Patricia Forde – författare

An epic tale of volcanoes, dragons and wild storms, with themes drawn from Irish legend. Written by the current Irish Children's Laureate, this is a celebration of the magic of bees and the power we can all draw from the natural world.Nestled on a peaceful island, Orla and her grandmother live tending their beloved bees. But bubbling below is a monster waiting to surface – a dormant volcano – and when it wakes Orla and the rest of the island must flee in search of safety. Orla adventures across the wild sea, guided by her buzzing friends, to find a new home. But what will they find over the horizon?"The story has a wonderful legendary feel, a sparky central character, and an ecological message that resonates strongly with the contemporary moment." The Irish Times"The Island of Bees brings together two stel­lar Irish tal­ents — Patri­cia Forde and Paddy Don­nelly — to cre­ate a beau­ti­ful piece of work . . . If you like bees, mys­tery, strong girls and even stronger grand­par­ents, you’ll love this book." The Belfast Telegraph

A tale-of-truest friendship bookA fill-my-heart with love bookA read-again-and-again bookAn epic tale of love, loss, reunion and adventure on the high seas told through the friendship of a girl and her dog, Fidget.Written by debut picture-book author Trish Forde and illustrated by rising star Rachael Saunders, this is a book that combines humour and heart with a faultless read-aloud rhythm

A tale-of-truest friendship bookA fill-my-heart with love bookA read-again-and-again bookAn epic tale of love, loss, reunion and adventure on the high seas told through the friendship of a girl and her beloved dog, Fidget.Written by debut picture-book author Trish Forde and illustrated by rising star Rachael Saunders, this is a book that combines humour and heart with a faultless read-aloud rhythm.

**The funniest new picture book of the year, from the Irish Children's Laureate***Shortlisted for the 2026 Peters Children's Book of the Year Award***'The perfect night-time read' - Daily Mail****'Hilarious and delightful' - Paddy Donnelly****'Funny and ingenious' - Bookseller**It’s a dark and stormy night, and Sophie knows that there is a MONSTER hiding under her bed. So, like any sensible child, she decides to send him a letter.Dear Monster,I know you are hiding under my bed. I hear you breathing. This is your last warning. Leave now or I will call THE MONSTER POLICE. I have their number. Yours truly,SophieAs the letters fly back and forth, Sophie begins to wonder if Monster isn’t as scary as she thought. What if he’s the friend she’s been looking for all along?From Irish Children's Laureate Patricia Forde and award-winning illustrator Sarah Warburton comes an irresistible picture book that turns the idea of the monster-under-the-bed on its head!

**The funniest new picture book of the year, from the Irish Children''s Laureate****''The perfect night-time read'' - Daily Mail****''Hilarious and delightful'' - Paddy Donnelly****''Funny and ingenious'' - Bookseller**It''s a dark and stormy night, and Sophie knows that there is a MONSTER hiding under her bed. So, like any sensible child, she decides to send him a letter. Dear Monster,I know you are hiding under my bed. I hear you breathing. This is your last warning. Leave now or I will call THE MONSTER POLICE. I have their number. Yours truly,Sophie As the letters fly back and forth, Sophie begins to wonder if Monster isn''t as scary as she thought. What if he''s the friend she''s been looking for all along?From Irish Children''s Laureate Patricia Forde and award-winning illustrator Sarah Warburton comes an irresistible picture book that turns the idea of the monster-under-the-bed on its head!

**'HUGELY hilarious' - Paddy Donnelly****A laugh-out loud book about a very unlikely friendship, by the Irish Children's Laureate**Sophie can’t wait for her birthday party. But when one of her invitations is accidentally picked up by a GIANT, she finds herself in a bit of a pickle. What if he turns up and eats all the guests?But Harry the Hairy Giant is determined to come to her party, no matter how many letters Sophie writes to dissuade him. After all, he’s had a glorious purple suit made specially, and he’s been practising his dancing! As the letters fly back and forth, Sophie begins to wonder if Harry isn’t as bad as she thought. What if he’s the perfect party guest after all?

**'HUGELY hilarious' - Paddy Donnelly****A laugh-out loud book about a very unlikely friendship, by the Irish Children's Laureate**Sophie can’t wait for her birthday party. But when one of her invitations is accidentally picked up by a GIANT, she finds herself in a bit of a pickle. What if he turns up and eats all the guests?But Harry the Hairy Giant is determined to come to her party, no matter how many letters Sophie writes to dissuade him. After all, he’s had a glorious purple suit made specially, and he’s been practising his dancing! As the letters fly back and forth, Sophie begins to wonder if Harry isn’t as bad as she thought. What if he’s the perfect party guest after all?

