At Children’s Books Ireland we champion diverse and inclusive books that best reflect the world, with characters of all genders and sexualities and families of all kinds. We believe that everyone deserves to see their story within the pages of an excellent book.
The Read with Pride reading guide 2026 contains 100 LGBTQ+ inclusive stories for young readers aged 0–18 with 100 recommended ‘read also’ titles for further reading.
When April is invited to spend the weekend in a remote country house with the handsome Carl and his wealthy friends, the offer seems too good to refuse – even with a spate of recent killings making headlines in Cork. But when a masked killer shows up at their door and begins to hunt her new friends for sport, April will have to rely on everything she’s learned from horror films to survive the night.
This delightfully silly story is sure to bring joy into storytime as everyone in the castle tries to figure out who is causing the spooky sounds in the castle. Willis’ whimsical writing and Fitzgerald’s use of colour instantly brings readers into this magical world of green castles and mischievous green ghosts hiding along the walls seeking someone to scare. Trying to spot the green ghost blending into each green-coloured scene is something that adds a little extra layer of fun into an already delightful story.
In her latest picturebook, Shona Shirley Macdonald serves up a gloriously whimsical celebration of imagination, music, and creative play. Following Grub, a travelling musician whose impromptu jam-making experiment unexpectedly springs to life, the story revels in absurdity while gently reminding young readers that the greatest rewards often come from shared joy rather than winning.
Squad Girls follows four besties as they navigate their dream of playing sport and athletics professionally. Tara, Ríona, Sam and Penny each are passionate and driven about different pursuits, from swimming to dance, and they must face obstacles in putting in the dedication needed alongside school and other commitments.
Olivia Shivers discovers a world of ghosts under her nose because of her special inherited S-sense and joins S.C.A.R.E. – a team of secret agents who keep ghosts in check. This is her first adventure as she solves a spooky mystery and sets out to save her grandpa.
Paying homage to some of Dublin’s greatest characters (O’Casey’s fictional Juno and the real-life Lugs Branigan) and America’s literary and film icons (Harper Lee’s fictional Jem and the actual child movie stars Shirley Temple and Judy Garland), Nolan has created a high-octane escapade that is a love letter to the Golden Age of Cinema.
This is the story of one very tired little ghost and her search for a place to take a snooze. Little Ghost tries lots of different spots and meets a host of characters, but no one will let her land and have a rest. They are all frightened and much too wary of the Little Ghost, even though she hasn’t given them any reason to be.
In the latest instalment of this hugely popular series Milly sets up a dog walking business to convince her mam and dad that she is responsible enough for a dog of her own! So begins Operation Get Milly a Furry Friend, and what could go wrong? In fact, as with many of Milly’s adventures, it all begins very well, soon Milly’s new clients are calling her the Dog Whisper and bookings are flying in. But as the inevitable canine chaos ensues and Milly’s best laid plans begin to unravel into a laugh-out-loud read.
Annie Atkins once again creates something magical in Letters from the Witch. Five children from all around the world turn to witches as the wisest people they know to help them solve their problems and are amazed by the spells the witches conjure in order to help them, despite getting ready for the annual Big Witch Convention.
