The Best Children's + YA Books of 2015

Books: Magical Ways to Help Mind the Chislers

Sarah Webb's guide to titles that will make the best presents for young readers (from The Irish Independent)

On the up: Sales of children’s books continue to rise with some breakout Irish literary stars to the fore this year

crayons came home

It's been an exceptional year for children's books. Irish picture book makers like Oliver Jeffers and Yasmeen Ismail are going from strength to strength and we have a new YA (young adult) international literary superstar in the form of hard working Clonakilty woman, Louise O'Neill. There has been much talk of the demise of books over the past few years, but sales of children's books continue to rise. I've gathered together my favourite books of the year and I hope you find something to entertain, enlighten and inspire every child or teenager in your life.

Belfast man, Oliver Jeffers' latest picture book, The Day the Crayons Came Home, written by Drew Daywalt (HarperCollins €19.50), is a joyously funny tale about the adventures of lost, forgotten and broken crayons with exceptional, highly original mixed-media illustrations. My picture book of 2015 for its clever combination of great storytelling, originality and wit. Age 4+.

im a girl

shackleton's journey

Yasmeen Ismail's I'm a Girl! (Bloomsbury €16.50) is a celebration of being yourself, with spirited watercolour illustrations, and Nicola's Colton's A Dublin Fairytale (O'Brien €12.99) is a playful and colourful retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Irish style.

irelandopedia

Information books are enjoying a renaissance and Shackleton's Journey by William Grill (Flying Eye Books €22.50), chronicles the epic voyage in wonderfully immersive spreads. The unusual colour pencil illustrations are exceptional. Colouring books are a big trend this season and there is a companion activity book (€14.99). Both for age 7+.

boy who fell

The winner of the Ryan Tubridy Show Listeners' Choice Award at this week's Irish Book Awards, Irelandopedia by Fatti and John Burke (Gill and Macmillan €32.50), brings Ireland alive in a stylish and clever way. Each spread of this attractive hardback is packed with information about the 32 countries and it would make the perfect present for an Irish child living overseas. Age 5+.

imaginary fred

The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower is the first book both written and illustrated by award winning Irish illustrator, PJ Lynch (Walker Books €15.99). Based on the true story of John Howland, who helped found Plymouth Colony, its stormy Atlantic seascapes are magnificent. Age 6+.

pugs of the

Also a winner at the Book Awards this week (taking the Specsaver's Children's Book of the Year (Junior) award), Imaginary Fred combines two giants of children's books, our current Irish Children's Laureate, Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins €17.99). A heart-felt ode to friendship and the power of the imagination, with deceptively simple line-drawings. Age 6+.

once upon a time

Confident readers of seven plus will love Pugs of the Frozen North by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (Oxford University Press €13.50). Orphan Shen is abandoned with only 66 pugs for company. Sika steps in to look after him and together they enter the Race to the Top of the World using pug-power to pull their sled. A funny, fast-paced story with clever cartoon-style illustrations.

darkmouth 2

Older readers of eight plus will enjoy dipping in and out of Once Upon a Place, edited by Eoin Colfer and illustrated by P J Lynch (Little Island Books €15.99), beautifully produced hardback featuring original short stories and poems from Irish writers. I'm proud to have a story in the mix, which sits beside pieces by Roddy Doyle, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick and Oisín McGann.

book of learning 1

Fantasy readers of age 8+ will enjoy. Darkmouth: Worlds Explode by Shane Hegarty (HarperCollins €14.99). Set in the mist-swirling town of Darkmouth, the last Blighted Village in Ireland plagued by legends, mythical man-eating monsters, this book sees Finn trying to save his father, Hugo who is trapped on 'the Infected Side'. Confident readers will also enjoy E R Murray's original and action packed fantasy adventure, The Book of Learning (Mercier €9.99).

jellyfish 3

One of the biggest books of the season will be Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams (HarperCollins €19.50), a funny adventure yarn about 12-year-old Jack and his beloved grandpa, a fighter pilot in World War II who has been dumped in the old people's home from hell; and the new edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J K Rowling with stunning colour illustrations by Jim Kay (Bloomsbury €34.99) will be on many children and adults' Santa lists.

