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(suggested) reading age: 6+ (suggested) interest age: 5-11 Theme: #Disney #animals #fiction The topic of original books vs adaptations comes up from time to time, with some being very critical of adaptations because they feel they are being published at the expense of original books. Not all adaptations are equal either; whilst some are decent, the language in some of them doesn't always flow naturally. But whatever you think of them, the truth is, like everything in life, you need balance. We  need both types of books, and adaptations play an important role in a minority language context, bolstering our supply of available books on a range of topics. One would hope that people unfamiliar with original Welsh books would start off by reading familiar adaptations, and that would open the door to more home-grown Welsh books. There’s no brand more familiar around the world than Disney, and it's important that our children can read about their favourite well-known characters through the medium of Welsh. Working in the library, I came across this series by accident whilst sorting the shelves in the kids area. I had a quick flick through, liked the look of it, and took it home to have a proper look at it. These books are well suited for young children who are just starting to read independently. I’d say anything up from 6-9 years old, depending on the individual. For younger readers, there’s quite a bit of text, but it is set in a clear font on white background, mostly. I will admit I'm a bit of a nerd about fonts, and annoying ones get under my skin ( comic sans anyone?).  I have no idea what this font is called, but I think it's amongst the best for young readers, because it's so clear and legible. The translator, Mared Llwyd, is an experienced teacher working in Welsh language support. The language has been thoroughly looked at and revised so it’s very suitable for the target audience. Apparently, they’ve followed the criteria set out in the National Literacy Framework when considering the challenge level of the text. If you scan the QR code  on the back of the book, you'll get several free worksheets, which are very handy for passing the time on a rainy Sunday afternoon. These include some comprehension questions. One thing I wasn’t keen on was fact that they translated the name of the baddie lion from the film, Scar, into ‘Craith’. I know it’s technically correct, but for me it just ruined it somehow. Maybe I’m too familiar with the characters already because I grew up in the 90s Disney era. Anyway, I’m sure that saying Scar would have worked just fine in Cymraeg– you could just say it with a strong Welsh accent!   There are several other titles in the Disney Agor y Drws series, and all the date stamps on the front of this library copy show me that this one’s popular with borrowers. After reading about the Y Llew Frenin, I'll have to rewatch the film now- the tunes were so catchy weren’t they? OTHERS IN THE SERIES How cool is it that we're able to read about all these well-known characters in our own language? Released: Jan 2023 Publisher: Rily Price: £4.99 Series: Disney Agor y Drws Format: Hardback

♥︎Rhestr Fer Tir na n-Og 2024 Shortlisted♥︎ (suggested) reading age: 6+ (suggested) interest age: 5+ Themes: #seaside #countryside #nature #rhyme Illustrations: Naomi Bennet https://www.instagram.com/naomibennetillustration/?ref=srmma1jpt_miv At the end of a three-year stint on the Tir na n-Og Judges panel, it's an interesting year for me, because I've been able to sit back ‘on the outside’ and enjoy trying to guess who was going to make it onto the shortlist, and who would scoop the top prize. (I didn't guess very well by the way!) It didn't surprise me at all when I heard that Y Gragen  had been shortlisted. One only has to look at it to see it’s an incredibly beautiful book. And while I'm disappointed it didn't come out on top in the primary category, it's still a book worth buying or borrowing. The book is basically a poem by Casia Wiliam, and was part of an excellent competition in the Urdd Eisteddfod, where entrants are asked to create original artwork to accompany words. The winner of the competition was Naomi Bennet, who has made quite an impression with her first work —not everyone is a TNNO finalist, after all. I really hope to see more of her work in original children's books. Here's a press release  for the competition: https://llyfrau.cymru/en/y-gragen-launched-at-the-urdd-eisteddfod-carmarthenshire/ The competition aims to discover new talent in the world of book illustration, and the end result is a good example of words and pictures coming together to create a beautiful thing. Don’t get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with modern computer animated illustration, but for me, there's nothing that can beat traditional artwork using real watercolour paint. I love how the colours blend into each other. Just look at this