10 more of the best Irish books for young readers

Oíche Mhaith, a Ghrá! le Sadhbh Devlin maisithe ag Brian Fitzgerald (2+)

Scéilín gleoite faoin dúshlán a bhaineann le páistí a shocrú síos chun codladh. Aithneoidh gach tuismitheoir an leanbh nach bhfuil réidh, agus a dtagann tart agus uaigneas orthu go tobann nuair atá am leaba tagtha. Leabhar é seo a chuirfeadh go mór le gnátham codlata do pháistí óga. Tá rím álainn simplí sa scéal agus cnaipí fuaime ann le gur féidir éisteacht leis an scéal chomh maith le é a léamh. Mar eolas, isféidir na fuaimeanna a mhúchadh nuair is gá!

Badger Books by Paddy Donnelly (4+)

Badger always has the book to suit each customer's needs – that is until Rory from next door appears looking for a very specific story about a jellyfish and the moon. The illustrations bustle with togetherness, are rich with warmth and contain oodles of extra fun details to enjoy, but the pulse of this story is its focus on community and the good that we can do for one another, regardless of age. We all have a lot to learn from the townsfolk of Ballybrush!

Nell agus Joe i dTeach Mhamó le Sadhbh Rosenstock maisithe ag Ciara Ní Dhuinn (4+)

Tá Nell agus Joe le fanacht thar oíche i dteach Mhamó ach nuair a fhaigheann siad amach go mbeidh siad ann gan Mamaí, tagann amhras orthu. Is scéal álainn é seo agus tá gach leathanach lán le grá an teaghlaigh. Tá sé scríofa i nGaeilge shoiléir bheacht le léaráidí gleoite - bainfidh páistí óga taitneamh as breathnú ar thithe na gcoiníní a fheiceáil faoin talamh. Tá an ceol lárnach ann: déanann gach carachtar iarracht amhrán codlata Mhamaí a chanadh ar bhealach difriúil, rud an-spraoiúil don léitheoireacht os ard!

Puisín na mBróg le Fearghas Mac Lochlainn maisithe ag Paddy Donnelly (5+)

Is deacair do bheatha a shaothrú agus tú ag brath ar phuisín - bhuel, mura bhfuil caint, gliceas agus buataisí breátha aige, cosúil le laoch an scéil seo! Cosúil leis na heagráin eile sa tsraith seo, tá ceol agus rithim na filíochta ag croílár an leabhair. Tagann beocht ar na focail nuair a chloistear iad. Beidh tú sáite san áilleacht dhaite fhairsing a líonann achan spás le carachtair ollmhóra lán d’fhuinneamh. Tá súil agam go mbeidh deis againn dul ar eachtra eile leis an gcat seo.

An Áit a nEitlíonn na Madaí Crainn le Aileen Crossley aistrithe ag Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde (5+)

Is pictiúirleabhar álainn draíochtúil é seo, scríofa ar nós litir ón dúlra le grá agus spreagadh a thabhairt do pháiste brónach. Téann Molaí agus a madra beag ar aistear agus tugann siad cuairt ar charachtair spraíúla eile ó dhúlra na hÉireann – iad uilig léirithe le cruthanna neamhgnácha atá spreagtha ag a n-ainmneacha Gaelacha. Seasann an leabhar le hathléamh toisc gur féidir aistear na gcarachtar éagsúil ón scéal a leanúint le gach léamh lena scéalta beaga siúd a fheiceáil. Leabhar suaimhneach samhlaíoch i nGaeilge shaibhir Uladh.

Ellora McGee Trainee Banshee: The New School by Sinéad O’Hart illustrated by Úna Woods (7+)

Ellora McGee has just moved to Ballyshee and is starting a new school. As though that isn't stressful enough, she is also just coming to terms with being a trainee banshee! There is a lovely balance between the text and the illustrations by Woods, whose choice of colour palette and rounded drawing style make the book really stand out. O'Hart's use of Irish folk tales gives a fresh twist to some of the common trials of childhood: embarrassing families, making friends and learning to be true to yourself.

A Wild Child's Guide to Nature at Night by Dara McAnulty illustrated by Barry Falls (8+)

Readers are led through nature at night by way of the garden, woodland, countryside, heathland and sky. Each chapter is introduced with delightful poetic prose about the environment. This charming writing is peppered with information about active conservation projects and some very real warnings about our dwindling natural world. The beautiful, almost photo-realistic illustrations are paired with earthy, papery textures and eye-catching colour schemes, elevated and modern. Another wonderful book from McAnulty and Falls that will hopefully ignite the same passion for our environment in its readers.

Oscar Wilde's Stories for Children by Oscar Wilde illustrated by Lauren O'Hara (9+)

It is over 130 years since Oscar Wilde published his stories for children, brought to life again in this sumptuous volume by Dublin-based O'Hara. Since then, scores of artists have adapted these allegorical tales, though this new addition more than holds its own. O'Hara’s visuals depict bygone magical worlds, her vivid and blossoming scenes pairing perfectly with Wilde's romantic and descriptive prose. Throughout the collection, Wilde warns of the peril of choosing style over substance; but with this fresh and sensitively illustrated collection we can emphatically enjoy both.

After by Pádraig Kenny (10+)

This gripping and exciting book examines the aftermath of an apocalyptic event involving artificial intelligence and humans, in which the world as we know it has ended. Jen and Father eke out an existence in search of a community that will accept them. From its gripping first line to the final thrilling climax, this book will open young readers' minds to some big philosophical questions about what it means to be human, whether machines can learn to have feelings and how we treat those who are different to us.

Torchfire by Moira Buffini (16+)

In a world shaped by discrimination, greed and a long-standing war, there seems to be little hope of a better one. But for a group of young rebels, a slim chance at a brighter future is worth risking everything. Following on from the events of Songlight, this gripping dystopian novel balances the horror that our protagonists face, from high tension negotiations to brutal murders, with plenty of sweet moments of friendship and love. Torchfire's strength lies within its complex world-building and exploration of resistance in a nuanced and compassionate way.