**'HUGELY hilarious' - Paddy Donnelly****A laugh-out loud book about a very unlikely friendship, by the Irish Children's Laureate**Sophie can't wait for her birthday party. But when one of her invitations is accidentally picked up by a GIANT, she finds herself in a bit of a pickle. What if he turns up and eats all the guests?But Harry the Hairy Giant is determined to come to her party, no matter how many letters Sophie writes to dissuade him. After all, he's had a glorious purple suit made specially, and he's been practising his dancing! As the letters fly back and forth, Sophie begins to wonder if Harry isn't as bad as she thought. What if he's the perfect party guest after all?

**A laugh-out loud book by the Irish Children's Laureate, featuring a hilarious exchange of letters between a girl and her irreplaceable Bear*Sophie and her Grizzly Bear have lots of fun together. They go to the park, read bedtime stories and, best of all, host tea parties with delicious iced buns! But one day, Bear decides to take a solo adventure – one that involves baby dragons, witches and three other bears with their too hot, too cold and just right porridge . . .As the letters fly back and forth, and Bear gets himself into stranger and stranger situations, Sophie is determined to get her bear to come home. Maybe a certain young girl with locks of golden hair can help him find the way?Also available: Letters to a Monster, Letters to a Giant

Bumpfizzle is an alien sent to Earth on a mysterious mission from Planet Plonk. Or is he a ten-year-old boy who is jealous of all the attention his parents are giving to The Baby? So hilarious! Patricia Forde is definitely the high queen of Irish comedy. Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl Bumpfizzle is on a mysterious mission to Earth from Planet Plonk. His Earth family is OK. Except for the four-legged brother (Mr Sooty) and The Baby which leaks from both ends. Bumpfizzle's confusion at Earthling behaviours, as reported in his diary and his frequent reports back to Plonk, are hilarious, and his adventures are ridiculous, from eating the cat's food (it makes him throw up, always good for attention) to biting his teacher (to check if humans would make a good source of food for Plonkers) and attempting to sacrifice a goat (he soon discovers what goats' horns are for). Elina Braslina's playful, Quentin Blake-like illustrations bring Bumpfizzle's adventures on Earth delightfully to life. The book was funny. It was very funny. People who like books with cartoons, and who read Roald Dahl would probably like this book. I'd recommend it to my friend Brooke. You don't know her. Sienna (age 11) for the Dublin Inquirer

After global warming came the Melting. Then came Ark.The new dictator of Ark wants to silence speech for ever. But Letta is the wordsmith, tasked with keeping words alive. Out in the woods, she and the rebels secretly teach children language, music and art.Now there are rumours that babies are going missing. When Letta makes a horrifying discovery, she has to find a way to save the children of Ark – even if it is at the cost of her own life.Praise for Mother Tongue:"[Her] books always take my breath away." — Mary, Fallen Star Stories“For Letta is one of the best heroines… Steadfast, strong and unwaveringly resilient, she is the driving force behind why this series is becoming so revered.” — Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher“Mother Tongue, and predecessor The Wordsmith, are both brilliantly devised stories.” — Caroline Fielding, The Teen Librarian“Totally enthralling … a world where the horror of climate change has been realised but despite the despair, the hope of humanity lives on.” — Victoria Dilly, The Book Activist“This vivid world and courageous heroine will enthral readers and is ideal for book clubs.” — Zoe James-Williams, Drawing On Books“Letta is a fantastic protagonist … contemplative, doubting of herself but firm in her resolve. Her strength comes from a rounded mix of qualities.” — Louise Nettleton, Book Murmuration  Praise for The Wordsmith:‘The fantasy book of the year’ — Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl‘Important’ — The Guardian‘Stands out for its imaginative approach and its beautiful and careful use of language’ — The Literary Review‘This gripping story has the dark atmosphere of books such as the Hunger Games series’ — Inis magazine‘Full of jeopardy and nail-biting tension and asks fundamental questions about the nature of humanity and the future of our planet’ — BookTrust UK‘Pair with Patrick Ness’ The Knife of Never Letting Go’ — Booklist‘Fantasy lovers will lap it up!’ — Sarah Webb, Irish Independent‘A tremendous pageturner; I hope this won’t be the last we hear of Letta, a brave and spirited heroine’ — School Library Association

After global warming came the Melting. Then came Ark. The new dictator of Ark wants to silence speech for ever. But Letta is the wordsmith, tasked with keeping words alive. Out in the woods, she and the rebels secretly teach children language, music and art. Now there are rumours that babies are going missing. When Letta makes a horrifying discovery, she has to find a way to save the children of Ark – even if it is at the cost of her own life.

