The Book Thief

Author: ZUSAK MARKUS

The Story

Set amidst the frightening and unsettling political background of 1939 Germany The Book Thief beloved international bestselling book, is the heart breaking account of Liesel Meminger. The narrator of her story is Death who encounters Liesel on three separate occasions. First, when he comes to claim her younger brother Werner on a train taking them to meet their foster parents.  Second, when he comes to claim souls after a bomb is dropped on her town, and finally, when he visits Liesel as an older woman. Death finds the book Liesel was writing during the bomb raid and uses it to tell us her story.

In 1939 Liesel arrives in the town of Molching Germany and is taken to the home of her foster parents, an elderly German couple named Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Hans Huberman finds Liesel's first stolen book and teaches her to read and write. Liesel's passion for books leads her to steal one book from the mayor’s wife and another one from a book burning.  

An emotional turning point in the book occurs when the Hubermanns take in Max, a Jew, and the son of the man who saved Han’s life during the Great War. Hiding Max in their basement is a dangerous undertaking for the Hubermanns. 

Already in danger of hiding a Jew, Hans Hubermann risks punishment when he offers bread to a Jew. Now under suspicion, the Nazi police want to search the Hubermann home forcing Max to flee and Hans to join the German army.  With both men gone Liesel brings comfort to her neighbours by reading to them. She is in the basement of her home writing the story The Book Thief when the bombs begin to drop. 

The Book Thief has won lots of prestigious awards since 2006 across the world and has been translated into many languages.

Now a block buster movie and was nominated for an Oscar

Best suited for young adults 14 years and up; mature readers who can handle advanced literary writing and difficult subject matter.

Rainbow Magic Books

By Daisy Meadows

Fairy books suited to 5-8 year olds.

Rainbow Magic features differing groups of fairies as main characters, including the Jewel fairies, Weather fairies, Pet fairies, Petal fairies, and Sporty fairies and lots more.

The series follows the lives of Kirsty Tate and Rachel Walker and their magical adventures with their fairy friends.

The Night Fairies

Nothing is more magical than night time! The Night Fairies are careful to keep it that way…until their special bags of magic dust go missing. Jack Frost and his goblins are surely causing trouble again. Now Fairyland and the human world are in the dark!

The Rainbow Fairies

Fairyland is home to seven colourful sisters. Together, they are the Rainbow Fairies! They keep Fairyland dazzling and bright. But when evil Jack Frost sends them far away, the sisters are in big trouble. If they don’t return soon, Fairyland is doomed to be grey forever!

The Music Fairies

Fairyland is hitting all the wrong notes! Jack Frost and his goblins have stolen the Music Fairies' magic instruments. Music everywhere is out of tune! Now the goblins plan to play the instruments in a TV talent contest. If Rachel and Kirsty don't act fast, everyone could find out about Fairyland!

Fantastic selection to choose from with over 60 books available on http://www.lovekidsbooks.com/meadows-daisy

Dolores Keaveney

Dolores is a Self Published Author/Illustrator of Children’s Picture Books.

She started writing and illustrating children’s picture books 4 years ago and now has seven books self published.

Dolores is an artist not a qualified illustrator, and likes to paint in strong vibrant colours as she think`s this adds greatly to her books. She love`s painting and finds it is a great way to chill out and to relax and to express herself in her paintings.  Flowers are her favourite item to paint and has made this her painting choice.

Dolores has been painting for the best part of 40 years, and has had many exhibitions. 

In 2009 Dolores launched her first picture book If I were a bee.....and decided to self publish it because she had read up and researched a lot about self publishing over the previous year and felt it was a route she`d would like to take as it was a challenging way to go about publishing a book.   She realised from the start that it would be a daunting journey but felt she still wanted to go this route.    This book was a great success and spurred her on to write and illustrate more.  Dolores has continued to launch one or two books per year since then.

Books are suited from around 3-8years, Earth Angels are Everywhere is for older children/young adults

PUBLICATIONS TO DATE

IF I WERE A BEE BEE

JENNY THE LITTLE BROWN HEN 

JENNY AN CHEARC BHEAG DHONN  Dolores received a Grant from Foras na Gaeilge to translate this book into the IRISH LANGUAGE.

EARTH ANGELS ARE EVERYWHERE ARE YOU ONE?  

BEELICIOUS RECIPES WITH HONEY 

THE ADVENTURES OF JENNY, SYLVESTER AND THEIR SIX LITTLE CHICKS...

MEET THE FAIRIES IN MY BACKYARD..

JIGSAW with image from my book IF I WERE A BEE...

