My Little Album of Ireland

highlighting the rich cultural diversity in Ireland

* CBI Guide Free to Be Me *

There are sports events, myths and legends, farming competition, astronomical observations…and a little squirrel along for the journey who hopes you can help him spot his dhearcán! With beautiful, quirky, expressive illustrations, this one is a joy! What are you waiting for?

* Fallen Star Stories *

This charming non-fiction picturebook captures life in modern Ireland, giving snapshots of events and places all over the island. The careful selection of scenes is a great strength, resulting in an excellent book to share with a child. The illustrations contain small references to the history of each place or its well-known characters, interspersed naturally with animals and items for children to find. Additionally, a certain small character appears in every image, providing continuity to the scenes, well-hidden enough to make finding them feel rewarding.

* CBI Deliver the Joy of Reading *

Feast your eyes on more gorgeous illustrations, and learn some Irish while you’re at it, in My Little Album of Ireland by Juliette Saumande and illustrated by Tarsila Krüse’ ‘The dynamic duo Juliette Saumande and Tarsila Krüse are back with another gorgeous book. This time they have ventured further afield and headed beyond the capital to the whole of Ireland. My Little Album of Ireland is jam-packed with lots of useful Irish words and phrases, as well as some fun ones that will make you giggle. Turn the vibrant pages of illustrations brimming with life; travel down the Shannon and along the Wild Atlantic Way, cheer on the Liffey swimmers and admire the cattle at the Ploughing Championships. A number of my favourite words which are very fitting for the festive season are maisiúcháin (decorations), coinnle (candles), milseáin (sweets), and spideog (robin). So head to your nearest siopa leabhar (book shop) and pick up a copy! Age 5+

* RTEjr’s best books for Christmas *

Juliette Saumande and Tarsila Kruse take their readers on a bilingual sightseeing tour in their English/Irish wordbook … a pictorial meander around places and events including the Liffey Swim, the Wild Atlantic Way, National Ploughing Championships, and Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. The same author-illustrator partnership that created My Little Album of Dublin broadens its scope to take in a rugby match and visits to the Gaeltacht, Blackrock Castle Observatory, and Cork’s English Market, complete with butcher’s stalls, artisan bakery, and olive seller … The highlighted words in Irish and English are an eclectic mix, ranging from ‘gircini’ (gherkins) to ‘feinin’ (selfie) and ‘measc- stroighne’ (cement mixer). Their range, indeed, is almost as diverse as that of the people depicted here by Brazilian-born, Dublin- based illustrator Tarsila Kriise. Characters of all creeds and colours are represented, with and without disabilities, in every rainbow shade of relationship, with tattoos and apparel of multifarious design. Kriise has evidently had a whale of a time populating the pages with characters such as Dublin’s former Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and President Michael D Higgins, Bram Stoker and George Best, plus fellow children’s authors and illustrators, including the aforementioned Tadhg Mac Dhonnagain. Spotting the characters, wildlife, and visitor attractions in scenes as disparate as Belfast, the banks of the Shannon, and even Tir na nOg, makes this a fun-filled adventure with something for everyone, whether newcomers or long-time residents of Ireland.

* Evening Echo *

a beautiful hardback book which would make an ideal stocking filler. The book takes us on a whistle-stop tour of famous locations in Ireland and introduces us to key vocabulary in Irish, which is is fresh and relevant, for example ‘veist ard-amhairc’ (high his jacket) and ‘féinín’ (selfie). The illustrations are adorable, full of mischievous little details which are sure to appeal to children. As a teacher, I have used this with my class to stimulate comhrá (conversation). They delighted in spotting an t-uachtarán himself Michael D. Higgins! I would recommend this book to parents who wish to inspire a love of Irish in their children, and for any primary school teachers looking for something to pep up their Irish lessons!’ By Julie Kelly Murphy, Dundalk, Co. Louth

* Seomra Ranga *

This gorgeous, illustrated Irish-English word-book takes readers on a tour of Ireland that includes mythology and sporting events as well as popular attractions. With a squirrel to spot in every scene, improving your Gaeilge has never been so much fun!

* Westmeath Examiner *

a delightfully unusual collection of words with Irish and English translations that transport you all around famous places and events in Ireland. This book of wittily selected words will help you learn the lingo for your next trip to the National Ploughing Championships or to the far away land of Tir na nÓg, be able to order the best produce the English Market in Cork has to offer, as well as all the paraphernalia you might find floating around after the Liffey Swim in Dublin … each scene you explore invites you to try and spot where your three tour guides are hanging out in the picture. This book is a fabulous way to learn words in the Irish and English language that you may not realise you didn’t know, such as the word for a tandem bicycle, a selfie, or the beautiful gorse foliage that blankets even the wildest parts of Ireland. Recommended for all ages.

* Irish Examiner *

a fantastic English-Irish workbook for readers aged 5+ capturing a snapshot of some of Ireland’s most beloved destinations

-- RTEjr Book Club

this bilingual book looks at life in rural and urban Ireland today, highlighting its rich cultural diversity

-- Children's Books Ireland Reading Guide 2022

absolutely gorgeous … lovely for any class sitting in the library, or basing your lessons around O'Connell Street/Tír na nóg etc. Also helps with English/Irish vocab! 

-- PrimaryTeachersIreland

What a treasure! A real throw back to those popular books of my childhood where you have fabulous art work interspersed with text as Gaeilge and as Béarla. Each page takes us around the island of Ireland from The Fleadh, to Tír na nÓg, The Ploughing to The Aviva. Pictures and text as well as wonderful ‘can you find us’ on every page! A multicultural trip around the country that will open up the cultures and traditions to a whole new demographic! A wonderful asset to any classroom or home library. A lovely game between two where you find the mini picture in the main picture, a whole class ‘cá bhfuil an….’ .So many opportunities for language development in both tongues. Suitable for all ages but more geared towards the younger generation. Older people and older children will just love looking through the pages and seeing what they can find! This would also make a wonderful gift to anyone of any age who will love reconnecting with the Gaeilge of their youth! - By Anne-Marie Mc Kenna, Co. Meath