Pet, by Rachel van Kooij, and the amazing Fennymore and the Brumella (by Kirsten Reinhardt, illustrated by David Roberts), both translated by me, are personal favourites.
Until recently we published only novels for older children and teenagers and b/w illustrated books for ‘middle-aged children’, but last year we put a tentative toe into the picturebook market and brought out a fabulously beautiful
picturebook in translation (a co-publication with Nord-Süd,
Switzerland), The Wizardling by the astonishingly gifted Binette Schroeder of Germany (Editor’s Choice in the last issue of Books for Keeps).
Given the small population of Ireland, it is important for Irish publishers to crack the UK market also – but the structures of the book trade in Britain and the enormous competition from established and in many cases rich and powerful publishing houses make this difficult. We formed a sales and distribution partnership with Walker Books a couple of years ago and we benefit hugely from Walker’s reach and professionalism. Little Island books are now readily available in the UK, and our titles can easily be ordered through Walker.
Of course our books are also available direct from our website
www.littleisland. ie. (NB the IE part of this web address – if you use dot-com you will go badly astray.) Also on the website you’ll find teaching notes (called Book Guides on the website), which you can download for FREE and our truly lovely little magazine for children, Castaway, also downloadable for FREE – great for use in the classroom as well as for reading at home.
And watch out for our smashing new title this autumn: Once Upon a Place, a collection of short stories compiled by our current Children’s Laureate Eoin Colfer and illustrated with stunning charcoal drawings by the fabulous PJ Lynch.
Siobhán Parkinson, publisher with Little Island Books in Dublin, is also a children’s author and was Ireland’s first Children’s Laureate (2010-12). Several of her early books from The O’Brien Press in Dublin are still in print, and her current publisher in Britain is Hodder Children’s Books. She has a new book for the 9+ age group (Miraculous Miranda) coming shortly from Hodder and a book of new Irish fairy tales by a clutch of Irish writers for children that she edited, Magic!, illustrated in lavish colour by Olwyn Whelan, is due out this autumn from Frances Lincoln.
Books mentioned, all published by Little Island: Taking Flight, Sheena Wilkinson, 978-1848409491, £7.99 Too Many Ponies, Sheena Wilkinson, 978-1908195258, £4.99 Still Falling, Sheena Wilkinson, 978-1908195920, £7.99 Name upon Name, Sheena Wilkinson, 978-1910411360, £tbc Prim Improper, Deirdre Sullivan, 978-1848409484, £6.99 This Ain’t no Video Game, Kid Kevin Stevens, 978-1848409478, £6.99 The Powers: The Not-so-super Superheroes, Kevin Stevens, 978-1908195838, £6.99 Pucker Power: The Super-powered Superpug, Kevin Stevens, 978-1910411308, £6.99 Thin Ice, Mikael Engstrom trans Susan Beard, 978-1908195005, £6.99 Bartolomé, The Infanta’s Pet, Rachel van Kooit trans Siobhán Parkinson, Fennymore and the Brumella, Kirsten Reinhardt, illus David Roberts, trans Siobhán Parkinson, 978-1908195852 The Wizardling, Binette Shroeder, trans Siobhán Parkinson, 978-1910411001
HOW MANY WORDS DO YOU NEED TO SURVIVE? Speculative fiction with a powerful political premise for 11+
by Patricia Forde
‘A novel that truly stands apart for its originality and relevance’ - The Irish Times
‘An exciting adventure... a fascinating read.’ - Books for Keeps
‘Thoroughly unique in its approach and simply stunning.’ - Mary Esther Judy Children’s Buyer
Contact your Walker Books representative or
www.littleisland.ie to order now £7.99
ISBN 9781908195999 Books for Keeps No.213 July 2015 13
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