The team at Discover Irish Children’s Books pick their favourite titles for July
With only a tiny number (or sometimes none at all) of Irish children’s authors listed in the top ten charts each week, Discover Irish Children’s Books is championing our home-grown writers. Each month they pick their favourite Irish titles to make it easier for you to find these brilliant and bright books for young people.
If the book is available here, we’re linking to bookshops in Ireland where you can order online and have your books delivered.
JULY FAVOURITES
Lola and Larch Save the Sunshine Spell, by Sinéad O’Hart (Nosy Crow) Age 6+
Granny’s garden is growing out of control! Larch is sure a bad fairy is behind this agricultural anarchy…
Lola can’t believe her luck. The rabbit she’s rescued in the forest is actually a rebellious fairy in disguise! But Lola’s new friend Larch has trouble on her tail… Filled with fun, friendship, family and naughty fairies, this beautifully illustrated series is perfect for young readers.
Evil Euphorbia Spurge has sent bad magic across the forest and it’s turning all the plants wild! Lola’s granny is thrilled because her garden is looking lush, but Larch is sure she saw a courgette wave and smile at her – and they’re not supposed to do that, are they? It’s time for Lola and Larch to head into the forest and grapple with a green-fingered fiend!
The Dog who Danced on the Moon, by John Boyne, illustrated by Ashling Lindsay (Puffin) Age 4+
There once was a boy called Jeremy Grace who had a remarkable interest in space. He was quiet and shy, very often alone, Just him and his dog, spending time on their own. Jeremy dreams of journeying through space, but nobody believes in him . . . Nobody, that is, but Maxwell, his incredible dancing dog who encourages him to reach for the stars.
The pair embark on an out-of-this-world adventure—but when they are faced with an incoming comet catastrophe, it takes bravery, daring and a little bit of dancing to save the day. Heartwarming and inspirational with a touch of magic, this read-aloud rhyming picture-book story encourages children to follow their dreams.
The Dandelion’s Tale, by Margaret Anne Suggs (Graffeg) Age 5+
In this allegory of immigration, the dandelions – who are just weeds after all – are forced to move on when they are confronted with tools, machines and potions. So they float, taking their hopes with them, and go on a journey to find a peaceful place to reseed and settle.
Someone’s Been Messing with Reality, by John Hearne (Little Island) Age 9+
Martin’s parents have disappeared. Also, it turns out, they are aliens. Which makes Martin …?
Then Martin and Tina discover enormous light-emitting eggs in an abandoned mine. It is clear they are not going to be hatching out anything cuddly. And so the kids try to blow them up. But instead of blowing up, huge killer insects hatch, and go on a mission to destroy all human life on earth. Oops.
Having first rescued Martin’s parents, the kids steal a cop car and then an ambulance. Eventually they fly, using Martin’s power of telekinesis – someone really has been tinkering with reality – in thrilling pursuit of the killer insects.
Martin and Tina’s friend Enda has assembled an extraordinary zapper that the children use to take down the evil insects, one by one by one out of the sky.
And that is how these amazing kids actually, literally save the world.
You Don’t See Me, by Chris Ricketts (Little Island) Age 15+
Ros has finally found Eddy, the girlfriend they’ve always wanted. But Ros can’t tell her the truth: that they are trans, and want to live in a male body. At a party Ros’s classmates “discover” they’re a lesbian – but that’s not the true story.
As Ros’s life gets ever harder to navigate, a new friendship with a boy changes everything and Ros confides in him. Once the truth is out, things take on a momentum that Ros can’t control. Ros is surprised that their school turns out to be supportive of their identity. But what’s the next move? Hormones? Surgery? And what will happen when Eddy finds out?
