Standing on One Leg is Hard

Erika McGann grew up in Drogheda, County Louth, and now lives in Dublin. She is the author of The Demon Notebook, winner of the Waverton Good Read Children’s Award, The Broken Spell, The Watching Wood and The Midnight Carnival, the ‘Cass and the Bubble Street Gang’ series, Tabitha Plimtock and the Edge of the World and The Strange Tale of Barnabus Kwerk. She has also written thirteen picture books, including the bestselling ‘Puffling’ series, illustrated by Ger Daly; Run Home, Little Fox, winner of Children’s Book of the Year (Junior) at the Irish Book Awards, and its follow-up Swim, Little Otter with Tom McCaughren and illustrated by Shannon Bergin; and Nowhere for a Ghost to Sleep, illustrated by Clive McFarland. Clive was raised in County Tyrone before studying art in Derry and Liverpool. His first and second picture books were both shortlisted for the AOI World Illustration Awards and One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me! was chosen for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Clive’s clients include HarperCollins, Penguin US, Templar, Froebel, and Marks & Spencer. He lives in Northern Ireland.

I read this story with my Junior Infant class and also my 5 year old son at home. The children were engaged in the story straight away as they liked the pictures ... There was a chance for children to participate in the reading of the book by repeating the splash splish words. They also liked the rhyming parts … The children also seemed to engage well in the part where they are asked to close their eyes. I like the idea of this as it helps children to take more notice of a story book if there is a part for them to play. After I read the story I asked the children some questions and I was happy that the majority of the class seemed to get the message that you have to keep trying even when things are hard. I think the book is suitable for Infant age and possible even 3 or 4 year olds. It is easy to follow the story and the illustrations are very child friendly. As regards using this book in my classroom, I am happy now to have a copy that I’ll be able to use again. It is a great book to tie in with SESE lessons on birds and a good way to help children remember the name of a bird they are not familiar with. While I was looking through the book at home, what caught my eye was that the illustrator grew up not far from where I am from in County Tyrone so it’s good to support local! By Aoife Mc Nulty, SN Iorball Sionnaigh, Co. Monaghan