In a very exciting initiative, Walker Books have teamed up with Foras na Gaeilge to bring readers four of their best picture books created by some of Ireland’s foremost book makers, in Irish. Walker Books has always loved working with bright and brilliant Irish authors and illustrators, and Martin Waddell, Sam McBratney, Chris Haughton and Niamh Sharkey create children’s books with heart and words that leap off the page with warmth and humour. Walker Éireann is designed to be both a way to celebrate these great authors’ work, and to build the perfect Irish language library for little ones.
Conor Hackett told writing.ie, “I proposed the idea of an Irish Language imprint to Walker Books about two years ago. The principle was met with enthusiasm and once the business plan was completed along with considerable research into the market and a small grant from Foras na Gaeilge, the project was given the green light by Walker.
It was so important that the translations not only worked for this young age group but that the rhythm and overall quality of the writing was as good as the original English language editions. I chose Gabriel Rosenstock because he is a picturebook author and a poet and I believed that he could give these stories the delicate touch they required.
Stiúcaí Stiúgtha (The Ravenous Beast) shows Gabriel’s brilliance as he reimagines the orginal text and amazingly keeps to the original rhythm, often impossible with a rhyming story.
Deirdre McDermott, Head of Picturebook Department (originally from South County Dublin, and a graduate of NCAD), Maria Tunney (from Letterkenny) and I chose the titles for translation. We decided that we would work with picturebooks by Irish authors and illustrators and that there should be a mix of classics and newer titles. Owl Babies and Guess How Much I Love You are universally popular and The Ravenous Beast and A Bit Lost are what we would refer to as modern classics.
We have chosen four more titles for next year which will be On the Road with Mavis & Marge (Niamh Sharkey Irish Book Award winner) Tiny Little Fly (illustrated by Kevin Waldron), You’re All My Favourites (Sam McBratney) and Farmer Duck (Martin Waddell)
We hope that this will be a long term project but at present the intention is only to work with the Walker back catalogue so we are not looking for submissions.
Bookshops in Ireland have been really supportive of this project and have committed in many cases to maintaining a permanent children’s Irish Language section. That these books are already recognisable both at home and abroad gives them a commercial edge but I hope that their strength will also direct attention of the market to the wealth of Irish Language publishing from indigenous publishing houses.”
Gabriel Rosenstock told us, “One of the joys of working with Walker Éireann is this, and call me hopelessly naive and childish if you wish (qualities which may be of real assistance to the children’s book writer, illustrator or translator, of course): the books exude goodness! Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You and You’re All My Favourites (which will be in the next batch from Walker Éireann) glow with a natural warmth. I’m not surprised that Guess How Much I Love You has sold over 28 million copies. We live in a very cynical age, that’s why I must almost bite my lip when I say, ‘Of course! Love! What could be more important than love?’ So, combine McBratney’s text with the gorgeous illustrations by Anita Jeram and my undying love for a dying language – and you’ve got magic! (Dying, you ask? I was once a Revivalist. Today I’m a Survivalist.)
Walker Éireann is the new kid on the block but I hope that its success does not overshadow the wonderful picture books that have come and hopefully will continue to come from Cló Mhaigh Eo, An Gúm, An tSnáthaid Mhór, Futa Fata, CIC, Móinín, Coiscéim and others. I am convinced that there are Irish-language titles from these houses that could travel far. I’m sure this first batch of Walker Eireann titles as well as the next four will do very well indeed and that the Irish-language picture book scene gets a boost from Walker Éireann’s lively participation in the market.”
Walker Books UK is also delighted to announce a new relationship with award‐winning independent Irish children’s publisher Little Island. Walker Books will distribute for Little Island in the UK and global export territories beginning early in 2013.
This partnership extends and cements a strong commitment to Irish talent and the Irish market for Walker Books, and it is a way for a fantastic small publisher, Little Island, to widen its reach into all English language territories globally.
Alongside publishing Irish talent, Little Island’s list includes international fiction in translation, with titles published and forthcoming from Finland, Sweden, Germany, Austria and Brazil.
Further information can be found at www.walker.co.uk
(c) Vanessa O’Loughlin September 2012