My novel of the year for age 10+ is The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin (Macmillan €16.50), the kind of book you just want to hug it's so good. When Suzy's best friend Franny drowns, she's floored by anger, grief and guilt. Franny was a strong swimmer and Suzy is determined to prove that a lethal jellyfish was to blame but her marine research sets her off on an unexpected voyage of self-discovery.

one cover

Teen and Young Adult

butterfly shell

It's also been an exceptional year for teen and YA (young adult) novels. One by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury €10.99) is a novel in verse about 16-year-old conjoined twins, Grace and Tippi. It's a brave, compelling, unusual book that deserves to be read.

demon road

Irish writer, Maureen White's The Butterfly Shell (O'Brien Press €8.99) is about bullying, self-harm and resilience. Marie has just started attending an all-girls secondary school and her classmates are not making life easy for her. Meanwhile at home she hears the ghostly cries of a dead baby. A lyrically written and thoughtful debut.

ill give you the sun

If your teenager enjoys horror, Demon Road by Derek Landy is a good choice (HarperCollins €22.50). Book one in a new series about a 'normal' American teenager who turns out not to be so average after all, it powers along from its arresting opening line: 'Twelve hours before Amber Lamont's parents tried to kill her, she was sitting between them in the principal's office…'

the rest of us

Older teenagers who like John Green will love I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson (Walker Books €12.65), an immersive read about twins Noah and Jude and how they manage to piece their lives together after the death of their mother. This beautifully written and highly original novel uses art and sculpture to examine emotion and the creative process.

asking for it cover

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness (Walker €19.50) is a clever coming of age story about being the 'other guy or girl' - not the hero or heroine, just a teenager trying to get on with his or her life.

And finally, Asking for It by Louise O'Neill (­Quercus €19.50) has become one of the most talked about books of the year. Emma O'Donovan is the Queen Bee of Ballinatoom. Her closest friends may be rich and privileged but Emma is the most popular and she knows it. But all that is about to change. An arresting, unflinching and deeply disturbing look at sexual consent and how society treats rape victims, it's an important book in both an Irish and an international context. This week it won the Specsaver's Children's Book of the Year (Senior) award at the Irish Book Awards,

Sarah Webb is a writer and children's book expert. Her latest book for children is Sunny Days and Mooncakes (Walker Books)

The Best Children's Books for Christmas 2015

Some of my favourite books of the year for all ages, from picture books to YA (young adult) novels. 2015 was a brilliant year for children's books - happy reading!

Picture Books

1/ Grandad’s Island Age 3+

By Benji Davies     Simon and Schuster

One of my picture books of the year, a stunning story about a boy, Syd and his grandad which deals with death and loss in a sensitive way. Young children deserve wonderful writing and glorious illustrations and this book has both.

A spread from Grandad's Island

2/ The Day the Crayons Came Home Age 4+

By Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers    HarperCollins

Belfast’s finest, Oliver Jeffers last picture book with Drew Dayalt (an American writer) , The Day the Crayons Quite was a number one New York Times bestseller last year, and was on the list for a whopping 67 weeks in total.

His new book about the crayons, The Day the Crayons Came Home, again written by Drew Daywalt, is a joyously funny book about the adventures of lost, forgotten and broken crayons with exceptional, highly original mixed-media illustrations. My picture book of the year for its originality and wit. I also love Imaginary Fred, written by Eoin Colfer and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. (See below)

crayons came home

3/ I'm a Girl! Age 3+

By Yasmeen Ismail    Bloomsbury

im a girl

A celebration of being yourself by an Irish picture book maker, currently living in Bristol, with spirited illustrations that zing with colour.

Non Fiction

4/ Irelandopedia  Age 5+  WINNER OF THE IRISH BOOKS AWARDS, LISTENERS' AWARD

By Fatti and John Burke    Gill and Macmillan

Beautifully produced book which brings Ireland alive in a stylish and witty way. Each spread is packed with info on the 32 countries of the island of Ireland.  Not to be missed.

irelandopedia

5/ Shackleton’s Journey by William Grill (Winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal)  Age 7+

Flying Eye Books

Stunning book which won the Kate Greenaway Award for best illustrated book for children in 2015. It chronicles Shackleton’s epic journey with great originality and wit. Fascinating detailed illustrations (the dogs alone are worth buying the book for). A book made with love and passion and something a little different for fact loving children (and adults).

shackleton's journey

Irish Language Picture Book

6/ Eilifint Óg agus on Folcadán  Age 3+

By Tatyana Feeney    An Gúm

Recommended by my Irish speaking friend, Liz as one of the best Irish language picture books this year.

irish book

Early Readers – age 6/7 to 9

7/ The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, or John Howland's Good Fortune

By P. J. Lynch    Walker Books

Stunning illustrations – a book to read aloud to older children of 6+ with pictures to die for.

boy who fell

8/ Imaginary Fred WINNER OF THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS JUNIOR CHILDREN'S CATEGORY

By Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers    HarperCollins

A heart-felt ode to friendship and the power of the imagination from an award-winning dream team.

imaginary fred

9/ Pugs of the Frozen North

By Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre    Oxford University Press

Orphan, Shen is abandoned with only 66 little pugs for company and is taken in by Sika and her family. Sika and Shen enter the Race to the Top of the World, using pugs instead of huskies to pull their sled. A funny, action packed, snowy story with great illustrations.