spread, even the pesky gulls that annoy us so much look absolutely majestic. Many times over the years, visitors have said to me, "oh you're so lucky to live where you do" or "it's so beautiful, wish we lived here." And whilst their words can sound a bit cliché, I genuinely do think we tend to take things for granted sometimes. It's easy to complain and forget how lucky we are here in Wales. Basically, the story follows a family who come from the city to visit the seaside, so not too dissimilar to us here in Llandudno, which welcomes a number of tourists from across the border and beyond. The wonder and excitement the boy felt was palpable, as he experienced things for the first time. Just feeling sand under his feet and hearing the crashing waves made such an impression on him. These memories will be with him for a long time, even when he returns to his high rise flat in the big city. I've just been in London myself, seeing my sister, and although walking through the hustel and bustle of Camden town was an experience in itself, there was no better feeling than stepping off the train back in Conwy to a backdrop of sea and mountains. If nothing else, Y Gragen makes one realise what a privilege it is to live where we do, and I'm very grateful for that. I’m likely to use this book as a resource in school, (foundation and CC2 especially) and the QR code with a link to the resources is handy for teachers. Publisher: Barddas Released: Mai 2023 Price: £7.99 Format: Hardback

(awgrym) oed diddordeb: 7-11 (awgrym) oed darllen: 7+ *gyda chymorth Lluniau: Gwen Millward It's not often that a series  makes such an impression as Sw Sara Mai. The first book came out at a time when it was felt that there was a gap in terms of books for 7-11 year olds (tbh we could still do with more!) I remember being on the Tir na n-Og judging panel at the time, and everyone agreed how good the first one was. Many schools now use the series as their class novel, as it’s very suitable for years 3-4, (and years 5 -6) with lots of cross-curricular work that stems from it.  At it’s heart though, this is a book to be enjoyed, not studied. In the world of movies, sequels can end up being a bit of a flop compared to the originals, but in Sara Mai's case, the standard increases with each publication. When the second instalment (Lleidr y Neidr) was launched, it became one of my favourite books of that year, throwing a detective novel element into the pot. With Sara back for her third adventure, which turns the series into a trilogy, we get a different setting from the zoo - an adventure into the countryside - something that will be familiar to many Welsh children. And for those more urban readers, what a great opportunity to learn more about farm life. After hearing that some of the older children are allowed to go to Disneyland Paris for their end of term trip, some of the younger children are disappointed to hear that year 5 is going to a local farm, Tyddyn Gwyn, instead. As an animal lover of all kinds, Sara Mai is really looking forward to learn different animals to the zoo’s usual exotic kind. She may be familiar with every nook and cranny of the zoo, but she’s never been on a farm before. As we know, Sara much prefers animals to people, and a farm should have plenty of those - sounds like a perfect trip! One of the reasons the series has been so popular is because the author, Casia Wiliam, has ‘tuned in’ to the world of children this age. As a parent, and through her work as the Welsh Children's Poet, I’m sure she’s chatted to enough children across the country to get a pretty good idea of what's appeals these days. It all reads so naturally, (mostly Northern dialect) and it never sounds like an adult trying to be 'cool' when writing for kids (as can sometimes happen). She talks about life issues that matter to children so they can relate to the situations and experiences. As an older reader, I was also transported back to my time at school, taking similar trips to Glan Llyn, staying up all night feasting on Haribos and telling ghost stories about the black nun! Residential trips, which are like a rite of passage for kids, are on one hand full of fun, freedom, excitement, bunk beds and midnight feasts, but on the other hand, there's a longing for home, nervousness at meeting new people, and that sinking feeling of being put in groups with people you don’t know! These things might be 'nothing' to adults, but these  are serious things  when you're a kid. Find out how Sara Mai copes with staying overnight without mum and dad for the first time… I like the character of Sara Mai for many reasons. She's very different from the usual, with a rather mature head on her shoulders. She'd much rather be clearing the elephants pen (yup, even the poo) than spending hours in front of a screen. As she wants  to be a zoo keeper in the future, she's full of facts of all kinds about countless creatures. Oh yeah, and she loves reading too which is