In his introduction to The Uses of Enchantment, Bruno Bettelheim speaks of the importance of quality in children's literature. "The acquisition of skills, including the ability to read, becomes devalued when what one has learned to read adds nothing of importance to one's life." The following have been chosen from a host of newly published books for readers between the ages of four to nine. Each offers something of value to children along with the pleasure of reading alone.
Martin Waddell always has wonderful things to say to children and they are always said with wisdom, compassion and impeccable prose. Indeed, he stands out from most Irish authors for this age-group by the excellence of his writing. In The Owl and Billy Stories (Waker Books, £7.99 in UK), we first meet Billy as a pre-schooler dependent on Mum and a pillow-case owl. As Billy and the seven short stories progress, he moves out into the world of school and new friends. As only the best do, Waddell tells tales with morals but doesn't preach. Priscilla Lamont's charming pencil illustrations ease the reader's transition from picture book to fiction.
Granny's Teeth (O'Brien Press, £3.99), by Brianog Brady Dawson, would not have been my first choice, but it won a ten out of ten from my child reader. "And the ending makes you want more," she insisted. Like Dennis the Menace, Danny is an incorrigible brat who steals his grandmother's false teeth and brings them to school. The illustrations by Michael Connor are as frantic and funny as Danny's antics. No doubt psychologists would explain the need for children to release their aggressions and express their shadow side through the archetypal "bold boy", but it's just too like a comic book for me.
Sinead the Dancer (O'Brien Press, £3.99) was another favourite with my child reader, the second book about a little girl who is shaping up to be an Irish Pippi Longstocking. This is the exuberant tale of Sinead's desire to "express herself" through movement. Sinead literally jumps from Irish Dancing to ballet and finally gymnastics. The play with print-type is annoying and unnecessary as the words aptly convey both motion and emotion. The light and elegant line drawings by Susan Cooper are perfect for the story.
The writing in The Book- worm Who Turned Over a New Leaf (Poolbeg, £3.99), by Don Conroy, is careless in both syntax and narrative structure, while the grand finale is just plain silly. Nonetheless, a likeable hero and enjoyable story carry the day. Thrown out of his library home, Clive the bookworm is thrust into a series of adventures including a table quiz and employment with a gangster. The length of the book will challenge new readers but there is plenty of excitement to keep them going as well as Conroy's special brand of humour. Jokes are peppered throughout, for both parent and child, plus interesting trivia and general know ledge.
Another book by Don Conroy, What the Owl Says (Poolbeg, £3.99), is better written than the previous one. The multi-talented Conroy is also a wildlife expert and here he introduces several creatures through the eyes of a baby owl: robin, red squirrel, fox, red admiral butterfly and cross spider. And, as always, his gift for humour shines through. Though his illustrations could do with more variety, they offer the bonus of being suitable for colouring.
G.V. Whelan is an Irish-Canadian novelist, screenwriter and critic; her young adult novels are published under the name of "Orla Melling"