Publication date: July 2012
Publisher: Futa Futa
ISBN: 978-1-906907-51-8
Page count: 27
Price: €9.95
Age group: 5–7
Ní Mise a Rinne É!
by Bridget Bhreathnach (Author)
Donough O' Malley (Illustrator)
Is buachaill óg é Séimaí le samhlaíocht chumhachtach. Cuireann sé an milleán ar na cairde a chruthaíonn sé, mar shampla, briseann na cangarúnna an vása, agus briseann an rón an fhuinneog. Ach, an gcreideann Mamaí a mac nuair a thagann trí eilifint isteach sa teach i lár na hoíche?
Is leabhar Gaeilge é “Ní mise a rinne é”, agus tá sé oiriúnach do pháistí idir 4-6 bliana d’aois. Scríobhann an t-údar faoi na himpleachtaí a bhaineann le bréaga a insint, agus gan freagracht a ghlacadh as botún a dhéanamh. Da bhrí sin, tá an leabhar seo cosúil le leagan nua de “An Buachaill a Chaoin Mac Tíre”, ach tá sé scríofa i stíl an-inrochtana.
Glacann an léitheoir páirt i samhlaíocht chruthaitheach Shéimí mar gheall ar na léaráidí beoga dathannacha. Tá na híomhanna nasctha go dlúth leis an scéal, agus beidh na páistí in ann an scéal a leanúint gan stró. Cé go bhfuil na híomhánna mór agus bríomhar, tá sé deacair an téacs a fheiceáil mar tá méid an cló an-bheag.
Ar an iomlán, ba chóir go mbeadh áit in áirithe don leabhar seo ar an tseilf leabhar mar is scéal rabhaidh é an scéal seo, ach ag an am céanna insíonn an t-údar an scéal i stíl an-ghreannmhar. Molaim an leabhar go mór d’aon leanbh atá líofa i nGaeilge nó ag foghlaim na teanga, mar tá an stíl scríbhneoireachta agus an stór focal simplí go leor. Is scéal taitneamhach greannmhar é an scéal seo, agus tá súil agam go mbeidh níos mó leabhair Ghaeilge do pháistí mar seo ar fáil amach anseo.
Séimí, a young boy with an incredibly powerful imagination, blames his mishaps on his invented friends, such as the kangaroos smashing a vase and the circus seal breaking a window. But will Mammy believe Séimí when three real elephants enter the house late at night and wreak havoc?
“Ní mise a rinne é” is an Irish language children’s book for the ages of 4-6 years. The author explores the repercussions of not telling the truth as the story focuses on a young boy who never accepts responsibility for his actions. The story can therefore be viewed as an updated version of “The Boy who Cries Wolf”, yet it is told in a highly accessible way as children will learn a lesson from the narrative. The writing style and vocabulary is quite simple, therefore the book would be suitable for children who are either fluent in Irish or learning the language.
The reader becomes a part of Séimí’s fanciful imaginings through the vibrant, cartoon-like illustrations which complement the story very well. The large, bold images will help the child follow the story, but they often overshadow the print, and the font size may be too small for some budding readers.
Overall, there should be a place reserved on the bookshelf for this story because it is a cautionary, thought-provoking tale yet is it told in a very humorous manner. Hopefully there will be many more Irish language children’s books similar to this charming tale in the future.
Review by
Web Editor
This review was published online in
July 2012
