The One With the Waggly Tail

This is the third edition in this popular series and Webb returns with a diverse range of poems, songs and tongue twisters. Guaranteed to evoke strong childhood memories in some and introduce a new generation to these family favourites and some lesser known gems. McCarthy’s contemporary illustrations breathe new life into these classic rhymes. Children will delight in scouring the pages and finding hidden details in the vivid artwork. Highlights include a sumptuous spread for ‘The Connemara Cradle Song’ and a surprise guest in WB Yeats’s ‘A Cradle Song’

* Children's Books Ireland *

Where the poems in Webb’s new children’s collection came from tells its own story of the societal influences, spanning continents and centuries, on the Irish children who have sung and recited their words … As the collector of two previous children’s verse anthologies, Sally Go Round the Stars and A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea, one might think Sarah Webb could be running short of home-grown material, yet her latest selection of well-known and newly-composed Irish verse throws up a few surprises…readers are lulled gently through the last few pages by Padraic Colum’s The Ballad of Downal Bawn and a verse from the graceful Connemara Cradle Song. “The currachs are sailing way out on the blue, laden with herring of silvery hue. Silver the herring and silver the sea, and soon there’ll be silver for baby and me.” We can almost feel the wings of the wind beating, not least due to the atmospheric illustrations of Dublin’s Steve McCarthy in this, his third poetry collaboration with Webb

* Evening Echo *

An engaging book with over 60 rhymes, poems, songs and tongue twisters that children and adults will enjoy. Each page is beautifully illustrated with clear and colourful font to capture the imagination of the younger reader. The artistic illustrations is a treasure trove for children to explore and take them on a literature adventure. The book also brings the adult reader on a nostalgic journey and evokes childhood memories while introducing the younger reader to these favourite rhymes. It includes English and Irish rhymes from ‘Hot Cross Buns’ to ‘Lámh, Lámh Eile’. This fun book has many wonderful pages, it is very difficult to pick one. This book is a perfect addition to a child’s reading list, adults coffee table and any school library. It is a book to use now and treasure later

* Seomra Ranga, Kyna Rushe - Teacher *

Never underestimate the enchanting magic of traditional nursery rhymes. In this compilation of Irish nursery rhymes, Webb remembers old favourites, including This Old Man playing knick knack, The Spider and the Fly playing tricks on each other, and the old Irish favourite Lamh, Lamh Eile … busy, blocky, bold-coloured illustrations are the perfect accompaniment

* Business Post *

Gloriously illustrated collection of rhymes and jingles will resonate with parents and create new memories for the very young. Little gems of wisdom are interspersed with witty verses. A rather tiny elf puts his tormentor in his place with: ‘I’m quite as big for me’ said he As you are big for you’ There is one for everybody in the audience; trains, giants, pirates, cats, fish, skeletons, ships, the hokey-pokey, all rounded off with lines from a cradle song by W B Yeats

* Irish Examiner *

One to read aloud or sing along to while you feast your eyes on the gorgeous illustrations … a sheer delight featuring a range of nursery rhymes well-known verses and much-loved songs including ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’. With many familiar verses as well as delightful ones I hadn’t come across before, including the catchy counting song ‘The Pirate Song’ (see above). This marvellous collection of over eighty children’s favourites is another triumph from the dynamic and award-winning duo Sarah Webb and Steve McCarthy. The captivating illustrations add another layer of joy to this gorgeous book. Make sure to add it to your list

* RTEjr’s best books for Christmas *

If you’ve a child in your life aged seven and under …You’ll sing along. They’ll sing along. It’ll bring back some serious memories!

* Good Luck with the Book *

There is nothing more valuable on a young reader’s bookshelf than an anthology of nursery rhymes, and Sarah Webb has collected some Irish favourites in this beautifully produced book. Steve McCarthy’s bold-shaped, bright-coloured illustrations provide a visual narrative for even the most unusual and obscure rhymes. A book to treasure for years to come’

* Irish Times *

The style is fabulous … a beautiful book

* Elaine Ryan, RTE TV’s Today Show *

The third book from super-team Sarah Webb and Steve McCarthy, published by the O’Brien Press, each of them gathering well-loved rhymes from an Irish childhood ... Plenty of classic nursery rhymes can be found here and all are given a fresh lease of life with Steve McCarthy’s brilliant illustrations, tied together by the colour palette we see on the front cover. A hardback with a ribbon to hold your place, this is a perfect gift for young families and will suit children aged two to much older

* Children's Books Ireland *

Too many rhyming delights to choose from … rapturous illustrations … author Sarah Webb and illustrator Steve McCarthy have teamed up again to create another blissful book of illustrated verse … joyous … The One with the Waggly Tail embraces the reader with the warm familiarity of evenings spent cuddled at the hearth with the ones we cherish most

* Inis Magazine *

A joyful collection … beautifully illustrated … would appeal to all children as well as their parents … this book would make a wonderful addition to any school library or Irish home

* Stuart Purcell, InTouch Magazine *

takes readers on their own journey through well-loved nursery rhymes Dave Rudden

* Irish Independe