We’ve independently selected our pick of the best new books for Kids & Teens – so have a browse and discover some great reading! And remember – we offer Free Postage in ROI on orders over €30 – just choose the Free Postage option at checkout.
-
Have you heard of Eithne the supernatural scholar or Fand the shape-shifting eco-warrior? What about Be Mannair, a gender-fluid spy who challenges an entire army, or Be Binn, a giantess who gets her own back on her bullies? From mermaids and fashionistas to athletes and farmers, meet goddesses of all shapes and sizes from Ireland's ancient myths. Stand by their sides as they wield magic, fight monsters, and protect the powerless - and you might discover that you, too, are a force of nature. "While many of us grew up learning about Greek and Norse myth, the Irish goddesses were an undiscovered secret. At my convent school, I was taught about two or three magical women from mysterious lands, but they were not described as goddesses, and I had no idea how warped these tales had become. Then years later, I took a trip to Rathcroghan, an Irish archaeological site known as the ancient capital of Connacht, and the original home of Halloween. I learned the land there was linked with powerful goddesses like Morrigan - whose name I barely knew - and Medb, described in my schoolbooks as a greedy mortal, no more than a villain in a man's story. I couldn't understand why I hadn't been taught about these goddesses and felt something had been stolen from me. So, for many years after, I went digging through ancient Celtic texts and discovered a pantheon of exciting goddesses with brilliant abilities. But what I found most remarkable was that these women from thousands of years ago often faced the kind of challenges we experience today. Their stories are relevant and inspiring, yet girls everywhere have been stripped of the Celtic goddesses - an important part of our shared female heritage. I am grateful and honoured to retell their stories for you now." Illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald Great for Ages 9-12. ISBN 99780008538972 -
Drawn from the Irish Traveller storytelling tradition, DeBhairduin's tale is a gentle allegory about difference, self-acceptance and different ways of seeing the world. Two slugs travel happily together as brothers, until they meet a crow who shows them that they have no home. Ashamed, one of the slugs decides to make himself a home, and calls himself snail. The brothers grow apart and become suspicious of each other. The slug with no shell-house feels ashamed until he learns to see that the very road he travels is his home, and so he shall never be homeless. The happy slug no longer sees himself through the judging eyes of others, but proudly asserts his place in the world. Great for Ages 1-7. -
The captivating new companion to international bestsellers 'Here We Are' and 'What We'll Build'. A father takes his two children on a thrilling out-of-this-world adventure into space and invites them to look back at Earth and the conflicts that have taken place since the beginning of time. This becomes a brief history of the world and a whistle-stop guide to the universe, all rolled into one - and told with Oliver Jeffers's inimitable perspective, wit and exquisite artwork. Meanwhile Back on Earth gives a unique look at life on Earth with a cosmic perspective - and an enduring message that what binds us together matters more than what sets us apart. A timely story for families everywhere. Great for Ages 3-7. ISBN 9780008555450 -
Why are bubbles always round? Could I ever touch a rainbow? Why can't I remember being a baby? Have you ever not been able to concentrate because there are SO many questions buzzing round your brain? The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions will offer answers to the most bamboozling questions and curious queries that you can think of. How many stars are in the night sky? Why don't animals wear clothes? Do plants have feelings? This book will define, debunk and demystify the trickiest of questions and even open your eyes to questions you have never even thought of!With engaging and accessible text and accompanied by exciting, inviting illustrations, The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions is the perfect bedside companion to delve into when you are wondering if there really is an answer to everything Great for Ages 5-11. ISBN 9781526623751 -
Ancient stories that challenge modern notions of what it means to be a hero. The ancient gods of Ireland were once worshipped throughout the land. Powerful and brave, they were unafraid to show their vulnerability, reject violence, or lean on others for support. Sadly, their stories - passed down by our ancestors - are all but forgotten. Gods Don't Cry reawakens these gods, whose ancient tales redefine modern ideas of what it means to be a hero. From Mannanan, who uses his neurodiversity to discover the Otherworld, to Meiche, who finds the courage to accept his illness, Fer Maisse, a monster slayer who gives up glory to become a healer, and Cnu Deroil, who overcomes bullies with his musical talent. Hurlers and warriors, academics, and activists - these are gods of many abilities, sizes, and skin shades, from every corner of Ireland. Follow their adventures as they perform magic, battle demons, overcome struggles and find the courage to be true to themselves. You might even see yourself in their stories and discover, that you too, are a hero. Illustrated by Conor Merriman Great for Ages 9-14. -
