Young readers are in for a thrill this autumn with a bewitching array of books for all ages. There are vibrant picture books for the smallest story lovers, lots of beautifully crafted novels for older readers to get their teeth into, and spooky stories to suit the Halloween season. Happy reading!
Picture books
Fox & Son Tailers by Paddy Donnelly (The O’Brien Press)
Young Rory the Tailer’s son longs to make tails that are a bit different, but his traditional father doesn’t understand Rory’s talent. Can Rory follow his own dream and convince his father that “different” is to be celebrated? A clever story with exuberant illustrations that are full of tiny details for young eyes to pore over. A real winner. Age 3+
You Can Do It, Rosie! by Elena Browne (The O’Brien Press)
The heartwarming story of an old dog who needs a bit of help. She can’t go on great big adventures any more, but she can go to the park — with the help of the local community who all cheer her along. A warm-hearted tale with child-friendly, cheerful illustrations. Age 3+
Sir Adam the Brave and the Moody Monsters by David King and Rhiannon Archard (Penguin Sandycove)
Adam is back in a brand new picture book and this time he’s a knight, Sir Adam the Brave, who must save his village from moody monsters. Luckily his kindness wins out. A charming story with attractive, colourful illustrations. Age 4+
My Dog Hen by David Mackintosh (Prestel)
Hen the rescue dog eats everything, from his bed to his toys, pulls on his lead and wears his young owner out. But eventually Hen settles in, with the help of a new indestructible toy, created by granny. Mackintosh plays with texture, scale and perspective in his artwork and the resulting spreads are both arresting and surprising. Age 4+
Everybody Feels Fear by Ashwin Chacko (DK)
This is the debut picture book from Chacko, an up-and-coming talent in the Irish children’s book world. The message — it’s OK to feel fear and we are built to deal with it — is powerful and the strong illustrations sing with colour. Chacko brings a lot of gentle humour to the topic too. Age 4+
Also published this season:
Video of the Day
Millie and the Magical Moon by Brian Gallagher and Phillip Cullen (The O’Brien Press), about one girl’s moonlight dream journey on an old ship; I Believe in You by Deborah Somoirn and Grace Enemaku (Gill Books) is a vibrant picture book about believing in yourself; The A-Z of Minding Me by Tracey Flynn, Niamh Gogan and Kerry O’Callaghan (Gill Books), is an A to Z of how children can be kind to themselves; and The Sleep Scan by Niall Breslin and Sheena Dempsey (Gill Books) is another excellent book in the Mindful Moments series, all about children’s wellness. All age 4+
Close
Well Done, Mommy Penguin by Chris Haughton (Walker Books)
Top Choice: Well Done, Mommy Penguin by Chris Haughton (Walker Books)
A new Chris Haughton picture book is always a treat. This one’s set in the Antarctic and features a brave and clever Mummy Penguin who goes off to find food, overcoming many obstacles and dangers along the way. The chilly landscape is beautifully captured in shades of blue, with pops of warm reds and purples. A visual and storytelling triumph, ideal for reading aloud. Age 2+
Young Readers: Age 5+
Cloud Babies by Eoin Colfer and Chris Judge (Walker Books)
Two giants of Irish children’s books come together to create this engaging story of a young girl called Erin who becomes ill and has to spend a lot of time in hospital. Back at school, she feels left behind. Can her two lives — hospital and school — ever come together? The illustrations, inspired by Judge’s A Daily Cloud Instagram page which he started during the Covid lockdowns, are wonderfully atmospheric and will make any reader smile. Age 5+
Meanwhile Back on Earth by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)
Subtitled “a comic view on conflict”, this picture book examines space and conflict in an unusual way. A father takes his daughter and son on a road trip into space and explains how, over the centuries, people on Earth have fought each other over land. It’s part political commentary, part science lesson and will interest older children who like history or space. Jeffers’ artwork is bold and playful, with clever use of scale, perspective and colour. Age 7+
