What makes a children's book "Irish" - author? illustrator? publisher? printer? Of the eight books below from Irish publishers, only one was printed in Ireland while just two are originals created by Irish authors. The rest are from foreign writers, printed abroad and were first published in England or Australia. Of this latter group, however, three are illustrated by the acclaimed Irish artist, PJ Lynch.
In When Jesse Comes Across the Sea, by Amy Hest and PJ Lynch (Poolbeg, £10.99), Norman Rockwellish pictures accompany the old-fashioned tale of a young Jewish emigrant who finds life, liberty and happiness in America by sewing lace and getting married. The illustrations are truly beautiful, ranking with Lynch's best.
The Steadfast Tin Soldier, by Hans Christian Andersen, retold by Naomi Lewis, illustrated by PJ Lynch (Poolbeg, £9.99) is true to the original and perhaps to life; the tin soldier's story is a set of random disasters ending in meaningless death. An antidote to saccharine fare and happy endings? But few children will like it. Nor was the illustrator inspired by the text. Only the goblin caught his imagination and it is so well done, it guarantees nightmares. Not recommended for bedtime viewing.
Favourite Fairy Tales, by Sarah Hayes and PJ Lynch (Poolbeg, £12.99) includes 10 classic tales told in flawless prose and mellifluous dialogue. One is brought anew to the likes of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Oddly enough, the writer is not credited in the cover notes, only the illustrator. And here PJ Lynch was inspired by the text - the picture of Rapunzel alone ranks him with Rackham and Dulac.
Great Irish Legends for Children by Yvonne Carroll and Robin Lawrie (Gill & Macmillan, £7.99) is a collection of six nicely presented Irish folk tales including The Brown Bull of Cooley. Research is evident in the torcs, ramparts, and wattle and daub huts but that doesn't explain the king's poet in a fool's cap nor the Hill of Howth reduced to a hummock. The stories are well-told despite the occasional poor syntax which one would prefer not to pass on to children, e.g. "neither ... or".
Drawing Made Very Easy, by Terry Myler (Children's Press, £2.95), comes at a bargain price. It following Drawing Made Easy and introduces the basics of shading and shapes. After an afternoon with pencil and paper, my child and I needed Drawing Made Easier Still. No age group is recommended but while the cartoons imply as young as six, the level of comprehension and dexterity calls for a minimum of 10.
You're Safe Now, Waterdog, by Richard Edwards and Sophy Williams (Wolfhound Press, £4.40), is for the very young - a little story that is "so sad and so sweet", presented in soft pastel hues. Watt, the teddy dog is loved by a little boy till it is outgrown, and discarded on a riverbank, carried downstream. Watt is found by a little girl who loves him in turn. What is a child being told here? Though love may be lost, there is always more? Not a bad lesson. And the pictures are as gentle and reassuring as the tale.
What Faust Saw, by Matt Ottley (Wolfhound Press, £4.99) begins late one night the unfortunate dog Faust is hounded by a motley crew of creatures from outer space. The crude but amusing pictures palliate that plague of childhood, monsters in the dark. Asked the crucial question "would these give you nightmares?" My child stared at the multi-coloured, multi-eyed, goofy-looking things and burst out laughing. I count it a bonus she learned to pronounce "Faust".
G.V. Whelan is an Irish-Canadian novelist, screenwriter and critic. Her books for young adults are published under the name "Orla Melling".