always a good thing! But another reason I like the character, is because she's so believable and genuine. She's by no means perfect herself (who is eh?). Sometimes she can be a bit dismissive of things that aren’t animal-related, and as we find out, she doesn't always listen to advice herself (you’ll know what I mean when you get to the bit with the tree!) It's interesting to see her grow as a person over the course of the novels, and she learns a few lessons of her own, like figuring out who your real friends are. The novel has a bit of everything, fun characters, humour, and parts that will bring a tear to your eyes, oh, and of course... plenty of animals! I'm already looking forward to the next adventure , as Sara Mai moves up to year 6! Gwasg: Y Lolfa Cyhoeddwyd: 2023 Cyfres: Sw Sara Mai Pris: £5.99

♥Llyfr y Mis i Blant: Awst 2023♥ (suggested) reading age: 7+ (suggested) interesr age: 5-11 Genre: #magic #fiction #Wales #Africa Illustrations: Jac Jones We all know what happens in the three little pigs, and you’ll of course be familiar with Jack and the Beanstalk. These are well-known stories that originated in England, but have since been incorporated into our own culture. Of course, Wales has plenty of it’s own stories and legends - Cantre'r Gwaelod, Stori Gelert, Dreigiau Dinas Emrys, Stori Branwen to name but a few! For me, Wales has always been associated with the land of song, legends and magic. But I can think of one folk tale you won’t have heard before – Y Bysgodes (The Fish Princess). This is quite different to your average run-of-the-mill story – you’ll hear about the greedy fisherman, a beautiful princess, an old witch and a sneaky snake. The story is the product of an innovative project, between Wales and the North Wales African Society, as part of the BLAS project, ran by Pontio Bangor culture centre.  The project aims to strengthen links between Wales and Africa, as well as helping to bring communities together. I love seeing books that have an international dimension like this, because it brings together the the storytelling traditions of Wales and Africa to create something special. The resulting story is something of a fusion of Welsh and African traditions, to create a legend with different yet familiar elements. Who’s the author of this book? Well, according to Casia Wiliam, she's not the author, she was just the one to bring all the strands together. The ideas all came from the young people who were involved in the project. The book was designed by a God amongst children’s illustrators in Wales, Jac Jones, and his paintings bring the magic of the story to life, in his unique, recognizable way! Be sure to check out the colourful tapestry within the covers displaying the artwork of everyone involved. The book takes it’s inspiration from old Ghanian, Nigerian and Welsh stories to create something completely new. There's quite a bit of text in the story, so it would probably be too difficult for early/young readers, but it’s perfect for enjoying with a parent at bedtime. All the better if the book works as a springboard to inspire others to go on to create new, unique stories. It's about time we had some new ones to tell, adding to our vast collection, that reflect today's modern, multicultural Wales. Sometimes, the story jumps from one place to another in a bit of a whirlwind, and is a mishmash of different elements and ideas. Because of this, at times, the book feels like one that's been written by committee – and that's pretty much true. It was co-written by a lot of people contributing all their amazing, magical, whimsical ideas, so it’s no surprise the book feels busy. My advice is just go with it! Hopefully we’ll see more international projects like this, that bring communities from around the world together, but more importantly – to simply tell a good story. Here's the press statement about the project: https://llyfrau.cymru/llwyddiant-wrth-gyhoeddi-llyfr-o-straeon-teuluol/ More information about Pontio Arts Centre: https://pontio.co.uk/Online/default.asp BLAS project Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PontioBLAS BOOK ALSO AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH: Publisher: Y Lolfa Released: 2023 Price: £5.99

