Books are better than screens, says 'First Chapter' as she puts forward her choices for kids
This week features plenty of books for the kids on their summer holidays, infinitely better than screens, and books can be shared by kids and parents alike. The summer break will be over soon and while it’s great to get out in the fresh air, it’s also a good time for children to get into the habit of reading books.
Wanda Broom, Ciara Geraghty and Fay Austin, Bonnier, €8.99
Wanda’s mother is a witch, but Wanda wishes she wasn’t! The reason is her mother’s latest failed spell, which results in her, her mother and her grandmother having to leave town. Then the mother gets a letter from the worldwide web of witches, informing her that she has to undergo certain tests if she’s to remain in her witchcraft career. Wanda knows she will fail the tests. But if she does, then maybe Wanda could have a normal mother like everyone else?
Milly McCarthy’s Wild Atlantic Antics, Leona Forde/Karen Harte, Gill Books, €10.99
In this volume, Milly McCarthy brings her inimitable form of chaos to the Gaeltacht in County Kerry. Milly and her class can’t wait to get away to the Gaeltacht, but with little Irish and a propensity for creating disaster wherever she goes, Milly finds herself in a state of trína chéile quickly and it looks like she and her class will be putting the ‘wild’ in the Wild Atlantic Way.
Disaster Dad: Chicken Chaos, Donncha O’Callaghan, Bonnier, €7.99
Rugby player turned TV personality turned children’s author O’Callaghan has Dad holding the fort while Mam goes to America for a week. But in spite of Mam leaving clear instructions in her ‘master plan’, things go wrong from the get-go. The plan is destroyed, and Dad decides to organise a surprise birthday party. It’s full of surprises alright…
Penguin TV, Niamh Sharkey/Owen Churcher, Gill, €16.99
We’re watching the penguins on a zoo webcam, but the penguins think they’re the stars in a reality TV show. They know they’re being watched on a live stream so they’re ready to ‘ham it up’ for the humans. A clever and delightful story full of penguin facts, and inspired by the fellas in Dublin Zoo, in time to dive into Penguin TV. Waddle you waiting for?
Horse Show Surprise, Nina Carberry, Gill, €13.99
In the fourth book of the Rowan Tree Stables series, Carbery has her two young friends, Grace and Aaron, working hard to qualify for the Dublin Horse Show. But Aaron falls ill, and Grace faces the possibility of attending the Horse Show on her own. On the morning of the show, there’s a crisis at the stables and now it’s looking like neither of them will get to ride.
Joe the Great, Paul O’Flynn, Gill, €12.99
This is the story of Joe Canning, Irish sporting legend and champion hurler for Galway, who was hurling for the minor team from the age of 15. Paul O’Flynn brings inspirational stories to his readers, appealing in particular to boys and reluctant readers aged 7+. His series of sporting legend books are designed to be dyslexia-friendly and are published in consultation with Dyslexia Ireland.
The Wordsmith, Patricia Forde, Little Island, €10.99
This is a special 10th anniversary re-publishing of the Laureate na nÓg’s first dystopian novel for middle grade readers, telling the story of Letta, who’s the Wordsmith’s apprentice, giving out words to people who need them. The people of Ark are only allowed to use a few hundred words, and words like ‘love’ and ‘hope’ and ‘freedom’ are banned. Letta begins to understand that the Leaders want to ban language altogether, and she’s on a mission to save it. The novel depicts a future eerily similar to aspects of our present reality, and this reprint contains a new and exclusive introduction from the author.
Solve It! The Case of the Missing Irish Crown Jewels, Kieran Fanning, Gill, €11.99
Help Detective O’Malley and his seagull sidekick, Twist, to solve the mystery of the missing Irish Crown Jewels. The jewels have been stolen from Dublin Castle, and a bunch of suspects were captured on CCTV scattering in all directions. O’Malley and Twist will have to eliminate them one by one to find the thief. But they’re being led a merry dance all over Ireland as each suspect leaves by a different route – it’s lucky Twist has wings! Solve the puzzles and uncover clues to help our detectives catch the crafty crook.
The Nightmare Club: Frankenkids, Annie Graves, Little Island, €8.99
One of two new Nightmare Club books coming to the shops on August 21, this one involves the Landy kids, who dare each other to go to the scary old man’s house in the town. It’s Halloween and it seems the brothers get too close to horrible Uncle Fraser’s lab, and they soon discover what it means to be Frankensteined!
The Nightmare Club: The Weird Blood Bank, Annie Graves, Little Island, €8.99
In the second Nightmare Club book being published on August 21, we meet Alex, who gets sick a lot. His doctor seems to be taking an unusual amount of blood samples from him. Alex decides to investigate the doctor’s blood bank and decides that the people in the white lab coats aren’t actually doctors. Because what kind of doctor is afraid of a bulb of garlic? Turns out that some people are more bloodthirsty than others. This is another dyslexia-friendly book.
Footnotes
A special visual art exhibition runs in The Ark, Dublin’s dedicated centre for children, until August 23. ‘Voyages’ is a playful, inclusive exhibition curated by children, for children (and the young at heart!). It’s a celebration of imagination, curiosity, and what happens when young minds take the wheel.
There are plenty of activities ongoing in the county libraries specially created for children. Check out your local public library to see what’s going on.