Little Irish Folklore Friends
This delightful book introduces younger readers to Irish folklore creatures including Liam the Leprechaun and Betty the Banshee in a sweet set of six short rhyming stories.
Each story has been inspired by the stories preserved in the National Folklore Collection about these creatures. Their traditional traits are reimagined, for example, the equally mischievous and generous nature of the púca or the hospitality of the fairies. The author adapts the older tales as new bedtime favourites and friendships bloom as the six main characters learn how to help others instead of playing unkind tricks.
The illustrator’s interpretation of the charming stories evokes the wonder and magic that the author creates perfectly. The spooky nature of some of the original folklore is transformed into a colourful world by this collaboration. Willow the Wisp and her family are depicted as serene, helpful beings in purple-coloured, nocturnal settings. Worries can be soothed here, as Willow and her family seek to help people by shining their light to banish darkness and fear. The inclusion of a Galway Hooker boat and Fiadh the Fairy’s fairy fort home’s resemblance to the landscape at the Hill of Tara are just some of the clever details visible in the absorbing illustrations also.
With kindness to others as a key theme of all six stories, this heartwarming book affirms the importance of friendship and kindness and the value of children’s unique talents as they find their place in the world.