(asuggested) interest age: 14+ (suggested) reading age: 13+ Genre: #fiction #shortstory #scary #horror #folk Finding time to read has been challenging lately. With an 8-month-old baby in a house, sleep and spare time are very rare things indeed. Where we used to binge watch tv series in a matter of days, it now takes a hell of a lot longer. It took us over a month to watch the latest season of Happy Valley! How life has changed! Anyway, I’m not complaining. But the reality is, reading lengthy novels is now a thing of the past. I just don't have the stamina. So thank god for the Stori Sydyn (Quick Reads) series. I've read titles from the series before, such as Herio i'r Eithaf by Huw Jack Brassington, and Un Noson by Llio Maddocks, but I think I've forgotten about the series somewhere along the way. Now that I work part time in a library, it's the perfect place to discover new books -that's where I saw this one staring at me with the haunting cover image from the display unit next to the desk. When I saw the cover – 'my kinda book' is what I immediately thought. I wasn't wrong either. Bethan Briggs-Miller has created an excellent cover, and if I ever wrote a horror story, I'd get her to do the artwork. I've enjoyed Elidir Jones' recent horror stories, so keep them coming as far as I’m concerned – the darker the better. It’s great (and terrifying at the same time) that he’s shining a light on some of Wales’ lesser-known folk ghost stories. I've had a telling off about giving too many spoilers, so there won't be anything like that here. What I can say is, that 4 uni friends, Dan, Emyr, Alun and Celt, are having a bit of a reunion, but instead of going to the pub or hitting a strip club, they decide to go camping in the middle of nowhere – the Darran Valley. I think the aim was get the tent set up quickly, light a fire and crack open a few beers, sitting round reminiscing until they drink themselves to sleep. Sounds like a plan! That’d be far too simple though, wouldn’t it? As the blurb suggests, someone – or rather, someTHING – has followed them into the mountains. They all went up as friends, but they may not return that way. One of them has something to hide. LLYGAD AM LYGAD. DANT AM DDANT. BYWYD AM FYWYD. The Stori Sydyn series is ideal for those, like me, who are too tired or lazy to read, or short on time. You're straight into the story, and there's not too much descriptive and emotional fluff. You also get that smug buzz from being able to finish a novel for a change, (then write a little blog about it if I’m lucky!) Oh yeah, and the book cost £1. What's not to like? I've watched quite a few horror movies in my time, and enjoy reading short horror stories. I didn't expect that the book would scare me if I’m being honest. I decided to add to the scary vibes by reading the novel in dim light late at night (the only time I get some peace and quiet!) There were some pretty creepy parts to be fair, and all of a sudden, every little noise in the house sounded much louder... It's been about ten years since I left college, and with everyone scattered all over the place we don’t get the chance to meet much. But if I get a whatsapp message coming through asking about a reunion, I think I'll have to swerve that one! I’m… erm… busy that day! Publisher: Y Lolfa Series: Stori Sydyn Format: paperback Released: 2023 Price: £1 (a bargain btw)

♥ Llyfr y Mis i Blant: Mai 2022 ♥ (awgrym) oed darllen: (awgrym) oed diddordeb: Genre: #chwedlau #ffuglen #Cymru #straeonbyrion Disgrifiad Gwales: Mwynhewch dreftadaeth gyfoethog Cymru o chwedlau a straeon tylwyth teg, wedi'u hail-adrodd ar gyfer darllenwyr ifanc. O ddreigiau hudolus Cymru sy'n dinistrio castell nos ar ôl nos, i dywysoges wedi'i gwneud allan o flodau a thrafferthion plentyn cyfnewid; o ffyddlondeb y ci hela Gelert, i fachgen sy'n holi cwestiynau ac yn tyfu i fod y bardd Cymreig mwyaf adnabyddus erioed.. Adolygiad Gwales gan Sioned Lleinau translation available 26/4/24 Mae pawb yn gyfarwydd â’r syniad o Gymru fel gwlad y gân, ond dyma gyfrol hyfryd a hylaw sy’n dangos hefyd, fel y dywed yr awdur ei hun, mai Cymru yw gwlad y chwedlau a bod rheini i’w gweld a’u teimlo o’n cwmpas ym mhob man. Er bod diwyg ac edrychiad nofel i Chwedlau Cymru a’i Straeon Hud a Lledrith, addasiad y ddewines geiriau, Siân Lewis, o waith Claire Fayers sydd yma. Mae'r gyfrol yn gasgliad cynhwysfawr o bedair chwedl ar bymtheg o straeon o bob cwr o chornel o Gymru a’r Byd Arall. O’r cyfarwydd, megis chwedlau Blodeuwedd, Pwyll a Rhiannon a Gelert i’r mwy anghyfarwydd, yn cynnwys straeon 'Y Bachgen a Ofynnai Gwestiynau', 'Pwca yn y Pwll Copr' a 'Fy Mrawd, y Tylwythyn Teg', mae yna wir gyfoeth o fewn cloriau’r gyfrol hon. Cawn ein hatgoffa o helyntion Gwrtheyrn a pham mai draig sydd ar faner Cymru, hanes Cantre’r Gwaelod, ymweliad y diafol ag ardal Pontarfynach a’n cyflwyno i’r dewin Myrddin a’r bardd enwog Taliesin, heb sôn am anturiaethau’r o fyd y Mabinogi a’r tylwyth teg drygionus a digon creulon ar adegau. Oes, mae yna rywbeth i bawb. Ond yr hyn sy’n dod â hud a lledrith ychwanegol i’r gyfrol hon yw’r modd dychmygus y mae’r straeon yn cael eu hadrodd. Mae’r dawn dweud a’r diniweidrwydd yn amlwg. Dyna i chi’r cyfeiriad at Morgan Methu-canu yn y stori 'Telyn y Tywyth Teg' oedd yn ysu am gyrraedd y brig mewn ym mhopeth, yn cynnwys canu, er mor anobeithiol yr oedd e am wneud hynny: ‘Fel y gwyddom ni, Cymru yw Gwlad y Gân. Mae’n enwog am ei miwsig ac mae Cymro sy’n methu canu fe morfil sy’n methu nofio.’ Mae’r ysgrifennu’n agos atoch iawn ac yn llifo’n rhwydd ac yn naturiol, gan eich tynnu i mewn i fyd bob stori a’ch gafael yn dynn. Cewch eich arwain i mewn i bob stori gan gyflwyniad bach i’r hyn sydd i ddilyn, gan ei gwneud hi’n hawdd i ddewis a dethol pa stori i’w darllen nesaf. Cyfrol i blant yw hon, wrth gwrs, ond does dim amheuaeth y bydd bob un o’r straeon o fewn ei chloriau’n apelio at ddarllenwyr o bob oed ac yn cynnig ysgogiad pellach i ddychwelyd at rai o’r testunau gwreiddiol. Mae’n siŵr hefyd fod yna straeon hud a lledrith tebyg i’w cael yn eich ardal chi, a dyma un o’r cyfrolau hynny a allai fod yn allwedd i gynnau eich awydd i chwilio am rai o’r rheini unwaith eto. Heb os, dyma gyfrol sy’n werth bob ceiniog ac yn anodd iawn ei rhoi i lawr. Mynnwch eich copi chi nawr. Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. Adolygiad Sôn am Lyfra Dwi wrth fy modd gyda'r gyfrol yma. Roedd ambell un o'r straeon yn gyfarwydd, ond roedd eraill yn gwbl newydd i mi. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen i rannu'r drysorfa yma o straeon gyda plant Cymru yn y dyfodol. Mi fydd copi yn fy mag ar gyfer gwaith llanw. Mae'r straeon byrion yn berffaith ar gyfer amser pen i lawr a stori ar ddiwedd y dydd! Mae'r cyflwyniad byr o flaen pob stori yn hynod o ddifyr - pwy fasa'n meddwl fod yr awdur (wel, gŵr yr awdur) wedi dod o hyd iddi ar wal gwesty! Cyhoeddwr: Rily Cyhoeddwyd: Ebrill 2022 Pris: £5.99

(suggested) reading age: 6+ (suggested) interest age: 3+ (suggested) age by publisher: 4-8 Genre: #rhyme #health #wellbeing #illness #cancer Illustrations: Caroline Eames-Hughes https://www.simonebaldwin.co.uk/illustrations.html Note: A paperback picture book to support telling young children that a parent has a tumour or has cancer. The poem is aimed at children aged approximately 4–8 years and can be read together as a supportive way to open discussions, with beautiful illustrations to help children understand. The book includes a description for adults of the author’s own experiences of a brain tumour diagnosis and treatment and how she told her family. They say that 1 out of every 2 people will get cancer at some point. Surely, then, you know someone, or have heard of someone who has been affected by the disease. I don't speak from experience, but I can imagine that receiving the news that they’ve 'found a lump' is one of those events that can turn someone's life upside down – almost like a film, where everything fades away and time goes in slow motion. It’s hard to imagine how that would feel without going through the experience yourself. I’ve got two close friends who’ve been affected by brain tumours and I see how it can affect the whole family not just the individual. The issue has just received a lot of attention in the news, when we heard about a 3 year old girl from Wales, who is learning to live with her brain tumour: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxrz113k3yro This is certainly not an easy topic to discuss. Adults have enough trouble talking openly about such sensitive and private things, let alone trying to start the conversation with a young child. With this in mind, I think a book can usually be a good starting point. As we know, books can be very powerful and moving, - a good way to find the right words when they don't come naturally. I'm not for a second saying that giving a book to a child and then sending them off is enough.  Of course it isn’t.  But books are particularly good at being a platform for starting a conversation, especially when the conversation has to be a tough one. According to the author from Llandudno Junction, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour, few resources exist to help try to explain things like this to a young child, or at the very least, finding them can be difficult. That was one of the main reasons for creating the book. One can assume there are even fewer things like this available in Welsh, so I'm pleased to see the book fills some of that gap. Read about her story here on The Brain Tumour Charity website: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/news/charity-news/mummy-has-a-lump-book/ The story takes the form of a poem, decorated with simple, minimalist illustrations. The look and feel of the book is quite simple – just a little bit of text set against a mostly plain, white background. To me, this is much more suitable than having loads of colours and pictures, given the subject matter. The book is relatively short and doesn't have the information overload you sometimes get, so this is a very suitable book to share with very young children without scaring them. The story itself is short, and gives plenty of scope for any co-reading adult to expand on it should any questions arise. Being that it’s quite vague, the ‘lump’ could refer to several different types of cancer, not just those of the brain. If further questions do come up, which I think they inevitably will, then I think this is a good thing – the book will have achieved it’s core purpose of facilitating a discussion. This is the kind of conversation no one wants to have to have with their children, but if that day comes, it's nice to know that there are simple, lovely and caring resources like this to support in those hard times. Thank you so much Simone for bringing this book into the world. It will help be a big help to many I'm sure. Publisher: Three Bs Publishing Released: 2022 Price: £6.99 Fformat: paperback A Welsh language article about the book: https://newyddion.s4c.cymru/article/14805 ENGLISH VERSION ALSO AVAILABLE: BOOK ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DADS (ENGLISH ONLY AT PRESENT):