Bedtime Stories: Incredible Irish Tales from the Past by Rachel Pierce, illustrated by E Brown, E Byrne, J Davison, L Fahrlin, R Hahessy, L Hughes, D O’Malley and U Woods (Scholastic)
An attractive hardback full of true stories from Irish history. There’s even a story written by 12-year-old Irish writer Lola-Mae McCormack. Perfect for children who are fond of facts, each story is illustrated by a different Irish artist. Age 8+
Also published this season:
Billy Conker’s Nature-Spotting Adventure by Conor Busuttil (The O’Brien Press) is perfect for nature fans. Every page is crammed with things to spot, from birds to insects, and the illustrations are wonderfully detailed (age 5+); while The Friendship Fairies Go to Sea by Lucy Kennedy, illustrated by Phillip Cullen (Gill Books) is a gentle, funny story about a family of fairies, ideal for readers starting to read by themselves. Age 7+
Close
The Wilderness by Steve McCarthy (Walker Books)
Top Choice: The Wilderness by Steve McCarthy (Walker Books)The Wilderness is one of those rare books that makes you see the world in a different way. McCarthy’s illustrations and writing are outstanding. The story features Oktober Vasylenko, who is afraid of the wild and the fabled monster called the Wilderness. But he discovers that maybe monsters (and fears) aren’t so scary after all. The autumnal-coloured illustrations are sublime … and watch out for the quirky end papers. Age 5+
Confident Readers: Age 9+
The Sackville Street Caper by Alan Nolan (The O’Brien Press)
Set in Dublin in 1858, this story features a young Bram Stoker, a boy looking for adventure and things to write about. When his notebook is stolen by young Molly Malone’s gang of “spooks” or pickpockets, he stumbles upon the adventure of a lifetime. Brilliant characters, puns and wordplay galore, rotten fish, nappies, ghosts — this cracking book has it all. Age 9+
The Chestnut Roaster by Eve McDonnell (Everything with Words)
Set in Paris in 1888, this novel takes the reader underground to the Paris catacombs — quite the setting. Twelve-year-old Piaf can remember everything and, along with her brother, must try to find 20 lost Parisian children. The plot is as clever and twisting as the catacombs themselves and whips along at breakneck pace. Perfect for fantasy adventure fans. Age 10+
The Strange Tale of Barnabus Kwerk by Erika McCann, illustrated by Phillip Cullen (The O’Brien Press)
When Barnabus is whisked away from his awful family by an aunt he has never met, his life is turned upside down. He enters the strange underground world of the Clockwork, full of odd animals, wind up cars and new friends. A wonderfully inventive fantasy with lots of writerly flourishes, and McCann’s writing is dazzling. Age 9+
Lily Takes a Chance by Judi Curtin (The O’Brien Press)
In 1915, Lily, the housemaid at Lissadell, is determined to follow her dreams and become a teaching assistant, but can she get the glowing reference she needs to secure the position? An enchanting friendship story written with warmth and humour. Age 9+
The Day I Got Trapped In My Brain by Amy Huberman, illustrated by Katie Kear (Scholastic)
Eleven-year-old Frankie Finkleton creates a fantasy world called Thoughtopolis. Gradually, through visiting this world, she comes to terms with a secret she must face. A book full of imagination that deals with grief in an original way. Age 10+
The Lost Girl King by Catherine Doyle (Bloomsbury)
After walking through an enchanted waterfall, Amy and Liam find themselves in Tír na nÓg. When Liam is kidnapped by headless horsemen, it’s up to Amy to save him. Beautifully written, this is fantasy adventure at its best. Age 10+
The Ministry of Unladylike Activity by Robin Stevens (Puffin)
May Wong finds herself in a big country house with fellow young ‘detectives’ Eric and Fionnuala. Can they solve a murder and prove themselves? I raced through this gripping murder mystery set in 1940. Age 10+
Close
Girls Who Slay Monsters by Ellen Ryan (HarperCollins Ireland)
Top choice: Girls Who Slay Monsters by Ellen Ryan (HarperCollins Ireland) These tales of daring, courage and ingenuity, featuring forgotten goddesses from Ireland’s mythological past, from monster slayer Bé Chuille to High Queen of Ireland Machna, are beautifully written but also highly accessible and relatable, making them perfect for modern readers. The atmospheric illustrations by Shona Shirley Macdonald are outstanding, and a joy to pore over. A classic in the making. Age 9+
