Back to the books: Reigniting reading for fun with the best Irish titles of 2026

One adult and four children lying on a colourful alphabet carpet in a library space. They are in a circle with their heads in the middle. They are looking up at the camera and all have books in their hands.

Author and illustrator of I am not a Dog, Peter Donnelly, with students of Scoil Treasa Naofa, Dublin 8

Showcasing the best and brightest of 2026 publications for young readers across fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels and verse, a new free guide launched by Children’s Books Ireland today (07.09.26) features over 100 titles written or illustrated by an Irish-born or Irish-based artist.

The national charity that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading is encouraging parents, guardians and teachers to reignite ‘reading for fun’ with the launch of ‘The Best Irish Books of 2026’ reading guide as children return to termtime routines this September.

Featuring reviews in English and as Gaeilge, the guide includes titles for all age groups up to 18 years old, such as:

‘Looking for Aurora’ by Zainab Boladale (The O’Brien Press);
‘I am not a Dog’ written and illustrated by Peter Donnelly (Gill Books);
‘Moon Moon Can’t Sleep!’ written and illustrated by Johnathan Sung (Bad Book Press);
‘Project Dinosaur: Top Secret!’ by Jen Wallace and illustrated by Alan O’Rourke (Little Island Books); and
‘Dearg’ by Máire Zepf (Futa Futa).

In their recently published ‘Children and young people’s reading in Ireland’ report, Children’s Books Ireland found that 23% of children and young people read for fun on a daily basis and this rises to 46% amongst those whose parents are daily readers. As we settle back into school routines this month, the charity hopes that families and classrooms, will continue to carve out time to read for enjoyment and help more children to see themselves as readers.

Speaking on the launch of the new reading guide Elaina Ryan, Children’s Books Ireland CEO said:

“For some children, the summer holidays may have been spent devouring as many books as possible, but for others, the return to school might also be a return to reading. We have to be careful that families don’t conflate the two, and that there is time for reading just for fun in children and young people’s lives. The enjoyment of reading is essential if our children are to become lifelong readers and reap the benefits that come from this.

It sounds like something very simple but international research into the educational, health and wellbeing benefits of reading for fun prove it can be a superpower that sets children up for life, making them happier, more confident at school and more likely to succeed in later life. At Children’s Books Ireland our mission is to ensure that every child has an opportunity to unlock that superpower.”

Two authors and three children sitting on the end of a slide in a library space. They are all holding up copies of books and the Children's Books Ireland reading guides.

A child and adult in a library, sitting behind a bench and holding up a copies of the Children's Books Ireland Best Irish Books of 2026 reading guide

Children sitting on a bench in a library with books in their hands. A librarian is holding a copy of a suggested reading guide to them as they look on in excitement.

Empowering parents, guardians and teachers

As part of their mission, Children’s Books Ireland empowers parents, guardians and teachers to introduce young readers to the best Irish books available, through free resources like their annual ‘Best Irish Books’ guide.

Ryan says it’s important that children in Ireland can access stories that reflect their own lived experience and the rich culture and diversity of life in Ireland, but finding those stories still proves difficult for some.

She said: “Our recent research found that almost one in four respondents didn’t know if they had any books by Irish artists in their home and 50% of parents and guardians feel it’s a struggle to find something appropriate for their children to read.

“This struggle also exists in the classroom, with the ‘Building Literary Foundations’ report finding that only 8% of pre-service teachers could name three or more Irish authors, and almost half of respondents were unable to name even one. Our ‘Best Irish Books of 2026’ guide is a free resource available to all, it’s a map to help discover a great Irish book and a support to those seeking to foster or reignite reading for fun for the children and young people in their lives.”

Ryan added that putting more relevant, quality books for children into schools is the focus of Children’s Books Ireland’s Budget 2027 submission to Government, following almost twenty years without sustained investment in school libraries.

“We’re calling for a commitment of €68 million in the upcoming Budget to introduce a permanent funding stream for primary and secondary school libraries, which have undergone systemic underfunding for over a decade. That the majority of schools in Ireland currently rely on donations of books in one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, one with a world-renowned literary heritage, is nothing short of scandalous.”

‘The Best Irish Books of 2026’ reading guide is available as a free download at www.childrensbooksireland.ie. Free copies are also available in participating bookshops and in libraries nationwide.

Discover a great Irish book!