♥ Book of the month: November 2023♥ (suggested) interest age: 7-11 (suggested) reading age: 7+ Gwales description: Read about Betty Campbell's valuable contribution to our culture as Wales's first black headteacher. Another book in the popular 'Enwogion o Fri' series. Gwales Review - by Delyth Roberts This is a new volume in the critically acclaimed ‘Enwogion o Fri’ series. Betty: Bywyd Penderfynol Betty Campbell was written by Nia Morais, the current Bardd Plant Cymru, and illustrated by Anastasia Magloire. What we get is the life story of Wales' first black headmistress, and her ambition and struggle to overcome prejudice and resistance because of the colour of her skin. Betty Campbell grew to be a strong symbol of an inspiring and selfless individual in pursuit of her goal. Anastasia Magloire is an artist who lives and works in Florida. There is a good marriage between word and image, and the names of other heroes are noted in their chosen fields on the pages celebrating the establishment of October as Black History month. The naming of King Charles and Nelson Mandela on the preceding pages is probably deliberately omitted. The writing is simple and effective, and as Children's Poet of Wales Nia Morais herself wants to encourage children to build their independence and their identity while developing their own personal and powerful voices like Betty Campbell did before them. A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Books Council of Wales. Quick review by Sôn am Lyfra As you know, we're big fans of this series in Sôn am Lyfra, and I think the books are very popular all over Wales, whether it's the Welsh or English versions. I've seen them in homes and in our schools. They are excellent and useful educational resources, particularly in the context of the New Curriculum for Wales. Betty's' life has been an amazing one. I'm so pleased that there's proper recognition of it here in Wales – in the form of a statue – and now in this book as well! The recently unveiled statue of her in Cardiff is reportedly the first one of a real, non-fictional female in a public place in Wales. That is hugely significant. (But also outrageous to some extent that there aren’t more of them!) The cartoon/comic style of the book is modern, colourful and striking. It stands out, perhaps more than any of the other books in the series. Betty was a very remarkable individual, and so it's very fitting that the look and feel of the book reflects that. I remember hearing about Rosa Parks' story when I was in primary school, but I think we need to tell our children about our very own Welsh inspirational figure, Betty Campbell, who was determined not to let anything stop her from succeeding. Not even her own nasty teachers, who told her she’d never achieve her dreams! Her story sends a powerful message I feel. This book is well suited for a morning assembly at school or it could be useful when undertaking work exploring the history of Black people in Wales. And whilst it’s a very useful educational resource, but it would also make a nice gift for a child between the ages of 7-9+. This series is going from strength to strength. I’m looking forward to seeing who will be under the spotlight in future books. *There is also an English version of this book. Publisher: Broga Released: 2023 Series: Enwogion o Fri Format: paperback Price: £5.99 MORE ABOUT BETTY: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58721710

(suggested) reading age: 5+ (suggested) interest age: 0-5 QUICK REVIEW BY LLIO MAI ‘Diwrnod Prysur!’ is a simple picture/word book that reflects a child's busy day. We are introduced to 21 different verbs such as eating, climbing, dancing and laughing. The words are accompanied by one of Huw Aaron's vibrant and colourful doodles. This is a good book to read with a young child/toddler/baby who is starting to learn new vocabulary and I think its an useful book for showing and practicing the daily routine/structure of the day for a child too. As Huw Aaron says 'doing’ and ‘words’ come together for children and they’ll enjoy imitating some of the actions as they read the book. You could play a little game to learn the different actions. Simon Says perhaps… At the back of the book is a translation of the words/sentences with phonetic spellings to help anyone learning Welsh who want to practice some of the words.  This is a great idea and should be included in more books. ‘Diwrnod Prysur!' is a great book to read before bedtime, to learn new vocabulary, but could be one to use during the day in an energetic session exploring actions and movements. It could play a part in helping children make sense of order of the day. This book has no narrative or 'story' in the traditional sense, but that's not what it's trying to be.   Mae ‘Diwrnod Prysur!’ yn lyfr llun a gair syml sy’n adlewyrchu diwrnod prysur plentyn. Cawn ein cyflwyno i 21 o wahanol ferfenwau fel bwyta, dringo, dawnsio a chwerthin. Ynghyd â’r geiriau ceir un o ddarluniau bywiog a lliwgar Huw Aaron o blentyn bach yn gwneud y weithred. Publisher: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch Publication date: Sept. 2023 Format: paperback Price: £6.95

