Tree Dogs, Banshee Fingers and Other Irish Words for Nature
| By: | Manchán Magan |
| Publisher: | Gill |
| Published: | October 2021 |
| Pages: | 96 |
| Categories: | Children |
| Language: | English |
| Available as: | Hardback |
| On sale at: |
A magical illustrated collection of Irish words for the natural world from the author of the bestseller, 32 Words for Field. 'In Irish there are so many great rain words and magic words and highly specific natural words (such as the material put on the hooves of donkeys to stop them slipping in ice), or words to communicate with animals, or evocative plant words, or the gorgeous words for different amounts of light in the sky, or words that hint at different ways of seeing colour, or twilight words ... Manchan Magan is fascinated by words, particularly Irish words, with all of their complex meanings and associations and their connections to the natural world. Having enjoyed huge success with his bestselling book Thirty-Two Words for Field, Manchan now brings his infectious wonder and enthusiasm for the Irish language to a younger audience, offering delightful translations and explanations of animal, bird, fish, insect and nature words. When you see the world through Irish, you see the world differently. Get ready to share the magic with this delightful book for readers of all ages. Manchan Magan is a writer and documentary-maker. He has written books on his travels in Africa, India and South America, and his book Thirty-two Words for Field was a runaway bestseller. He lives in an oak wood, with bees, hens and vegetables, in a slightly confused house with a grass roof, near Lough Lene, Co. Westmeath. Steve Doogan works in a wide variety of media and styles. He loves printmaking - etching, linocut and monoprints - and drawing. '
Other Books From this Category
-
5 Oct 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Level Up!
Ready to LEVEL UP your maze skills? Solve the mazes in this book from easy to challenging, speed through the mini mazes, then customise and create your own amazing mazes! With over 2000 maze tile and ...
-
21 Sep 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Please look after this Dragon
Encourage little one’s imagination with their own pet dragon! This brilliant board book encourages independent play, with a play piece that children can remove, carry and pop into the pages. Give yo...
-
21 Sep 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Busy Helpers
Filled with flaps to lift and things to spot, Busy Helpers is perfect for supporting your little one’s language acquisition. It includes essential words as well as challenging ones, and each page ...
-
21 Sep 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
My First Tablet Book
Little ones will love to push the sounds buttons, move the sliders and wave to themselves in the mirrors in this tablet-shaped novelty book! Learn with Katie Cat and Big Cat as they try new hobbies li...
-
21 Sep 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
100 First Things to Say
Little ones will love this charming first words book – with phrases to learn as well! Featuring beautiful, vintage-style illustrations and with sturdy flaps to lift, this book will help make learn...
-
21 Sep 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Please look after this Ghost
Little ones will love having their own pet ghost in! This perfect board book encourages independent play, with a play piece that children can remove, carry and pop into the pages. Give your ghost a na...
-
12 Sep 2026 - Lonely Planet Global Limited
Lonely Planet Kids A Kid's Guide to Spain
By Alexa Ward
-
12 Sep 2026 - Lonely Planet Global Limited
Lonely Planet Kids A Kid's Guide to France
By Paige Towler
-
7 Sep 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
K-Pop: Dragon Detectives
K-pop fans will love this dazzling colouring book, with pictures that tell a brilliantly fun K-pop themed story. They can follow K-pop band the Flames as they chase a mysterious dragon, all whilst bal...
-
17 Aug 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Gymnastics
A gentle introduction to gymnastics for little ones. Packed with facts and tips for new gymnasts and including flaps to lift and vibrant scenes illustrated by Carol Herring, this book will encourage l...
-
17 Aug 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
100 First Words
Babies and toddlers will love this vibrant, simple first words book, with touch-and-feel felt on every page. With gentle, colourful illustrations, and soft, light felt pages, this is the perfect gift ...
-
17 Aug 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Football
Introduce little ones to fun of the beautiful game in this brilliant first book about football! Packed with facts and tips for new footballers, and including flaps to lift and vibrant scenes illustrat...
-
17 Aug 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Baby Touch
Sharing books with babies helps to build their sense of happiness and security. This bright board book has been designed with the youngest babies in mind, and features touch-and-feel textures that the...
