The spring is meant to be springing soon, but there are never any guarantees. But we do know that Easter is days away and kids are on holidays, so here is another RTÉ KIDS Book Club from Ruth Concannon - Publications Manager for Children's Books Ireland.
As Easter approaches one cannot help but notice that the supermarket shelves and our own thoughts have become filled with a certain type of chocolatey egg. If, like us, you are finding it hard to stop thinking about gobbling up endless egg-shaped treats, let us distract you with an egg-cellent riddle AND some brilliant books. So, reader, which came first – the chicken or the egg?
Perhaps you believe it is the chicken who came first and if so, you will enjoy the below tales of brave Amelia Eggheart, curious Cití and colourful Jenny Peckles. Or maybe you are 100% certain the egg came first and are keen to read about what hatches from Puifín's egg or what exactly we can do with eggs!
Read on and riddle further, curious readers. Remember for more brilliant books to keep you entertained during the Easter holidays be sure to visit www.childrensbooksireland.ie.
Egg, Egg, Egg! by Sarah Finan, Post Wave Children's Books, 20PP, ISBN 9781836270263
This is a vibrant, peek through board book designed for young minds which encompasses a delightful ode to one of nature’s most perfect marvels – the egg. From the moment the chicken lays the egg, to the many ways it can be cooked, cracked and enjoyed, this book turns mealtimes into a full-blown adventure.
The cleverly rhyming text invites giggles and repetition making it a perfect read-aloud for toddlers and grown-ups alike. The illustrations burst with primary colours that captivate the eye and integrate perfectly with the peek-through tactile cutouts that are perfect for little hands. This book is more than a playful exploration – it’s an invitation to wonder. (Age 0–2)
Hello Bird by Owen Churcher and illustrated by Niamh Sharkey, Templar Publishing, 32PP, ISBN 9781787419247
One day in the garden, an unusual egg hatches, and a pretty little bird is born. As Bird learns to navigate the world around her, she meets many nice new friends who help her to find her feet as well as her voice and, importantly, to see the beauty in exploring the world from a different perspective. This story celebrates what it means to be unique.
Sharkey’s vibrant illustrations help to enliven this enchanting story. Bird’s brightly coloured plumage pops against the immersive background hues of green, emphasising her humorous and vivacious nature. Hello Bird is sure to be an amusing hit with parents and children alike. (Age 0–2, 2–4)
Cití Cearc by Patricia Forde and illustrated by Úna Woods, Futa Fata, 24PP, ISBN 9781915684202
Seo atheagrán ceiliúrtha le léaraidí nua de scéal a mbeadh aithne ag a lán daoine air, faoi Chití Cearc agus an ubh ar iarraidh. Scéal breá simplí é i bhfoirm pictiúrleabhar le flapaí. Tá na léaráidí lán le beocht, iad ildaite tarraingteach. Tá súile soiléire ag na carachtair ar fad agus treoireann siadsan tríd an scéal muid freisin mar bíonn siad ag breathnú i dtreo an aicsin.
Is léir an scil atá ag Patricia Forde focail a chur I mbéal na gcarachtar agus beocht a chur sna focail chéanna. Cití wakes up to find that one of her eggs is missing and asks her friends for their help to find it. (Aois 2–4)
Jenny Peckles Lays Eggs with Speckles by Rachel Emily and illustrated by Paul Delaney, Farshore, 32PP ISBN 9780008601751
Down on Old Worrall's Farm, the hens are laying very unusual eggs. Some are striped, some are spotty and some even glow! When the narrator of the story interjects to challenge the hens on the patterns appearing on their eggs, they admit the truth: they’ve chosen to fake the patterns on their eggs in order to meet the rhyming criteria of the text so that they can appear in the story!
It is clear throughout that the author has had great fun concocting imaginative hens’ names for this funny, clever book. The illustrations are bright and cheery, the patterns on each egg adding vibrancy and fun to the pages. Young children will enjoy the musicality of this light-hearted text, where the appealing rhyme ensures that this story will be read aloud over and over. (Age 2–4, 5–7)
Spring Chicken by Paul Nugent, The O’Brien Press, 32PP ISBN 9781788494793
Amelia Eggheart is a chicken with an ambition to boldly go where no chicken has gone before and to fly for longer than thirteen seconds. While the World Record adjudicator watches with his stopwatch, Amelia uses springs, hot air balloons and diving boards to help her to take flight. Will Amelia be able to remain airborne to fulfil her dream?
Nugent’s illustrations cleverly incorporate iconic landscapes around the island of Ireland throughout Amelia’s training process. She runs like Rocky Balboa up the Giants Causeway, flies too close to the sun at the Cliffs of Moher and springs triumphantly skywards from the roof of Newgrange. A light-hearted comedy, this is ultimately a story of ambition, perseverance and the importance of teamwork. (Age 2–4, 5–7)
Ruth Concannon is the Publications Manager for Children's Books Ireland (CBI), the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading. Ruth says: "Our mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people on the island of Ireland, and to champion equitable access for all to excellent books.
"We share our expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence young readers and encourage schools and early childhood settings to build a positive culture of reading and reading aloud. We support and promote authors and illustrators and connect them with their audiences through our work."