♥Welsh BOM, August 2023♥ (suggested) reading age: 9-13 (suggested) interest age: 8+ Tags: #fiction #Victorian #history #adventure Gwales Description: Twm is a thief, a cheat and a bully. But something is missing in his life and he doesn't know why. One dark night, when Twm is out thieving, he comes face to face with his fate ... and discovers a shocking truth that changes his life for ever. I'm familiar with the author's previous work from my time on the Tir na n-Og panel, where Sioned Wyn Roberts came out on top with a great debut novel, Gwag y Nos. That book was so good, her second novel was going to get a read by default! I've included a screenshot of the first page of Gwag t Nos to show how effective the writing was from the get go. The author starts the second novel with something similar as well. To make it clear, Wyneb yn Wyneb (face to face) isn’t a sequel, but it does exist in the same universe as Gwag y Nos, so a few characters or locations will be familiar. Wyneb yn Wyneb starts in the same place, in the workhouse of Gwag y Nos ­– hell on earth if you recall, where the awful Nyrs Jenat and the cruel Robat Wyllt reign over the unfortunate children. Whilst Jenat was the antagonist last time round, this time it’s Robat Wyllt who’s causing problems as he rules through intimidation and violence. The novel begins with the main character, Twm, explaining how he’s become Robat’s little lapdog. He’s been in his head, and over time, has turned him into a loyal little stooge. Being Robat’s little minion has afforded him some protection and status, but the price has been a heavy one to pay. Twm has turned into a bully himself. He hasn’t a friend in the world, and more than anything he hates himself for it. Whilst we come to learn that Twm, over time and due to Robat’s influence, has turned into someone rather unpleasant, my feeling is that this backstory is somewhat rushed. I would have found this more authentic had we seen a bit more of this and how he interacted with some of the others. After being sent by his ‘boss’ to a local mansion to steal precious jewels, Twm's life is forever changed as he comes up close and personal with a familiar (yet unfamiliar) face. I'll say no more. Having just learned that there’s more going on than meets the eye, and that his life has been one big lie, Twm & co decide to escape and go on the run. Not sure how believable that is considering how quickly it all happened? Anyway, roll with it, because their daring escape lays the basis for a perilous adventure that takes them far from Pwllheli, all the way to docks of Liverpool. Out of the frying pan... Remember, you don't need to read the other book to enjoy Wyneb yn Wyneb, as it effectively works on its own. I'm being honest I didn't enjoy this novel quite as much as the last one; it just didn’t make the same impact on me. However, it was good to return to Gwag y Nos once again. I was strongly reminded of the English classic, Street Child by Berlie Doherty, while reading the book. I'm sure the main character ran away in there too. Sioned’s writing style is unique – easy to read, colloquial and natural, making use of short, punchy sentences. (we don’t need overly long sentences do we? Just get to the point innit!) The language can be quite blunt/hard-hitting at times, which works well. With one Tir na n-Og Award under her belt, Sioned Roberts has proved herself to be adept at writing an adventure story. Is there more to say in the Gwag y Nos world I wonder? Could this be a trilogy?  I wouldn’t be surprised that Robat Wyllt will be looking for his revenge after the events of this novel… Publisher: Atebol Released: 2023 Price: £7.99 Format: paperback