From Chris Haughton comes a funny, suspenseful celebration of mothers set against an atmospheric Antarctic backdrop. Mummy Penguin is off to find a fishy dinner for her family. She has to swim very fast, climb a slippery cliff - cu-crunch, cu-crunch, cu-crunch - and even tiptoe past some sleeping seals... All the while, Little Penguin looks on in awe and says: "Well done, Mummy Penguin!... Great for Ages 0-6. -
Wonderful, large format picture book for children by Aileen Crossley. Molly is in low spirits and overwhelmed by the virtual world, but when she is visited by Lus na mBan Sí, she is brought on a magical journey back into nature to visit the special places that remind her of the beauty of the natural world. This is a delightfully simple story for children, brimming with emotion. Handmade by the artist Aileen Crossley. The images in the book have been made from lithographic prints by Aileen in the Black Church print studio in Dublin. Leabhar pictiúr álainn do pháistí le Aileen Crossley a thugann ar thuras draíochtach tríd an nádúr dúchasach muid go dtí na háiteanna speisialta a thógann do chroí. Is scéal deas simplí é seo do pháistí óga, scéal atá lán de mhothúcháin, déanta de láimh ag an ealaíontóir Aileen Crossley. Scéal faoin chailín beag Molaí atá faoi bhrón, ach nuair a théann sí ar cuairt chuig áiteanna draíochtacha lena cara, Lus na mBan Sí, cuimhníonn sí arís ar áilleacht an tsaoil agus tógann sé a croí. Tá íomhánna áille sa leabhar agus é déanta go hiomlán as liteagraif a rinne Aileen i Stiúideo Priontála Black Church i mBaile Átha Cliath. Great for Ages 0-7. ISBN 9781914482267 -
What makes us human? Ireland's favourite scientist is here to tell you! What do you have in common with the 7.75 billion other people on the planet? This is the question that Professor Luke O'Neill attempts to answer in this exciting new book for young readers, adapted from his bestselling book for adults, Humanology: A Scientist's Guide to our Amazing Existence. Starting with the origin of life and how we as a species evolved on the plains of Africa some 200,000 years ago, Professor Luke explores what makes us interesting as a species, why we sleep, laugh and enjoy music, and our efforts to stop disease. He also ponders whether we will create superhumans, how and why we age, if we can escape death and whether our eventual extinction is inevitable. With Luke's trademark infectious enthusiasm - and plenty of laughs along the way - What Makes Us Human is the perfect book for curious minds. Great for Ages 9-15. ISBN 9780717193769 -
'There are three doors that I may show you. You will find a different kind of power behind each one...' Adam has found something incredible in a rubbish dump in London. A mysterious, mythical, magical animal. A TYGER. And the tyger is in danger. Adam and his friend Zadie are determined to help, but it isn't just the tyger's life at stake. Their whole world is on the verge of destruction. Can they learn to use their powers before it's too late? Great for Ages 9-12. -
Join Fox, Pig, Rabbit, Bear and all their friends in the Tales From Acorn Wood Little Library, including four early learning books based on the bestselling preschool series by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of the modern classic The Gruffalo. Learn all about playing together and helping each other in Friends, spot Bear's red waistcoat, Fox's blue socks and the yellow flowers in Rabbit's garden in Colours, find out who's awake and who's asleep in Opposites - and then in Counting, count from one Pig playing hide-and-seek to ten friends enjoying a sunny picnic in Acorn Wood! These four fun and sturdy board books are brought together in a miniature box that is just right for little hands - the perfect gift for toddlers. Great for Ages 0-3. ISBN 9781509894222 -
"Everyone knows the word 'war'. But very few understand what it truly means. When you find you have to face it, you feel totally lost, walled in by fright and despair. Until you've been there, you don't know what war is." Published in association with the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with a foreword by Michael Morpurgo. This is the gripping, urgent and moving diary of young Ukrainian refugee Yeva Skalietska. It follows twelve days in Ukraine that changed 12-year-old Yeva's life forever. She was woken in the early hours to the terrifying sounds of shelling. Russia had invaded Ukraine, and her beloved Kharkiv home was no longer the safe haven it should have been. It was while she and her granny were forced to seek shelter in a damp, cramped basement that Yeva decided to write down her story. And it is a story that the world needs to hear. Yeva captured the nation's heart when she was featured on Channel 4 News with her granny as they fled Ukraine for Dublin. In 'You Don't Know What War Is', Yeva records what is happening hour-by-hour as she seeks safety and travels from Kharkiv to Dublin. Each eye-opening diary entry is supplemented by personal photographs, excerpts of messages between Yeva and her friends and daily headlines from around the world, while three beautifully detailed maps (by Kharkiv-native Olga Shtonda) help the reader track Yeva and her granny's journey through Europe. 'You Don't Know What War Is' is a powerful insight into what conflict is like through the eyes of a child and an essential read for adults and older children alike. Great for Teens and Adults. ISBN 9781526659934 -
