A couple of weekends ago, I was lying in bed, having been abruptly woken by the chatter of magpies. At this time of the year, this is a regular occurrence. Sometimes, one of the gang lands on the window ledge and hollers to its friends, filling my sleep-interrupted head with murderous thoughts. On this morning, though, something cut through the magpie jabber, a deep and unmistakable ‘Cronk! Cronk! Cronk!’ What? A raven? I live in Dún Laoghaire, in a built-up …
Category: Nature
By Elena Browne, author of Take the Lead: How to Care for Your Dog – A Fun & Practical Guide written by Elena Browne and illustrated by Jennifer Farley Walks …
You’re not supposed to judge books by their covers, but I knew straight away that this one could only contain wonder, beauty, strangeness, and longing for far-away places. And I …
In Children's, Fiction, NatureTags Beatrix Potter, Dodie Smith, Sophie AndersonLeave a comment
Eilis O'Sullivan

One of my favourite aspects of children’s literature is the way that the unbelievable and impossible become believable and possible. Take for example The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh …
For those of you who are currently staying close to home in urban areas, I offer some vicarious countryside living in the form of two lovely books: The Secret Life …
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