Ireland’s Favourite Legend On a little green island in days of old A story of magic and courage was told There once stood a fortress, four children lived here Along with their father, the mighty King Lir … A charming rhyming version of the legend of The Children of Lir, who were turned into swans by their wicked stepmother and forced to wander across Ireland for 900 years. The perfect introduction to Irish legends for children.    Front Flap: The Children of Lir is a story from long, long ago, part of an ancient oral tradition, handed down from generation to generation. It’s Ireland’s best-loved legend: the story of Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra and Conn – the children of King Lir -- and how they were turned into swans and cursed to wander until the toll of a bell broke the spell and freed them from the enchantment.     Back Flap: Laura Ruth Maher is a Montessori Teacher from Dublin. She has completed a Degree and Masters in Early Education, her research focusing mainly on storytelling and the importance of rhyme for early literacy development.  Laura has always had a great love for Irish myths and legends and is delighted that they can now be shared with a younger audience, her son included! She currently lives in Warwickshire, England, If her head is not stuck in her books she can usually be found running or enjoying a cup of tea and a sneaky biscuit or ten with her family.    Conor Busuttil is a children’s picture book illustrator and passionate doodler. His most recent works include Blue Peter’s “Here be Dragons” competition exhibition, featured in Kew Gardens. He has worked closely with Hampton Court Palace to produce a digital story “The King of the Beasts”. Conor is originally from a small rural village tucked away beside Strangford Lough, Co. Down, but currently hides himself away among the Welsh valleys where he draws away to his heart's content    

Many of us know The Children of Lir as a haunting tale of the Irish folklore tradition. Stepmothers fervently stash old copies from their newly conferred brood. Laura Ruth Maher’s re-telling of the famous legend, illustrated in watercolour by Conor Busuttil, however, is a gentle edition of the tale that cushions some of the story’s harder edges. Maher has a keen interest, and has completed research, in the importance of rhyme for early literacy development. Her use of rhyme in this book is simple but effective and imparts a meditative quality to its reading. The intoning rhythmic pattern takes hold and allows the child opportunity to anticipate rhyme. This meditative mood is complemented by Busuttil’s naturalistic watercolour illustrations. The illustrations are given ample space – often full pages – to narrate the tale with emotion. Busuttil’s palette, like Maher’s prose, is soft – blues, greens and yellows – which makes cruel Aoife’s flaming red hair all the more shocking. This charming re-telling is a wonderful introduction to Irish legendry for young people. The high-quality production – that is both hardback and of substantial size – lends itself ideally to group-reading scenarios (though can equally be enjoyed between parent and child). The Children of Lir would make a wonderful gift or addition to the learning environment!