Marianne McShane

Living along the Irish coast, across the water from the fairy-haunted isle of Lisnashee, Eily was the daughter of her village's fog catcher—a brave man who set out once a year, on Midsummer day, to harvest fairy water from beads of mist on the island. One year, when her father accidentally left behind Wise Annie's protection charm, always carried with him on his dangerous trip, Eily set out in pursuit, determined to restore the charm to her father, and if necessary, to rescue him from the wild and sometimes malicious enchantment of the fairies...

Published in 2022, The Fog Catcher's Daughter is the first book I have read from Irish seanchaí (traditional storyteller) and former children's librarian Marianne McShane, although it is her second book published, following up her retelling of a traditional story in Rónán and the Mermaid: A Tale of Old Ireland. Here the story is an original fairy-tale, inspired (according to the author's note) by the Copeland Islands, off the coast of Donaghdee, in County Down. In any case, leaving all of that aside, I found both McShane's story and illustrator Alan Marks' accompanying watercolor artwork absolutely lovely! The two-page spread in which Eily is rowing toward the island, navigating her way through a whirlpool with the help of a blessing, looking behind her as she rows, is particularly striking, although all of the visuals are beautiful. I will definitely be tracking down McShane's earlier book, as well as other work from Marks. Recommended to picture book audiences looking for magical stories and beautiful vistas, as well as to those seeking tales with an Irish cultural background.… (plus d'informations)

Monk from the nearby monastery was walking the coast looking for driftwood when he happened upon a circle of seals with a boy in the middle. The old Monk took the boy back to the monastery and helped him heal. Ronan was the boys name and he was sure he had been saved by a mermaid. But do mermaids really exist?
The author weaves a tale based on an ancient Irish legend. The story combines with the beautiful illustrations to tell of a story of survival, compassion and belief. This book would be a good read aloud for older elementary students. It would be a great addition to a collection of myths and fairytales.… (plus d'informations)