As part of #DiscoverIrishKidsBooks, award-winning and best-selling Irish Author Triona Campbell has a round-up of the new releases from Irish authors and illustrators hitting the shelves this month.
From Rugby to Robots. The Famine, to Dragons and an astonishing debut from Kel Menton. 2025 is starting off strong with lots of newly released heart-warning stories from award-winning and best-selling Irish writers and illustrators.
For Younger Readers look out for…
Eoinín ag an Siopa
Author: Muireann Ní Chíobháin/ Illustrator: Roisin Hahessy
Publisher: Futa Fata/ For Ages 3+
This is the fifth book in the hugely popular Eoinín series from Cork native, Muireann Ní Chíobháin. Illustrated by Irish born and Portugal based illustrator Roisin Hahessy and published by Galway based team, Futa Fata.
In this instalment Little Eoinín is going shopping! He needs to get a trolley and then carefully steer it around the supermarket so that he can get all of the items on his shopping list. Can you help?
This is a full colour board book with lots of interactive elements to keep young readers engaged.
Friends Forever
Author: Mary Murphy
Publisher: Happy Yak/ For Ages 3+
Another adorable picture book from Dubliner Mary Murphy and UK publishers Happy Yak.
Two monkeys laugh, play, and look out for each other in this sweet and uplifting story. With eye-catching, bright artwork, adorable characters, and simple, bouncy text, Friends Forever is suffused with Mary Murphy’s trademark playful humour and heart.
Meep
Author: Máire Zepf/ Illustrator: Paddy Donnelly
Publisher: Little Island Books/ For Ages 4+
Another colourful crowd pleaser of a book from Co Down author Máire Zepf and Irish illustrator (now based in Belgium) Paddy Donnelly. Published by award winning Irish Publisher Little Island Books.
Meet Meep, the hardest working robot in the solar system! Meep is on a mission to find alien life on Mars. She is tasked with sending photos back to Earth. But her mission is not an easy one. Meep soon learns that even the bravest robots need a little support from those who love them.
Stockingopolis
Author: Tatyana Feeney
Publisher: The O Brien Press/ For Ages 4+
North Carolina author and artist (now living in Meath) Tanyana Feeney is next up with a very colourful tale about a small grey town published by the award winning team at The O Brien Press.
Stockingopolis is a small grey town by the grey, grey sea. There are grey sheep with grey wool that gets knitted into grey stockings.
But Ben and Lucy love COLOUR - so they set out to paint just ONE sheep with their brightly coloured paints …and that changes everything.
A big colourful tale of a little grey town!
Mummy’s Promise
Author: Michelle Robinson/ Illustrator: Paddy Donnelly
Publisher Andersen Press/ For Ages 4+
This is Belgium based Irish illustrator Paddy Donnelly second new book this month. The partner book to Daddy's Footsteps. Written by UK / Nova Scotia author Michelle Robinson’s this is her take on four prehistoric friends who find their way in the world with the help of their mums.
An uplifting and heart-warming celebration of amazing mothers written in soft, poetic rhyme – perfect to share together. Published by UK publisher Andersen Press.
Our Wee Place
Author: Sophie Kirtley/ Illustrator: Ellan Rankin
Publisher: The O’Brien Press/ For Ages 4+
From Northern Irish native author Sophie Kirtley and Belfast based illustrator Ellan Rankin comes something special – Grand dad’s and Emily’s tour of their favourite places in Northern Ireland.
‘Let’s go on an adventure!’ Granda says to Emily.
Stepping out from their special wee place at the bottom of the garden, Granda and Emily find themselves on busy city streets, at a roaring waterfall and in a crumbling castle. Visiting all of Granda’s favourite places as they become Emily’s favourites too.
Let Emily and Granda show you the magic of Northern Ireland! Published by Dublin based publishers The O’Brien Press.
Bertha and Blink Take to the Skies
Author: Nicola Colton
Publisher: Little Tiger/ For Ages 6+
Irish-born and now Bristol-based author Nicola Colton gives us another perfect instalment in the fun loving series Bertha and Blink.
Take to the skies in this adventure full of friendship, with a sprinkling of science and a nod to nature. Published by UK publishers Little Tiger.
Bertha and Blink wake up one morning to find a strange smog surrounding them - it's their nemesis Finnius Fink's new factory and it's destroying the jungle! The duo are determined to stop him and Bertha has an idea that just might work... With brilliant inventions, the help of new friends and some tricks in their toolbox, can the pair put a stop to the destruction and save their home?
Let’s Play Rugby
Authors: Gordon D’Arcy & Paul Howard/ Illustrator: Ashwin Chacko
Publisher: Little Island Books/ For Ages 6+
Rugby legend and Wexford native Gordon D'Arcy teams up with former sports journalist of the year and best-selling author Paul Howard (the name behind the Ross O Carroll Kelly books) The book is illustrated by award winning Dublin illustrator Ashwin Chacko.
This is a heart-pumping interactive picture book from Irish publishers Little Island, that encourages all kids to give rugby a go - in their bedrooms, living-rooms and gardens. A book that puts young readers in the boots of a rugby player as they play in the big final! Jog on the spot! Do star jumps! And then face off against their opponents in the game of their lives.
A fully illustrated picture book for children and parents to tackle together.
Three tasks for a Dragon
Author: Eoin Colfer/ Illustrator: P.J Lynch
Publisher: Candlewick Press/ For Ages 7+
Multi award winning and best-selling Wexford author Eoin Colfer re joins his Dublin based collaborator PJ Lynch (artist, illustrator and former Laurreate na nÓg).
With wit and gorgeous illustrations this is a quest story of knights, dark magic and a maiden with powers of her own. A spellbinding tale where a young Prince Lir, mourning his father’s death, is tricked into a perilous quest – a modern classic published by Candlewick Press.
And For Older Readers….
Where the Heart Should Be (paperback)
Author: Sarah Crossan
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA/ For Ages 15+
The paperback of the outstanding novel from the multi-award-winning and former Laureate na nÓg, Dublin native, Sarah Crossan; thought-provoking and incredibly moving. An exploration of love and family during The Great Hunger.
Set in 1847 as everything in Ireland is falling apart - and sixteen-year-old Nell is falling in love. It is heart breaking and hopeful. Blending historical depth with beautiful narrative.
A Fix Of Light
Author: Kel Menton (Debut)
Publisher: Little Island Books/ For Ages 15+
This is the debut novel of Kel Menton a non-binary, neurodivergent writer from Cork. A love story with a dark magical twist, from an astonishing new Irish voice.
It's a powerful and moving YA novel that seamlessly blends queer romance and fantasy. To quiet a curse Hanan’s needs the bright and gentle Pax who is everything Hanan is not.
But to survive their own darknesses together they’ll need to be honest with each other. But Hanan isn’t sure Pax will like what he finds out… Can love help you find your way back to the light? Even when the dark is listening?
And that’s it for new releases this February, now available in local libraries and bookstores throughout the country.
For more book recommendations check out Discover Irish Kids Books (or give them a follow on Instagram or X)
Discover Irish Kids Books round-up graphic by Bex Sheridan.
Triona Campbell is the Author of ‘A Game of Life Or Death’ and ‘The Traitor in the Game’ and part of the team at #DiscoverIrishKidsBooks – a campaign to highlight and celebrate Irish kids and teen books.
And don't forget the RTÉjr Book Club every month, encouraging young readers to pick up a book!
