The Golden Hare

fabulous – brimming with magic and full of hope for our beautiful planet 

-- Patricia Forde, Laureate na nÓg

Wow! Paddy Donnelly has done it again. Apart from the story, I was mesmerised by the quality of his illustrations in what is another wonderful book. As young readers peruse The Golden Hare I have no doubt they will hang on to every word of this magical story and dwell upon every illustration as they join Meara in her search for that mythical animal that was too real to Paddy in his own childhood

-- Tom McCaughren, author of Run with the Wind

magical … The book invites readers to notice and appreciate the beauty of nature all around us. The characters have a lovely relationship, and it is nice to have a grandparent and grandchild relationship represented in the story in a way that many children will relate to. The beautiful illustrations complement the narrative and give a sense of awe, magic and wonder. Hares are hidden in the details of the colourful and atmospheric images … a wonderful celebration of Irish animals and nature

-- Inis Magazine

this ode to the natural world reminds us to pay attention to the wonders surrounding us … ideal for young children aged from zero to four

-- Irish Examiner's Tots to Teens

a truly wonderful book. It’s full at magic, nature. At its core is a fantastic inter-generational relationship. It’s a wonderful book about appreciating the natural world. It’s also visually stunning

-- @smithsmm #PrimaryPicBookClub

Having read Paddy Donnelly’s book Fox and Son Tailers and loving it, the Junior room in Castleplunkett NS jumped at the opportunity to read and review The Golden Hare for Seomra Ranga, and we were not disappointed! … This beautiful story is so many things. A representation of the natural beauty of the outdoors, a highlights tour of our Irish nature and flora and fauna and an appreciation of the wisdom and importance of our heritage and the role of the grandparents in passing on the same. The love between grandparent and grandchild beams out of this story, while the curiosity of any nature enthusiast, young or old, would be piqued in the reading of the story, studying the illustrations and discovering the additional facts section at the end. The Golden Hare is wonderfully illustrated and the detail of each page is thoughtfully put together to encourage curiosity and interest. The possibilities for curricular integration across the SESE subjects are endless. The opportunity to initiate lessons and jump start conversation on Irish birds, environmental conservation, habitats, bees, butterflies, spring, working as an explorer, not to mention a study of the hare, using this book are many. There are lots of language learning moments throughout and plenty of artistic inspiration. The Golden Hare is a treasure of a book and book lovers and readers of any age would be thrilled to add this to their collection. This would be a lovely gift, a beautiful read aloud for younger primary school children and an ideal text for independent readers in the 7 to 10 year old category. We remain firm fans of Paddy Donnelly’s books and would happily go on another exploration with this duo! - By Katrina Grogan and the pupils of the Junior Room, Castleplunkett NS, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon

-- Seomra Ranga

Paddy Donnelly has become one of my favourite all-time author/illustrators of children’s books. In his picture books, he knows how to bring us on a journey, both in words and pictures. His keen eye and attention to detail usher us into a magical world, with the impossible or unlikely or downright quirky becoming the norm; real and tangible, and frequently quite funny. In his latest, we return to the world of Meara and her Grandad (featured in my favourite, The Vanishing Lake) and an unusual phenomenon of the natural world. It’s the stuff of Irish legend….This trek through Irelands’ beautiful landscape gives a glimpse of just a few of the magical, but very real, natural wonders; while still fueling the imagination and curiosity. The relationship between Meara and her Grandad is wonderful and encourages openness in communication; it urges us to look closely and to always be surprised; to observe the world around us, take note of it and live within it. As the readers closely examine the illustrations, they see things everywhere; how they live and grow; what happens between the day and night. But do they actually see the Golden Hare? Look closely. He’s there on every page. The Golden Hare is a marvel of a book; a brilliant, curious story, lushly illustrated and very informative. But more than that, it dares us to believe in the magic that is so obviously all around us and to have the eyes to see it. Just wonderful!