-
17 Aug 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Baby Sees
Sharing books with babies helps to build their sense of happiness and security. This bright board book has been designed with the youngest babies in mind, and features strong printed felt flaps that b...
-
12 Aug 2026 - Lonely Planet Global Limited
Lonely Planet Kids Atlas of Spooky Places
By Paige Towler
-
10 Aug 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Happy Town
Let your little one’s imagination run wild with this fold-out playmat book. Featuring a detailed busy town, with roads and paths for children’s favourite toys, it is perfect for small world play. ...
-
7 Aug 2026 - Little Island
The Grandfather Clock and Other Irish Folk Tales
Bursting with humour and adventure, and told in a lyrical voice, these colourful and entertaining stories are likely to be new even to children who are familiar with the classics of Irish mythology. T...
-
22 Jul 2026 - Townhouse Publishing Ltd
On the Farm
A bright and colourful felt playbook with five scenes and 40 felt pieces to play with and arrange… again and again! Little ones will love meeting all their favourite farm characters and arranging th...
-
6 Jul 2026 - O'Brien Press Ltd
It's Too Dark, Puffling
A baby puffling is afraid of his burrow. ‘The dark is too dark for me,’ he says. Can the other island animals help him to see the magic of nighttime?
-
1 Jul 2026 - JM Agency, Publishing Consultancy
Howl at Halloween: Áine goes to Kenmare
Other Books From this Author
-
11 Sep 2025 - Gill
Ninety-Nine Words for Rain (and One for Sun)
Meet the néaladóirí (cloud-watchers) and réadóirí (star-gazers) from our past who, without the luxury of Met Éireann at their disposal, observed birds, trees, animals, as well as markers on lan...
-
20 Nov 2024 - Mayo Books Press
Brehons and Brahmins
Ireland and India seem far apart, with apparently little in common in terms of culture, language, and tradition. Yet appearances can be deceiving: there are, in fact, remarkable similarities between t...
-
25 Oct 2024 - Gill
Irish Words for Nature
Manchán Magan is fascinated by words, particularly Irish words, and their connections to the natural world. Having enjoyed great success with the bestselling Tree Dogs, Banshee Fingers and Other Iris...
-
1 Jan 2024 - Mayo Books Press
Ireland in Iceland
In this richly illustrated journey, Manchán Magan traces the forgotten presence of the Irish in Iceland; monks and migrants, storytellers and shapeshifters who helped shape a land we’ve long imagin...
-
1 Dec 2023 - Mayo Books Press
Focail na mBan
Focail na mBan is a gathering of Irish words for vaginas, vulvas, clitorises and periods with illustrations from 29 artists. It is meant as a catalyst for those willing to seek out further terms a...
-
15 Sep 2023 - Gill
Wolf-Men and Water Hounds: The Myths, Monsters and Magic of Ireland
Uncover the secrets of our island in this engrossing look at magical landmarks across the country. Travelling province by province through Ireland, Manchán outlines the stories most closely associate...
-
30 Sep 2022 - Gill
Listen to the Land Speak: A journey into the wisdom of what lies beneath us
Our ancestors developed a uniquely nature-focused society, centred on esteemed poets, seers, monks, healers and wise women who were deeply connected to the land. They used this connection to the cycle...
-
28 Aug 2020 - Gill
Thirty-Two Words for Field: Lost Words of the Irish Landscape
A lyrical reminder of Ireland's lost words that offer a different way of seeing the world. The Irish language has thirty-two words for field. Among them are: Geamhar - a field of corn-grass ...
-
9 Apr 2007 - Brandon / Mount Eagle Publications Ltd
'Manchan's Travels: A Journey Through India'
This entertaining, offbeat travelogue by an Irish tv documentary maker is a true story of deluded maharajahs, murderous environmentalists, sex-obsessed yogis, and bizarre high-society belles. It stret...
-
5 Apr 2006 - Brandon / Mount Eagle Publications Ltd
'Angels and Rabies'
Angels and Rabies follows the experiences of Mocha/Manchan on a journey through the Americas from a primal screaming commune in the Colombian Andes to contracting rabies in the Peruvian rainforest and...
