Standing on One Leg is Hard

I read this story with my Junior Infant class and also my 5 year old son at home. The children were engaged in the story straight away as they liked the pictures ... There was a chance for children to participate in the reading of the book by repeating the splash splish words. They also liked the rhyming parts … The children also seemed to engage well in the part where they are asked to close their eyes. I like the idea of this as it helps children to take more notice of a story book if there is a part for them to play. After I read the story I asked the children some questions and I was happy that the majority of the class seemed to get the message that you have to keep trying even when things are hard. I think the book is suitable for Infant age and possible even 3 or 4 year olds. It is easy to follow the story and the illustrations are very child friendly. As regards using this book in my classroom, I am happy now to have a copy that I’ll be able to use again. It is a great book to tie in with SESE lessons on birds and a good way to help children remember the name of a bird they are not familiar with. While I was looking through the book at home, what caught my eye was that the illustrator grew up not far from where I am from in County Tyrone so it’s good to support local! By Aoife Mc Nulty, SN Iorball Sionnaigh, Co. Monaghan

-- Seomra Ranga

Creating a picturebook this simple yet clever is also hard work, but McGann makes it look easy. McFarland’s illustrations are glorious, with attractive muted colours and lots of layers and textures, and his work gives a nod to collage masters of the past, like Eric Carle

-- Irish Independent

Erika McGann’s charming and playful Standing on One Leg Is Hard … A newborn heron chick - whose downy head feathers stand up in Clive McFarland’s hilarious illustrations - wants to do what its mum does … the story models coping strategies for frustration and celebrates resilience, while the physical task the heron undertakes leaves room for gentle imitation and interaction at bedtime too

-- Irish Times

guaranteed to provide fun for all

-- Children's Books Ireland in the Irish Examiner

Standing on One Leg is a wonderful new Irish picturebook by Erika McGann and Clive McFarland about a little heron. The story is simple yet clever - a difficult things to pull off - and the illustrations are full of wit and verve. Highly recommended for age 3+

-- Sarah Webb

This lovely little story is about a brave baby heron learning to stand on her own one foot just like all the other herons … Through sheer determination and perseverance, the adorable yet daring protagonist is willing to bend over backwards and think outside the box to achieve her goal … Illustrator Clive McFarland uses various prints to create a medley of whimsical scenes to complement McGann’s charming tale. With a quirky interactive element at the end of the story, this book demonstrates how sometimes the best things happen when we’re not looking. What a marvellous way to explain to little ones about the importance of putting your best foot forward. Recommended for ages zero to five years

-- Irish Examiner

this is a total gem of a book. The story and illustration work beautifully together, and the ending is laugh-out-loud perfect … Clive McFarland’s beautiful drawings capture the determined yet mischievous little chick and her family perfectly. The reader is carried along on vibrant spreads that are striking in their playful simplicity … sure to be a treasured family favourite

-- Inis Magazine

an interactive book that pulls the youngest readers into the story right alongside the little heron chick. Contemporary, expressive illustrations team up with the clear text to show her determination, frustrations and ultimately, her success! The lesson? Never stop trying! You’ll get there in the end…even if nobody is watching. Heart-warming, wonderful and so much fun!

-- Fallen Star Stories

If you want a book that is perfect for young readers with a little text and a lot of emphasis on looking at the pictures to embellish the story then this book is going to tick all the boxes, it’s ingenious

-- Armadillo Magazine

Booktrust’s ‘Ones We Love’ 

With vibrant, contemporary illustrations and a very cute central idea, this charming picturebook shows readers how frustration can become success via sheer determination. A super read!

-- Children's Books Ireland’s Annual Reading Guide 2023

This is a total gem of a book. The story and illustration work beautifully together, and the ending is laugh-out-loud perfect. Heron chick is finding it hard to stand on one leg and is trying to figure out the best way to do it. There are mishaps and lots of splashes until the chick realises exactly what the problem is. This is a beautifully crafted story about how learning things can take time and solutions are often elusive and sometimes unexpected. Erika McGann gives us another wonderful story that will have small ones asking for it to be read over and over again, and the grown-ups will be only too happy to oblige. It will induce giggles and possibly even snorts of laughter. Clive McFarland’s beautiful drawings capture the determined yet mischievous little chick and her family perfectly. The reader is carried along on vibrant spreads that are striking in their playful simplicity. This is a book for sharing with the smallest kids, and in this house, it got giggles from the seven-year-old and the adults too. It is sure to be a treasured family favourite

-- childrensbooksireland.ie

If you want a book that is perfect for young readers with just a little bit of text and a lot of emphasis on looking at the pictures to embellish the story, then this book is going to tick all the boxes, it’s ingenious. Adults, I can guarantee that you will be just as captivated by the little heron and its efforts as the children you share this book with … Absolutely adorable!

-- One of the best books of 2023 from Armadillo Maga