(suggested) reading age: 5+ (suggested) interest age: 0-5 Gwales description: Play hide-and-SNOW-seek with this magic searchlight book where hidden Christmas characters are revealed on the 'clever window' on each right-hand page! There are five festive scenes to 'go-seek' and find the hidden Christmas characters. Just insert the included magic card 'searchlight' between the page under each clever window and be amazed as the hidden pictures are revealed. One of the most interesting things that I did in 2023 was getting a job in a library. It's such a fun place to work, and it's really handy for finding out about new books. One such example is Ble mae Santa/ Where’s Santa? I only found out about this because a girl brought it to the counter to scan because she wanted to borrow it. I thought it was rather cool and a novel idea (if you pardon the pun!) Here's a few bullet points about it: It's bilingual - so great if you're learning Welsh and want to support your child's reading. If you already speak Welsh, well then you get two stories for the price of one! The style is colourful and modern. I really like the animation/caroon style. The book includes a torch that you can use to search for special items or characters. This makes the reading way more fun than usual. I'd imagine this book would go down well especially with children who normally don't care to sit down for a story. Just slide the torch in between the pages in the 'special window' to get it to work. Such a simple but effective idea. The torch makes the book interactive and gives the young reader something to actually do. Watch the video clip below to see how it works: Publisher: Rily Released: 2022 Price: £6.99 Format: hardback/boardbook

(suggested) interest age: 3+ (suggested) reading age: 7+ Illustrations: Valériane Leblond https://www.valeriane-leblond.eu/home.html Every year several Christmas books pop up, but this is the one that drew my attention this year, and it's one of those you can keep going back to again and again, year after year. It's certainly a keeper. Isn’t this such a beautiful book? It’s very much worthy of a hardback. The partnership between Caryl Lewis (author) and Valériane Leblond (illustrator) has been very successful in the past, giving us gems such as Sgleinio'r Lleuad a Merch y Mêl. One can instantly recognize Valériane's style, and pairing her pictures with Caryl's words works very well. I like the contrast between the coldness of the night and the warmth of the houses. The white Christmas on the cover conjures an image of a traditional, old-fashioned Christmas – like how one imagines what Christmas used to be like. In fact, I'm still hoping that we'll get a white Christmas one day, but I’ve been doing this since 2010! Mari and her Mum are busy baking mince pies on Christmas Eve, and as the little girl stares through the window, she notices the strange little cottage next door, with its higgledy-piggledy walls. Some of those Welsh adjectives are simply gorgeous, and we don’t use them often enough! An old lady, Mrs Cloch, lives in the house, but Mari hasn't seen anyone call there to visit her. With the cottage looking lonely in the darkness, the young girl is rather sad about it. This is a very relevant theme in this modern times. With everyone leading such busy lives and the changes in society, how many of us actually know our neighbours? Will you be dropping in on them over Christmas? I count myself incredibly lucky that I have family around me, and that we can all get together over the festive season. But not everyone has this luxury, and I'm sure many will be lonely over the holidays, especially amongst the elderly. As for the story, I'm not sure if I quite buy the idea that such a young child would be allowed out into the night all alone by their parents, but I’m thinking too much about it I know! I understand it’s important for the narrative so I'll let that one slide on this occasion! When Mari arrives at the cottage, which is cold and dark outside, she is welcomed by Mrs Cloch, who is delighted to see her. I can’t help thinking about my own Grandparents here. With the days long and tedious in the house all day, having the company of us, the grandchildren, brightens their day. As I get older myself, it’s not the gifts that matter to me, but spending time with the most important people in my life. As the hours go by, and with Mrs Cloch and Mari enjoying each other’s company, they decorate the cottage whilst waiting for Mrs Cloch’s son. Who is he I wonder? Well, he’s a bit late because he’s ever so busy on Christmas Eve and has to do a lot of travelling. Go figure! Each year, you always get a few new Christmas books, and Mari and Mrs Cloch is one of the best. For me, the obvious message of the story is love your neighbour, and be kind. If you know of someone who is frail or lonely, head over to see them from time to time, especially at Christmas. Your company will be enough I'm sure – but a mince pie or two would go down a treat! This has the potential to become one of those Christmas classics, a bit like Raymond Brigg's The Snowman in English. It’ll have a place on the Sôn am Lyfra shelf for some years to come, and I look forward to sharing it with my son when he’s a bit older. Note: The date where I finally posted this review is January 15th (I forgot to do this before Christmas. Oops) Yes, Christmas 2023 may have come and gone, but remember it's never too early to start buying Christmas books. Grab a copy ready for next Christmas! Publisher: Y Lolfa Released: 2023 Price: £7.99 Format: Hardback