Ruth Ennis chooses non-fiction to meet children on their own terms
by Ruth Ennis
Sometimes I meet children who tell me that they aren’t big readers and that books don’t interest them. In those instances, non-fiction titles are my first port of call. Rather than focusing on the medium of a book and convincing them of the joys of reading, it’s more important to meet the young reader-to-be on their own terms. I’d rather find something they are interested in and suggest a book for them about that topic.
It’s fantastic to see the level of care and attention to detail that goes into the production of contemporary non-fiction titles for children. Today I want to share with you four books that will capture the minds of the nature, history, sports, and science enthusiasts in your life.
The Great Irish Book of Gaelic Games, by Evanne Ní Chuilinn, illustrated by Donough O’Malley (Gill Books)
My first recommendation is The Great Irish Book of Gaelic Games written by Evanne Ní Chuilinn and illustrated by Donough O’Malley (Gill Books), as grand in size as it is in content.
This latest entry to the Great Irish book series covers everything you need to know about GAA: the history, the culture, the pitches, and of course the games themselves. Whether you are novice or a pro when it comes to camogie, hurling, handball, rounders, or Gaelic football, this is an accessible source of information.
the highlight of this book is the genuine grá and respect Ní Chuilinn has for the topic
Each chapter concludes with spotlights on key figures and legends in GAA history and today’s superstar athletes. The illustrations are dynamic and lively, combined with expert design and layout to make each page wonderful to behold. But the highlight of this book is the genuine grá and respect Ní Chuilinn has for the topic. She writes on the culture of Gaelic games with such fondness and pride in every word, it is inspiring to even this GAA greenhorn. A comprehensive and engaging book, I know this will be the perfect read for many young GAA players. Suitable for 8+ years.
Wonders of the Wild, by Éanna Ní Lamhna, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald (The O’Brien Press)
Next is a book for the nature lovers: Wonders of the Wild by Éanna Ní Lamhna and illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald (The O’Brien Press). This book takes a unique spin on non-fiction writing for young readers. Rather than presenting a compilation of facts and figures, each chapter introduces a new type of creature and some plants in a more narrative format.
The illustrations are warm and well-structured, with some humourous asides coming from the more animated drawings
It is filled with anecdotes that will be recognisable to plenty of Irish readers; the entry for gulls begins with “most of us don’t like the seagulls that fly around our cities and towns, screeching, building on our roofs and eating our food” and follows with the commentary on how humans have disturbed their natural habitat. The illustrations are warm and well-structured, with some humourous asides coming from the more animated drawings. There is some expected familiarity of terminology so this book is best suited for slightly older readers, 9+ years.
Your SENSE-sational Human Body: A Guide to Your 32 Senses, by Emma Young, illustrated by John Devolle (Bloomsbury)
As a firm believer that biology is the most exciting of the science branches, this next book was a fascinating read. Your SENSE-sational Human Body: A Guide to Your 32 Senses is written by Emma Young and illustrated by John Devolle (Bloomsbury) and does exactly what it says on the cover.
You might be surprised to learn that your body doesn’t have only five senses. This book delves into the other twenty-seven that you use every day. In this book you can discover why you get carsick, why scratching an itch is a sense of its own, and why words can actually hurt. This was a delightfully informative and well-presented piece that succeeds in exploring a fascinating topic in a clear and concise manner.
You might be surprised to learn that your body doesn’t have only five senses
The illustrations are brilliant throughout, from the impressive double spread diagram of the human body, to the head-turning artwork of a rollercoaster (and the impact it has on your motion senses). With a helpful glossary at the back to help keep track of all the new things you’ll learn in this book, this is a wonderful read from beginning to end. Suitable for readers aged 8+ years.
The Forgettables: Remarkable Irish People (and Animals) You’ve Never Heard Of, by Myles Dungan, illustrated by Alan Dunne (Gill Books)
Lastly is a history book like you’ve never seen before. The Forgettables: Remarkable Irish People (and Animals) You’ve Never Heard Of is written by Myles Dungan and illustrated by Alan Dunne (Gill Books).
This is a remarkably novel concept for Irish historical non-fiction which makes it a captivating book throughout. Here you won’t read about Michael Collins or Constance Markievicz – instead you’ll learn about lesser known but no less fascinating figures such as William Parsons (he built the world’s largest telescope), Violet Gibson (she attempted to assassinate Mussolini), and Cairbre (the lion in the MGM film production logo).
The text is superbly written, with wit and good-natured humour woven throughout
Each entry is short and sweet with handy summaries at the end of the biography. The book covers a wide range of categories (nobles, geniuses, creatives, sportspersons, adventurers) and includes more controversial figures remembered for the wrong reasons. The text is superbly written, with wit and good-natured humour woven throughout. The illustrations are stunning, the interpretations of James Maclaine and Susan and Elizabeth Yeats being particularly eye-catching. Between this book and this creative duo’s previous collaboration – The Great Irish History Book – I would eagerly read any of their future work, trusting them to tell unique aspects of Irish history with a lot of heart. Suitable for 10+ years.
Now you are equipped with four new recommendations of books across various subjects. If the child in your life isn’t massively curious about books, try introducing these titles to them. I’ve no doubt they will enjoy discovering something new and exciting in any of these books.