Age 11 and one-twelfth, Frankie has a BIG secret! Well, lots of secrets, actually: She has a brother called Fred who is the Best Invention Ever, and a baby sister called Flo who is her arch-nemesis. She has a dog named Blue who has GIANT eyeballs and tiny nostrils. Oh... And she's a teensy-weensy, squinchy bit MAGIC! Frankie has a world inside her head called THOUGHTOPOLIS - you just go through the eyeball, right at the skull, past the brain stuff, and then second door on the right! It's great fun, full of weird-and-wonderful places and creatures, and together, she, Fred and Blue go on adventures. Until one day, Frankie gets trapped, and has to uncover a secret hidden deep within if she is to get back to the Real World. But when the truth changes everything, will Frankie want to go back? HELP! Amy Huberman is an acclaimed script writer, novelist and actor, this is her debut children's novel. "Ridiculously funny." - Derek Landy, author of Skulduggery Pleasant. Great for Ages 9-12. ISBN 9780702314643 -
An exhilarating, awe-inspiring debut from a master storyteller writing for children for the first time, perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Katherine Rundell and Eva Ibbotson. When Rachel and Robert are passed a stolen book by their librarian father, they have to go on the run and protect it at all costs. With their father captured and everyone hunting for the Book, they must uncover its secrets and track down the final, missing page. But the cruel and calculating Charles Malstain is on their trail. When the children discover the astonishing, magical truth about the Book, they resolve to do everything in their power to stop it falling into his hands. For if it does, he could rule forever. Step inside the pages of an immortal adventure and discover a truly unforgettable journey of wonder, courage and magic... Great for Ages 9-12. ISBN 9781801315135 -
Born under the same solstice sky thirteen years ago, Fia and her snow deer Solas have always had a powerful and unbreakable connection. But as Fia's village face a seemingly eternal winter, they turn their sights to Solas and an ancient prophecy that promises the return of sunlight and life, if the ultimate sacrifice is made. Refusing to allow the worst to happen, Fia and her cousin Mish run from the village with Solas, seeking out the Deer Mother - the mythical being who wakes the sun at the winter solstice and who might be their only hope. But the wilderness is harsh and shadows lurk at every turn. Can they make it to the Deer Mother? And, if they do, what choices will Fia face to bring back the sun and save her village? A powerful and beautiful tale set in snowy pre-historic Ireland, about hope, kindness and the power of friendship, from exceptional new writing talent, Eilish Fisher, brought to life with stunning illustrations from Dermot Flynn. Great for Ages 9-12. -
“I’m Tom’s dog, and he’s my human. We belong to each other.” Rebel is a good dog, and he loves his simple, perfect life on the farm with his owner Tom – until one day the war comes too close… Now Tom is determined to join the rebellion to defeat the king’s men. But Rebel knows war is dangerous, and he will stop at nothing to save the human he loves. Rebel must bring Tom home before it’s too late. "A beautiful, heartfelt adventure." Sophie Anderson Great for Ages 8-12. -
Kapow! Boom! Discover this awesome activity book, perfect for anyone who wants to start making comics. There's lots of space for children to fill in, with simple step-by-step instructions to help them plan and lay out their graphic stories using speech bubbles and sound effects. Includes ideas for characters and storylines, sample comic strips and drawing tips. Great for Ages 7-12. -
Covering historic and current figures from the worlds of the arts, sport, business, politics and social activism, Black and Irish will also find space to celebrate everyday heroes-lesser known figures making a difference in Irish communities today. Great for Ages 10-15. -
The brand new, explosive crime thriller from Holly Jackson, award-winning author of the Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy. Eighteen year old Red and her friends are on a road trip in an RV, heading to the beach for Spring Break. It's a long drive but spirits are high. Until the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. And as the wheels are shot out, one by one, the friends realise that this is no accident. There's a sniper out there. He's watching them and he knows exactly who they are. One of the group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for. As a game of cat-and-mouse plays out, the group desperately tries to get help. Buried secrets are forced to light and tensions within the group reach deadly levels. Only one thing is for sure. Not everyone will survive the night Great for Teens.
