Bedtime Stories: Incredible Irish Tales from the Past

This entertaining and informative collection of 16 short stories shines a light on key people and events from Irish history, dating from the twelfth century to the present day. Readers will learn about the attempted theft of the Crown Jewels, the record-breaking journey of a small steam ship, and the remarkable rescue of two young paddleboarders, who were adrift for hours in Galway Bay. The final, charming tale, written by 11-year-old Lola-Mae McCormack, explores a young girl’s confusion and disappointment when she exchanges her 168 old pennies for just seven new decimal coins.

The style of writing is chatty and personable, and the tales are brought to life by attractive artwork from eight different illustrators, all of whom are from, or live in, Ireland. An ‘Explore the Story’ section at the end of each tale provides suggestions for further research, such as places to visit, artefacts to investigate or events to attend. A celebration of Irish culture, this volume would make a lovely gift and each story is the perfect length to read at bedtime.