-- Fallen Star Stories

There’s so much to love about this book; the storytelling, the wisdom passed through families and the pure joy of spending time with grandparents. Paddy Donnelly has written the perfect reminder to be present in the wonder of the nature that is around us. As he says in his back matter, the Golden Hare represents those smaller moments of listening to a chorus of birds, peeking under rocks in a pool or watching the sun set on a day that can be taken for granted or missed

-- @educa8wirral

warm, wise and beautifully illustrated, another winner from this Irish talent

-- Sarah Webb

The Golden Hare tells the story of a little girl, Meara, and her grandad. They set off to find the mythical, shape-shifting golden hare of the title. It proves elusive, but they find many other treasures from nature instead. What’s really clever about this picture book is the hidden hares for children to spot on every page, some easy to find, others more difficult. A magical book for sharing with children 

-- Sarah Webb, Irish Independent

Paddy Donnelly’s lovely book – inspired by an unusual type of hare found on Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland – is a must for young nature lovers, or for anyone looking for a sweet, calming read with some lovely nature facts woven in. Donnelly’s artwork is absolutely beautiful and very expressive, and Meara and her grandad’s relationship is heartwarming – a lovely book to be read at bedtime, especially by grandparents

-- Booktrust

5 stars - Combining the warmth of family love, the thrill of an adventure in wild open spaces, the beauty and magnificence of the natural world, and the magic of a mythical creature, The Golden Hare is a very special picture book. Little Meara is disconsolate, she’s never seen a dinosaur, a shark or a giraffe, the implication being perhaps that she never will. To cheer her up, her grandad tells her about the magical Golden Hare, sharing stories passed down from his own grandad. Together, the two head out to look for the hare, following notes in Grandad’s old journal, and ready to camp. They find all sorts of beautiful things – a goldfinch, butterflies, dandelions, so much more than a weed says Grandad – treasures are everywhere … Meara and her grandad first appeared in Donnelly’s earlier book, The Vanishing Lake, and like that story, this perfectly evokes the beauty and richness of the landscape, double page spreads flooded with the colours of its fields, seas and skies. Just as vivid is the sense of the relationship between child and grandparent, while the structure of the story, taking readers on the same journey of discovery, gives it real momentum. One final treat: there’s a magical Golden Hare hidden on each spread, with a challenge to young readers to spot them all

-- Books for Keeps

the new book is gorgeous … aimed at children but I think anybody of any age could pick it up and be delighted

-- BBC Radio Ulster’s The Culture Café with Marie Louise Muir

The illustrations are incredible as always with Paddy Donnelly’s books. We have read them all and each time, I am stunned by them

-- StoryBookMama

Paddy Donnelly is one of my favourite author-illustrators and any new book is an automatic must read. We first met Meara and her grandad in The Vanishing Lake. Here we meet them again as they head off on an adventure and a hunt for the golden hare. Generational, heartwarming and filled with incredible details, Paddy’s stories resonate with readers and allow them to feel a part of nature and the world around them

-- ErinLynHamilton

There are so many layers to this book, I feel like I could happily write an essay on it. The themes of folklore, the natural world, intergenerational bonds and passing down stories and dreams, are a marvel. Paddy has written a book which is dreamy and filled with the beauty of nature - not forgetting his gorgeous illustrations of landscapes and creatures. And if you look closely you'll see the silhouette of the hare on each page, in a clever move which makes the magic feel even stronger

-- TeenyReaders

When one of your favourite picture books gets a sequel, it's definitely time to celebrate! Especially when it's as gorgeous as you'd anticipated! … this book is stunning and filled with life, beauty and love as well as the magic and wonder of nature. It has a beautiful intergenerational relationship at its heart and celebrates the beauty of everyday life

-- MrsBrownsBookbox

With sensational illustrations and emotionally charged storytelling, The Golden Hare evokes a sense of awe and wonder for the natural world. Inspired by the stories of Paddy’s childhood and the hares on Rathlin Island, this book glitters with golden on every page

-- KatysBookshelf

The vivid pictures of creatures and plants in diverse habitats are beautifully detailed. These illustrations, including the outline of the hare ingeniously concealed throughout the book, make for a rich, multi-faceted story that could be read to junior class. The hare remains elusive, but Meara fills her nature journal (continuing a family tradition) with sketches of treasure filled nests and “forests full of song and seeds full of life”. This book would be a great resource for senior classes exploring local habitats. It would also provide the creative spark for class journals to celebrate the natural wonders all around us

-- Mary Griffin, Co Dublin in InTouch Magazine

the beautiful illustrations complement the narrative and give a sense of awe, magic and wonder … a wonderful celebration of nature for curious children

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