Friday, March 2, 2018

Tales from Old Ireland

There's a long and glorious tradition of oral storytelling in Ireland - starting with the bards who memorized and performed long poems and songs as a way of recounting historical events, to the Seanchai (shan-a-kay) who went from town to town telling stories, to the custom of kissing the Blarney Stone to receive the gift of gab  - so it's no accident that we have several books and story collections from the Emerald Isle.  Grab a few for St. Patrick's Day this month so you and your kids will be in the mood for Erin Go Braugh!




Tales from Old Ireland Meet larger-than-life characters  with this collection of 7 myths and legends, including the Irish version of Cinderella (Fair, Brown and Trembling).  Enchanting acrylic artwork by Dublin-based illustrator Niamh Sharkey brings the magic of each age-old tale to life.  Includes a pronunciation guide, an introduction by the author, and notes about the sources to make this collection just right for family or classroom story times or for independent reading.  Ages 6 and up.




The Faery's GiftIn this heartwarming Irish fairy tale, a woodcutter is given a wish as a reward for saving the life of a small faery. The woodcutter faces a dilemma: how can he use the wish in a way that will help all members of his family and change all of their lives for the better? Includes storytime CD read by actress Niamh Cusack and exquisite illustrations by Italian artist Nicoletta Ceccoli.  Ages 3 to 7 years


Cara and the Wizard Two Irish sisters love each other very much. When Molly vanishes one morning, Cara decides she will go out into the wide world to find her. She is armed only with gifts from her mother and father, and her own kindness and courage. Can brave Cara defeat a wolf and a wizard to bring back her beloved sister? (Spoiler alert: she does!) I always recommend this independent reader to kids who might be tired of passive female characters waiting to be rescued by a prince.  Ages 6 and up


The Barefoot Book of PiratesSet sail with seven piratical tales brimming with adventure in this collection drawn from sources around the world. From mysterious and spooky to friendly and funny, the tales emphasize the qualities of bravery, imagination and compassion. I included this book because one of the stories is about Pirate Grace - a woman pirate from Ireland! It also comes with a storytime CD.  For ages 4 to 9.

You might also like:



If your kids are a little younger and/or don't have the attention span for the longer stories in The Barefoot Book of Pirates, try Port Side Pirates instead. Everyone loves a good pirate song, and the end notes for this singalong book include a page on historical pirates - Pirate Grace from Ireland makes an appearance on this list too! For ages 3 to 7 years.










If you think the illustrations in Tales from Old Ireland are delightfully quirky and engaging, you will also love The Gigantic Turnip - a humorous retelling of a Russian tale that includes cumulative counting and a celebration of teamwork - and the classic story of Jack and the Beanstalk which are both also illustrated by Niamh Sharkey. Both books come with story CDs and are for ages 3 to 7 years.




Finally, if you love the girl power message of Cara and the wizard...and you enjoy the story of The Twelve Wild Geese from Tales of Old Ireland...then you will love one of our newest books, Wild Swans.  This chapter book is a gorgeously illustrated and updated version of the Hans Christian Andersen story that is a version of the Irish story of The Twelve Wild Geese. For ages 6 and up