pugs of the

Fiction Age 9 to 12

10/ Once Upon a Place

Edited by Eoin Colfer, Illustrated by P J Lynch    Little Island Books

A handsome hardback collection featuring original short stories and poems from Irish writers, illustrated by the award-winning illustrator, PJ Lynch. I’m proud to have a story in the mix, which sits beside pieces by Roddy Doyle, Siobhan Parkinson and Derek Landy.

once upon a time

11/ Darkmouth: Worlds Explode

by Shane Hegarty    HarperCollins

Witty fantasy adventure aimed at a youngish readership (age 8+). Set in the mist-swirling town of Darkmouth, the last Blighted Village in Ireland plagued by Legends, mythical man-eating monsters, this book sees twelve-year-old Finn trying to save his father, Hugo who is trapped on ‘the Infected Side’. This is book 2 in the series.

darkmouth 2

12/ Grandad’s Great Escape

by David Walliams    Harpercollins

Grandpa’s Great Escape takes place in 1983, ‘a time before the internet and mobile phones and computer games.’ Jack is twelve years old and adores his grandpa, a fighter pilot in World War II and now an old man.

Grandpa believes it’s 1940 and he’s still in the RAF. When Grandpa cuts food up and shares it out because of ‘rationing’, Jack thinks it’s charming. When Grandpa hurtles down a supermarket aisle in a shopping trolley, hurling bags of flour ‘bombs’ into the air, Jack thinks it’s hilarious. But Jack’s parents don’t find Grandpa’s dementia so funny and when the elderly man climbs the church spire and almost kills himself, the vicar suggests Twilight Towers, a home for ‘unwanted old folk’. But Grandpa is determined to escape.

grampas great

13/ Illustrated Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay

Bloomsbury (UK)

Every house needs this book – stunning artwork. Makes the book a pleasure to read aloud to a new generation of Potter fans.

harry potter illustrated

Fiction Age 12+

14/ The Truth About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin    Macmillan

Honest, compelling book about a girl coping with the death of her best friend. Beautifully written and heart felt. I’m just reading this at present (it’s just out) – will finish it this weekend – but it’s stunning and def one of my books of the year. Age 11+

jellyfish 3

15/ One  Age 14+

by Sarah Crossan    Bloomsbury

Novel in verse about 16 year old conjoined twins, Grace and Tippi. They are beautifully drawn characters and in a short space of time you grow to love and care about them. It’s a brave, compelling, unusual book that deserves to be read.

one cover

16/ The Butterfly Shell Age 13/14+

by Maureen White    O’Brien Press

Gritty Irish teen novel about bullying, self-harm and resilience, lyrically written. Nice piece of publishing by an important Irish children’s publisher.

butterfly shell

17/ Demon Road  Age 13/14+

by Derek Landy    Harpercollins

Derek is an international bestseller. Book 1 in his new horror series with an arresting opening line: ‘Twelve hours before Amber Lamont’s parents tried to kill her, she was sitting between them in the principal’s office…’

demon road

Young Adult/ Age 15/16+

18/ I’ll Give You the Sun

by Jandy Nelson    Walker Books

Wonderfully immersive read about twins Noah and Jude and how they manage to piece their lives together after the death of their mother. Beautifully written and highly original – it uses art/sculpture as a theme to talk about emotion and the creative process.

ill give you the sun

19/ Asking for It WINNER OF THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS SENIOR CHILDREN'S CATEGORY

by Louise O’Neill    Quercus

One of the most talked about books of the year. For older teens and adults due to its subject (gang rape and consent). O’Neill’s main character, Emma O’Donovan is the Queen Bee of Ballinatoom. Her closest friends may be rich and privileged but Emma is the most popular and she knows it. But all that is about to change. An arresting, unflinching and deeply disturbing look at sexual consent and how society treats rape victims, it’s an important book in both an Irish and an international context. Jeanette Winterson says O’Neill ‘writes with a scalpel’ and she’s right. O’Neill is the strongest contender to win the Senior Award.

asking for it cover

20/ The Rest of Us Just Live Here

by Patrick Ness    Walker Books

The premise – what does it mean to be the ‘other guy/girl’ – not the hero or heroine, just a teenager trying to get on with his or her life. Clever coming of age story by a giant of contemporary YA.

the rest of us

Letter to My Daughter, Amy

Writer, Anne Sexton

I’ve been thinking a lot about letters recently. I love getting real letters and I love writing them too. I stumbled across a letter from an American writer, Anne Sexton to her daughter who was 15 at the time and I really liked the idea. So inspired by this I wrote my own letter to my daughter, telling her . . . well, you can read it and see!

