Wonders of the Wild

such a brilliant book for curious kids who want to know more about the world around them, and it’s full of surprises about the world of nature, from one of the foremost authorities this country has on the subject

-- Elaina Ryan of Children's Books Ireland on RTE Radio 1’s Claire Byrne show

a wonderful publication … amazing … brilliant book

-- RTE Radio’s Ray D’Arcy show

utterly fascinating ... something for adults and young people

-- Virgin TV’s Ireland AM

Ni Lamhna is well known for her nature writing and broadcasting. In this book, she collects all kinds of nature facts that will fascinate children (and their grown-ups!), from ‘Why Frogs Don’t Drown’ to ‘Squirrels Don’t Hibernate’. She explains why the animals we love to hate — foxes, seagulls, magpies — don’t deserve their bad names, and explains fascinating natural phenomena such as cuckoo spit and “dog’s vomit slime mould”. The illustrations by Fitzgerald are colourful and eye-catching

-- Irish Independent, Sarah Webb

O’Brien Press’s fine tradition of publishing for younger readers continued with Wonders of the Wild, a rich and unsurprisingly lively wildlife omnibus from the mighty Eanna Ni Lamhna with illustrations by Brian Fitzgerald

-- Sunday Independent

non-fiction guide to weird & wonderful & sometimes incredibly gross things in nature

-- Claire Hennessy

Wildlife expert Eanna Ni Lamhna and artist Brian Fitzgerald explore the wonders of the wild in this beautifully illustrated new book, packed full of fascinating information … Thoroughly engaging

-- Irish Times

If your kids enjoy learning new facts about plants and animals, they will surely be riveted by a new book by biologist, radio and TV presenter and wildlife enthusiast Eanna Ni Lamhna. With illustrations by the award-winning Brian Fitzgerald Wonders of the Wild will inspire them to open their eyes to the amazing plants and animals that live in the natural world that surrounds us. If you or your children have ever asked why rabbits eat their poo, why frogs don’t drown when they hibernate at the bottom of the pond for months, or why some sea life glows in the dark, this is the book for you

-- Irish Examiner

Both educational and entertaining for young and old!

-- Ireland’s Own Christmas Annual

the very best in Irish children’s books published in 2023 ... Readers aged 7+ interested in learning about weird and wonderful facts from nature will love Wonders of the Wild by expert Éanna Ní Lamhna and illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald

-- RTEJr

Nature expert Eanna is back again with another terrific collection of stories about wildlife that will tickle the funny bone of the little people in your life

-- Woman’s Way

Have you ever wondered how migrating swifts eat and sleep during their long migration? Why wasps become bothersome to humans in autumn? Or why frogs, though they have no gills, do not drown when they hibernate at the bottom of ponds? Do you know the easiest way to tell a lizard from a newt? Who better to provide answers to those questions than biologist and broadcaster Eanna Ni Lamhna? … Ni Lamhna is also a mine of information on other topics some of us may prefer not to ponder. The difference between the black shiny poos excreted by rabbits and the dried-up variety … Ni Lamhna certainly knows how to pique children’s interest, with bluebottle maggots, bloodsucking head lice, and bed bugs also making appearances in this icky-sticky trail through some of nature’s most wonderfully weird creations. For inquisitive young readers with a fascination for the unusual, this absorbing and beautifully-illustrated hardback is perfect gift material

-- The Echo, Pet O’Connell

Ever wondered how migrating swifts sleep during their long journey? Why rabbits eat their own poo, or why frogs, though they have no gills, do not drown when they hibernate at the bottom of ponds? Biologist and broadcaster Eanna Ni Lamhna answers those questions and many more in an icky-sticky trail through nature’s wonderfully weird creations

-- The Echo

for reading age 8 years and over, but really can be read to younger kids and read by much older kids too … so many interesting and beautifully illustrated facts about nature

-- Tertulia Bookshop in the Mayo News

a must read for any nature loving kiddies … and adults too

Are you ready for an unforgettable journey into nature? It is going to be both fascinating and eye-opening’… Luckily this book is here to guide us on our journey of discovery and prompt our curiosities  … a bursting book of delights!

-- Armadillo

presents an array of facts and information on a wide array of animals in a child-friendly fashion with lovely illustrations filled with detail that’s sure to inspire curiosity about our surrounding natural world. You’ll be surprised at the sheer variety and complexity of the wildlife shown here. A wonderful resource for all budding Irish naturalists that will keep them fascinated for hours…and throughout the year

-- Fallen Star Stories

Athlone Bookshop Book Choice of the Week - a fabulous book for parents to explore nature with their children

-- Athlone Advertiser

This introduction to the wildlife of Ireland is a non-fiction account, but not simply a mere book of facts. Each page reads as though we are wandering across the countryside with an informed guide in our midst, every question answered along the way. Between more complex descriptions and definitions there are funny and deliciously disgusting facts that kids will love. This book succeeds in educating through the curiosity of discovering these creatures for the first time in a way that never feels laborious. Each spread combines illustrative colour with small blocks of text that don’t seem too daunting for younger, budding readers. While terms come up that may require assistance, they are immediately explained in a simple and concise way, perfect for building confidence along the way. The illustrations combine the artist's personal style with anatomical accuracy. This balance creates a beautiful yet informative set of illustrations that is painterly, and textural while demonstrating the unique characteristics of the content too. There are even some funny storytelling moments that sit perfectly among the more complex images and add a little extra wonder to the book. While there are countless books about the creatures with which we inhabit the earth, few focus on Irish wildlife specifically. It’s difficult for the humble snail or rabbit to grab our attention when compared to a huge grizzly bear or venomous snake that so often captivates the minds of young readers, but here we discover exactly what it is that makes these familiar creatures spectacular and worth reading about

-- childrensbooksireland.ie

This introduction to the wildlife of Ireland is a non-fiction account, but not simply a mere book of facts. Each page reads as though we are wandering across the countryside with an informed guide in our midst and every question answered along the way. Between more complex descriptions and definitions, and illustrations combining the artist’s personal style with anatomical accuracy, this book succeeds in educating through the curiosity of discovering these creatures for the first time in a way that never feels laborious

-- RTE Jr

 

Have you ever wondered why spiders don’t stick to their own webs? Do you know why rabbits eat their own poo? And when frogs hibernate at the bottom of a pond for months, why don’t they drown? Find the answers in this engaging and informative nature book, written by a leading wildlife … Each page explores a different group of plants or animals, such as marine life which glows in the dark, caterpillars which eat until they burst and ingenious animal-eating plants. There’s even a section on creatures which feed on human blood, including headlice, fleas and bed bugs. Enhanced by full-page illustrations, this informative picture book takes readers on a weird and wonderful wildlife adventure. Ideal for inquisitive children who enjoy the outdoors, this fascinating book will encourage them to notice the wonders of nature and develop their sense of curiosity. A captivating wildlife guide which is sure to inspire young people to explore their own local environment

-- Booktrust - Book of the Month

This introduction to the wildlife of Ireland is a non-fiction account, but not simply a mere book of facts. Each page reads as though we are wandering across the countryside with an informed guide in our midst, every question answered along the way. Between more complex descriptions and definitions and illustrations combining the artist’s personal style with anatomical accuracy, this book succeeds in educating through the curiosity of discovering these creatures for the first time in a way that never feels laborious

-- CBI’s Recommended Reading Gu