Age 11+, teens and young adults
Big Bad Me by Aislinn O’Loughlin (Little Island)
Evie Wilder has just found out she’s a werewolf, but that’s only the start of her problems. Her mum is missing and she is being hunted down by vampires. Written with confidence, panache and oodles of humour, this book is a must for Buffy fans young and old. Great fun. Age 13+
Nothing More to Tell by Karen M McManus (Penguin Books)
A fast-paced, highly readable thriller from the queen of YA mystery. This book features a girl who decides to investigate the murder of her teacher four years earlier. Age 14+
The Truth About Riley by Sinead Moriarty (Gill Books)
When Riley’s dad dies, he leaves behind so much debt that Riley and her mum lose the family home and have to live in their car. Riley is determined to keep this from her classmates and friends. Luckily, kindness comes from unexpected places. This is a genuinely moving novel, written with compassion and honesty. Age 11+
These Are the Words: Fearless Verse to Find Your Voice
by Nikita Gill (Macmillan Children’s Books)
This is Gill’s first collection for teens and she writes about being a girl, a sister and a friend with clarity and truth. Her themes range from wild girls and aunties to body hair, and it would be a great choice for any young person with an interest in poetry or creative writing. Age 14+
Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury (David Fickling Books)
When Corey’s best friend Bree betrays her by having a secret affair with her boyfriend, Corey is so upset and angry she wishes Bree dead. Bree’s drowned body is found the following morning, setting in train events that take Corey to the mythical underworld, populated by the Furies, Hermes and Hades. Stunning writing, a fascinating plot and a searing examination of anger and grief, this is YA at its glittering best. Age 15+
Close
Activist by Louisa Reid (Guppy Books)
Top Choice: Activist by Louisa Reed (Guppy Books)
The boys at Cassie’s secondary school believe they can treat girls any way they like, both in and out of school, without consequences. Cassie has had enough. She decides to rise up: fighting back, speaking out, and refusing to stop, no matter the personal repercussions. She is, in a word, magnificent. This searing YA novel in verse stopped me in my tracks. It celebrates the strength of one lone, brave voice and is powerful and moving. Unmissable. Age 15+
Spooky reads For Halloween
Close
Leila, the Perfect Witch by Flavia Z Drago (Walker Books)
Leila, The Perfect Witch by Flavia Z Drago (Walker Books) is a vibrantly illustrated book, pictured above, about a little witch who loves to bake; and Gotcha! by Clotilde Perrin (Gecko Press) is a large format lift-the-flap hardback about horrible monsters with suitably gruesome artwork. Age 5+
Monster Island by Freddie Alexander (HarperCollins) features 11-year-old Sam. When her parents die, she is sent to stay with her grandfather on a desolate island. With Sam’s help, the children of the island band together to fight the island’s monsters. Full of imagination, this book is perfect for children who like a good scare. Age 9+
When Cat and Shane’s siblings are stolen by the fairies in The Book of Secrets by Alex Dunne (The O’Brien Press) they bravely fight to get them back, encountering all kinds of dangers and creatures along the way. Fast paced and thrilling, it’s a great Halloween read. Age 10+
The Girl, the Ghost and The Lost Name by Reece Carter (Usborne) is the story of a girl called Corpse and her journey to find out who she is, what she is and what she holds dear. Seriously spooky, with lots of clever twists. Age 10+
And finally, scares abound in The Spectacular Library of Magical Things by Caroline Busher (Poolbeg),a retelling of the banshee’s story. Age 14+
Sarah Webb is an award-winning children’s writer. Her latest book is ‘Be Inspired! Young Irish People Changing the World’, illustrated by Graham Corcoran and published by The O’Brien Press. It features inspirational young people from the worlds of activism, the arts, science, sport and more