Dear Amy,

I’m writing you this open letter to tell you how proud I am of you. You’re 12 now, and you’re already such an accomplished young woman. You help out a lot at home and with your younger brother (yes, I know he can be annoying sometimes). In fact since your older brother left home, I’ve relied on you more and more and you’ve really stepped up to the plate.

It’s not easy being a working mum. I feel guilty for not spending more time with you but I also feel guilty when I’m not at my desk, writing. I try to balance it out and I look forward to the special Mum and Amy days we spend together, shopping, having lunch, going to Forbidden Planet, seeing movies.

Working is important to me. Women only got the right to vote in 1918 in Ireland and when I was growing up, some women, like teachers, had to leave their jobs as soon as they got married. I like playing my part in the community, helping people with their books, teaching and mentoring younger writers. And I like stretching myself with my own work, figuring out plots and characters, making myself do scary things like talking in front of hundreds of readers. I hope when you’re older you’ll understand. And I hope you find a job you love as much as I love mine.

I’m really proud of the way you stick by your friends. Of how you play hockey so well on a team, passing to your team mates and congratulating them when they do well. I’m proud of the way you look after Lucky, our dog, with a lot of kindness and fun.

You’re a wonderful artist and far better at maths than I’ll ever be and I love the fact that you like manga so much and don’t follow the crowd. You wear what you like to wear too and I think that’s really great.

Going to a new school next year will be a new adventure and it won’t always be easy. Sometimes girls can be mean to each other; sometimes boys can be mean to girls. I’m so glad I didn’t grow up with social media; I would have got myself in a whole heap of trouble by saying the wrong things sometimes or being too honest. But you’re a lot smarter than I was at your age, and if you always remember to be kind to others in person and on-line, you’ll be just fine. But please don’t judge yourself by how many ‘likes’ other people give you, it’s fool’s gold, glittery but not real.

Above all, remember how much I love you and that I am always here for you, no matter what. You’re truly amazing!

Love always,

Mum XXX

What Lies Beneath Readers' Day - Timetable

What Lies Beneath: A Readers’ Day

Saturday 7th November 10am to 4.00pm

Kate Beaufoy

Lexicon Studio Theatre, Dun Laoghaire

Cost: e15 (includes coffee and lunch)

Booking: http://www.paviliontheatre.ie/events/view/what-lies-beneath-a-readers-day-programmed-and-hosted-by-writer-sarah-webb

On site bookshop with thanks to Dubray Books

If you’re passionate about books and love talking to other book lovers, this is the day for you. Find out how bestselling UK author, Freya North and Irish bestseller, Patricia Scanlan got their first breaks; hear how Kate Beaufoy and Kate Kerrigan researched their latest historic novels; listen to Sinead Moriarty and Claudia Carroll talk about their favourite books; discover the inspiration behind Sinead Crowley, Martina Devlin and Marita Conlon McKenna’s new novels; and hear Sinead Gleeson talk about the wealth of short story talent in Ireland, past and present, with Lia Mills and Éilís Ní Dhuibhne. A stimulating and thought provoking day for all readers and writers.

Martina Devlin

Programme:

9.30am – 10.00am Registration

10.00am – 10.50am   This is How it Begins . . .

Martina Devlin, Sinead Crowley and Marita Conlon McKenna will read from their new novels and talk to RTE’s Evelyn O’Rourke about the inspiration behind their stories and characters.

10.50am – 11.10am  Coffee and bookshop signing

11.10pm – 12.00pm  The Long Gaze Back: Ireland and the Short Story, Past and Present

Broadcaster and Editor, Sinead Gleeson will talk about putting together her new short story collection, The Long Gaze Back: An Anthology of Irish Women Writers. She will be joined by Lia Mills and Éilís Ní Dhuibhne who both have short stories in the collection.

Sinead Gleeson

12.05pm – 1.05pm This Writer’s Life: UK bestseller, Freya North and Irish bestseller, Patricia Scanlan in conversation with RTE’s Sinead Crowley.

1.05pm – 2.00pm Lunch and bookshop signing – meet the authors and get your book signed at our dedicated bookshop, kindly provided by Dubray Books.

2.00pm – 2.50pm  What Lies Beneath:  researching a novel set in the past

Kate Beaufoy and Kate Kerrigan both write historic novels and will talk to fellow novelist and journalist, Martina Devlin about their research.

2.50pm - 3.10pm  – Break and bookshop signing

3.10pm – 4.00pm  My Favourite Books

Sinead Moriarty and Claudia Carroll share their favourite books of all time and talk about how reading has inspired their own work. Discover new ideas for your own reading or your book club and share your own favourite reads with the audience. Chaired by Mary Burnham of Dubray Books.

Claudia Carroll