chipper, which seems to be at the centre of everything. George is about to have the weirdest week of his life. 'The greatest adventure about spice bags ever written!' Chip Chipwell, The Chipper Times 'The best book I have eaten. No competition.' George McGorge, Competitive Eater Magazine

14. Noni and the great chawwwklit mystery

by Dermot Whelan

€10.99 €12.99

Meet Noni. She's a crazy old, law-breaking, chocolate-selling, pram-wielding, wickedly funny woman who likes nothing more than a dangerous caper!   Someone has tampered with the city's supply of chocolate and now Noni and her young friends must find out who did it before the evil tricksters poison the whole town - including the dreamy rugby star, Chunks McSturdy.   Can Noni and her pram of seriously dodgy treats overcome the odds and get to the bottom of the mystery before all hell breaks loose? Will her pet raven, Francis, ever find enlightenment? Will anyone ever teach Noni to say the word 'chocolate' properly? Get ready for lots of laughs, tons of adventure and truck loads of chawwwklit!