AUDIO/DVD BOOK of Jenny the little brown hen.....

Books suited for 5 - 8 year olds by Irish Authors:

Maeve Friel - 

Tiger Lily, a Heroine in the making!

Tiger Lily has had one of her big ideas - she' going to become a heroine and roam the world in search of adventure! There' just one problem - Tiger Lily lives in the middle of nowhere where nothing ever happens! How will she ever escape?

Joe O`Brien 

Alfie Green Books:

Alfie Green and the Bee-bottle Gang

Alfie is in big trouble. He stopped Whacker Walsh and his gang from trapping bees in the park and now they are out to get him. What can he do? The wise old plant in the magical book comes up with a plan that sends Alfie back to Arcania in search of the Queen Bee in Honeycomb Mountain. But first he has to survive an attack from the blazing bushes of Firethorn Valley! Alfie needs back-up & and he needs it NOW!

Alfie Green and the Chocolate Cosmos

Budsville's chocolate fair cancelled? No way, Alfie decides. The wise old plant tells him of the Roaring Rainforest in Arcania where he can collect chocolate seeds. But it won’t be easy. Alfie first has to brave the vicious Spider Plants and the Forest Ogre. And even if he escapes from them, the Chocolate Vine is waiting to catapult him through the gateway of the Chocolate Cosmos. Not even his crystal orchid will be able to save him then.

Alfie Green and the Magical Gift 

A rusty key opens a dusty box hidden in Alfie' grandad' shed. Inside is an old, old book -- with magical powers. The book promises Alfie a gift, but first he must take the crystal flower across Sleepy Meadows full of Snapping Dragons to the crooked tree that is guarded by Giant Hogweeds. If Alfie succeeds he will be able to do something he has never done before!

Alfie Green and the Monkey Puzzler

The circus has come to town. But it' no ordinary circus, it' Monty' Marvellous Monkey Circus and all the performers are monkeys! All the kids from Budsville are really excited, except for Alfie who suspects all is not what it seems ...

Gerry Boland

Marco Moves in

A grizzly bear walked all the way from the zoo to my front door and not a single person noticed him. I suppose it helped that it was night, and that he was wearing a big black duffle coat with an enormous hood that covered his hairy head. He knocked on the front door three times, loud knocks that shook the house. Patrick makes his unexpected guest at home, while keeping him hidden from the neighbours, police and his very distractable mum! An intriguing, engaging and rather remarkable tale.

Marco Moonwalker

After escaping from the zoo and coming to live with Patrick and his mum, Marco proves to have many talents. Now Patrick discovers that Marco is also a musical genius he can play the trombone, banjo and even moonwalk like Michael Jackson! Let’s start a band Patrick says, and Marco becomes a star. Then disaster strikes. He is spotted without his mask and taken back to the zoo. How will Patrick and Mum get him out again?

Marco, Master of Disguise

Nearly everyone in my class had a pet of some sort. Lots of them had dogs, and a fair few had cats, budgies and goldfish. Max Wallace had a hamster and Adam O’Hara had a tortoise which he claimed was sixty years old, though I’m pretty sure he was exaggerating. Sam Tripp had a small lizard and a pet rabbit, which was a strange combination. But no one I knew had a grizzly bear sleeping in their garden shed, or sat beside a grizzly bear most nights watching TV. Marco wasn’t a pet, of course. He was my friend. My best friend. Can Patrick stop his friend being sent back to the zoo? An absurd and hilarious tale of real friendship.

Eoin Colfer

The Legend of Spud Murphy

Will has four brothers and it' chaos in his house! If he' not being teased by his big brother Marty, he has to deal with the terrible, three-headed bundle of cuteness that is his three younger brothers. Even worse, his mother has the brilliant idea of packing Will and Marty off to the library during the holidays. She just doesnt understand! Not only is the library no fun, it' also the habitat of the legendary librarian Spud Murphy. If you put a foot wrong, it' rumoured she will use her dreaded gas-powered spud gun and you dont want that - just ask Ugly Frank how he got his nickname! Eventually Will and Marty discover a love of books and that Mrs Murphy isnt so bad after all!

The Legend of the Worst Boy in the World

Will is desperate to win the Giant Jelly Baby competition and be named the best boy in the world. But his big brother Marty always beats him to it. Then one day Will' wish comes true - he's the best boy in the world at last! Marty is not happy, and decides that something must be done . . .Funny, quirky fiction with brilliant black-and-white illustrations by Tony Ross throughout. Boys and girls aged 7+ will love this!