History and historical fiction

Like all of us, children question the world around them. Bunting has collected many of those wonders that we have all thought about at some stage and wrote them in a way that makes them both accessible and humorous for children to read. From why are we here and if there was ever a universe before the Big Bang, to can we cure hiccups and why we choose mint ice cream, this book is perfect for any little ones with curious minds and a love for wondering about the big and the small parts of our universe.

2026 will be the centenary of the first census of the Irish Free State and Ireland in Numbers goes beyond the data of a census and is instead, an engaging and fun look at life in Ireland. This ultimately Irish take on a census is an entertaining look at the numbers and goes a long way to answering those questions that you are too afraid to ask, such as what county has the most artists and why you can never find a Jedi Knight when you need one?

Falasteen struggles to find Palestine, her home country, on the classroom map and is told by her teacher that it must not exist. After school, she seeks answers from family members who encourage Falasteen to see that her home country is interwoven into so many parts of her life. From the foods that she eats to the music that she dances to, Falasteen carries Palestine with her, it lives inside her.

The story begins with a young girl telling us that she is celebrating her birthday. The girl’s mother celebrates her birthday by sharing traditions and stories from Armenia and when her family and friends visit and are included in the celebrations. This universal experience allows children to immediately connect with the narrator.

This delightful book celebrates the history and development of trains through the ages. Starting with the origin of railways, right through the industrial revolution and even offering a glimpse into the future, there is lots to enjoy and appreciate here.

In 1970s Australia, two children stumble upon something that at first seems to be a severed head … This strange globe seems to have mind-control powers, and can disguise itself as an old basketball. Twelve-year-old Kim is unsettled by it, but his know-it-all younger sister, Eila, insists that the presence – Aster – only wants what is good for humanity.

A modern re-telling of Jane Austen’s classic Emma that manages to keep the charm of the original story while giving it a fresh perspective.

Everything Irish rugby finds a home between the covers of this vividly written and illustrated work from Gerard Siggins and Graham Corcoran. Taking Ireland as its centre, the book provides a wealth of information about the game generally and the pivotal role Ireland has played in its history more specifically. From international tournaments to schools’ rugby, no stone is left unturned in capturing the spirit and significance of the game to the island of Ireland.

Set against the backdrop of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, this story follows Nemy, a young girl bound to a life of hard labour in a Columbian plantation. One night, she discovers a group of women, led by Big Mother, braiding intricate patterns into each other’s hair – hidden within them are messages, maps, and symbols of hope.

This captivating account begins with a description of the Yukon Territory and the First Nations clans who inhabit it, detailing the rise and fall of the Klondike Gold Rush from the perspectives on a series of women who left indelible marks on the history of mining in Canada and the United States of America.