Five Irish Picks for St. Patrick's Day

We're lucky to be a shop based in Ireland, a country with so many great stories and artists, and so many people who care about quality storytelling! With St. Patrick's Day coming up this weekend, we thought we'd share some of our favourite Irish themed books and gifts; from classic Irish stories to modern Dublin design. Here are five of our favourites:

Fog Island

Did you know that Tomi Ungerer, the iconic Alsatian creator of Moon Man, Otto and many more brilliant books, is an adopted Irishman? Ungerer moved to Ireland in the early seventies and still lives here with his wife and family. Fog Island is the author's ode to Ireland. It tells the story of Finn and Cara, a brother and sister who take their currach out to a mysterious island one foggy day. There they meet the mysterious Fog Man, who shows them how he makes the fog hang over the Atlantic!

Fog Island depicts rural Ireland in beautiful hand drawn illustrations, which capture the Irish light, waves and weather. Ungerer's dedication page reads, "I dedicate this book to Ireland and to all the wonderful people who welcomed us here". Aww. 

Chris Haughton

Chris Haughton is one of our favourite contemporary illustrators, and he was born and reared right here in Dublin! He now lives in London, and his colourful shapes and funny stories are endlessly popular with both children and adults.
We stock all of his picture books; Shh! We Have a Plan, Oh No,George!, A Bit Lost and his most recent title Goodnight Everyone.

Oh No, George might be our favourite of his books, featuring a dog who wants to be good but fails spectacularly. Last year we were delighted when Chris Haughton, and George himself, popped in to visit the shop on a trip home. Just look at our happy faces!

We're pleased to report that George the dog is as humble as they come, and has not let the bestselling fame go to his head. You can find out more about Chris Haughton's work in our "Illustrator of the Month" feature, here. 

P. J. Lynch

P.J. Lynch is Ireland’s current Laureate na nÓg, he creates beautiful illustrations in a traditional and naturalistic style. Lynch has been illustrating both classic and contemporary stories by a range of authors for years.

The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower and When Jessie Came Across the Sea, are two stories of emigrating to America, just as generations of Irish people have done. The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower is Lynch's first book as both illustrator and author. 

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde is one of the best known Irish writers. Like all true geniuses, he once turned his hand to entertaining that most discerning of audiences, children! We love this collection of Oscar Wilde’s children’s stories illustrated by P.J. Lynch. People often ask us to send this book as a gift to their family and friends overseas. It's a lovely a momento of Wilde’s home city of Dublin, and Lynch's illustrations in this edition really make the stories sing. 

If you like something a bit different, this modern adaptation of one of Wilde’s best known children’s stories, The Happy Prince, by Maisie Paradise Shearring is a great choice. Her unusual illustrations breathe new life into Wilde's story, and this book is a great way to introduce Oscar Wilde to young children. 

Irish design

Dublin is full of brilliant designers and makers, who can always put a new spin on even the best known stories. Keelin Murray, a.k.a. Murraymaker, is a local textile designer who makes our wonderful Roald Dahl and Peter Rabbit cushions.

Shortly after opening Tales for Tadpoles we asked Dublin based design studio UNIT to reinterpret fairy tales and classic children’s books, they result was a range of amazing, symbolic artworks that our customers always notice and admire.

We hope all of our customers in Ireland and abroad have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day. Thank you for supporting a small Irish business! 

Browse our shop for more illustration focused gifts and books.