A Blooming Great Day

the story is told in sprightly rhyme, and the illustrations show a glorious version of modern Dublin … rich in colour, with details popping from page to page … this book will totally charm children and the adults reading to them … EVERY day should be as fabulous as this Bloomsday

-- Inis Magazine

During the read aloud, the class were enthralled as they were taken into a new world in old Dublin’s fair city. They were able to make an abundance of connections with the book and they all learned a snippet about the author James Joyce and his most famous novel, Ulysses. As a teacher, I would recommend the book for ages 6+ so that they could keep up with the fast-paced movement of the story and to be able to understand that they are going back in time. There was a good level of vocabulary in the book and plenty of examples of rhyme on every page. There are endless possibilities for integration with other subjects too such as Literacy, SESE and Art. I hope to get some more books by Úna Woods for the class library. What I loved most about the book was how much the girls could really picture themselves in the idyllic scenes and locations. They let their imaginations soar. There was an automatic connection, which only enticed them into the story from the very beginning. The book was certainly popular in the library this week as the class were eager to read it independently themselves and to take in the beautiful illustrations. As a class, we’d rate this book 10/10 - Rhya Weafer, 1st Class Teacher, Loreto College Junior School, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin

-- Seomra Ranga

a Joycean odyssey for the young readers … The colourful format, propulsive rhyme and spot the hat- and kitty-chase of A Blooming Great Day is a winning formula for introducing Joyce's work and its cultural significance to very young readers

-- Business Post

An intergenerational celebration of Bloomsday follows a granddad and granddaughter as they visit the spots around Dublin popularised by James Joyce’s Ulysses. Perfect for getting our youngest readers interest in the concept of Bloomsday, this book also highlights how stories can connect us across the generations. Another colourful whirlwind of a story with plenty of heart from Woods

-- Irish Examiner

this gorgeous paen to Bloomsday for younger readers … through spritely rhyme and illustration, we are shown a glorious version of modern Dublin – contemporary, multicultural, attractive and diverse

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