Bearradh Gruaige d’Eoinín

Readers both young and old will recognise the cute lamb Eoinín from the popular series which now features five books. This is the fourth book in the series, published in 2024, it made the shortlist for the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Award in 2025. It is no surprise that this book is receiving such recognition and praise between the fun storytelling and gorgeous illustrations.

In this story, Eoinín must go to the hairdresser as his hair is like a bird’s nest! He likes some things about the hairdressers: the smell of the shampoo and the heat from the hairdryer, but he is a bit nervous when he sees the scissors coming out – the reader must be a good friend and encourage him.
This book is physically ideal for little hands as it is a sturdy board book with a square shape and a manageable size. Illustrator Róisín Hahessy uses a bright pastel palette which is appealing. She also makes Eoinín’s facial expressions very easy to read – children will be certain when he is happy and when he is not! The font is big and clear which is vital for emergent readers.
Muireann Ní Chíobháin’s signature fun and lively style is very much to the fore of this book as she speaks directly to the reader. Children will enjoy the instructions they must follow as it invites them to take an active role in the story. There are questions such as “an bhfeiceann tusa Eoinín?” and orders like “beir ar lámh Eoinín” and “brúigh an cnaipe”. The description of Eoinín’s hair is vivid and entertaining as it goes from a bird’s nest to a soft neat cloud.

Muireann is excellent at playing with words and invites young readers to do the same, they must say the words “Sobailín Bobailín, Sobailín Bobailín” when Eoinín is getting his hair shampooed, there is rhyme “tá an teas go deas” and there is fun with onomatopoeia when children must make the sound of the hairdryer “vúúúúúúúúúu!” The vocabulary is simple and the sentences are clear which means that parents and guardians of all levels of Irish will be comfortable in reading.

Topics that are central to the lives of young children are also central to the Eoinín series and this book is ideal for children who are going to the hairdresser for the first time or children who are nervous about the noise of the hairdryer, the sharp scissors or meeting the hairdresser. This book will certainly put them at their ease.
Both the subject and presentation of the book suits children ages 0-6 years and children will recognise themselves in Eoinín’s ways. Everything about this book is child-central and it will leave young readers looking forward to the next in the series!