A grandma teaches her granddaughter how to overcome fears by imagining funny situationsA little girl confides in her grandma about her fears: pirates, monsters, the big dog down the lane ... Each time her grandma suggests a way to overcome her fear by imagining funny situations.Eventually the girl tells her biggest fear – that her grandma will go away and leave her forever. The grandma tells her that she will always live in her heart ... and she can imagine her in a yellow polkadot bikini if she likes!A funny and sweet story about a little girl, her grandma, and the power of humour and imagination to dispel fears and anxieties.

Nobody can ever know Aria’s secret: she has human DNA.Raised on Planet Terros, Aria was taught to hate humans and their destructive ways. Now she and her father have been sent to Ireland to release a deadly virus and end the failed human experiment. Aria is shocked to discover that she is herself half human, and amazed to find that Earth-dwellers live life to the full and feel love for each other, even though they are mortal. The mission goes wrong. Everything Aria thought she knew about Earth was a lie.And now forces from her past are out to destroy her.

Written by the newly-appointed Laureate na nÓg (Ireland’s Children’s Literature Laureate)

A gripping high-concept speculative middle-grade novel from the award-winning author of Bumpfizzle, the Best on Planet Earth and The List

Aria lives on a well-ordered planet whose people have eradicated illness and even death. Earth is their ‘shadow planet’ which they populated with humans centuries ago so they could study them and learn from their experiences.

Now the experiment is coming to an end and Aria must go to Earth with her scientist father to set off a train of events which will destroy its people. Brought up to believe that humans are inferior, Aria is shocked to discover that she is herself half human, and amazed to find that Earth-dwellers live life to the full and feel love for each other, even though they are mortal.

But once she understands this, how can she save them, and herself, from destruction?

Learn how to write stories from Laureate na nÓg (Ireland's children's literature laureate) and bestselling author of The Wordsmith, Patricia Forde.In this fun and practical illustrated guide, young writers can learn from some of Ireland's most beloved authors, including Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl) Catherine Doyle (Twin Crowns), Pádraig Kenny (Stitch) and Derek Landy (Skullduggery Pleasant), and discover how to:Find inspiration to start your storyCraft and develop twisty plotsCreate brilliant charactersBuild spectacular new worldsAlso includes imaginative exercises, accessible explanations of writing terms and engaging illustrations by beloved Irish artist Mary Murphy.

The Times Book of the Week in September 2025Celebrate 10 years of The Wordsmith with this anniversary edition of Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde’s classic novel – featuring a freshly imagined cover and an introduction from the Laureate herself.How many words do you need to survive?Letta loves her job as the Wordsmith’s apprentice, giving out words to people that need them. It doesn’t strike her as odd that the people of Ark are only allowed to use a few hundred words, and words like “love”, “hope” and “freedom” are banned.When her master disappears, Letta begins to understand that all is not well, and that the leaders of Ark want to destroy language forever. It is up to her to stop them silencing what is left of the human race. But she is only a young girl, and they are the leaders of the known world…

Learn how to write stories from Laureate na nÓg (Ireland's children's literature laureate) and bestselling author of The Wordsmith, Patricia Forde.In this fun and practical illustrated guide, young writers can learn from some of Ireland's most beloved authors, including Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl) Catherine Doyle (Twin Crowns), Pádraig Kenny (Stitch) and Derek Landy (Skullduggery Pleasant), and discover how to:Find inspiration to start your storyCraft and develop twisty plotsCreate brilliant charactersBuild spectacular new worldsAlso includes imaginative exercises, accessible explanations of writing terms and engaging illustrations by beloved Irish artist Mary Murphy.

"Para partirse de risa", Eoin Coffler. "Hará que los lectores se partan de risa", The New York Times. Si te gustó "Sin noticias de Gurb", te encantará este libro. Pataplof, alienígena del planeta Plonk, está en la Tierra en una misión secreta. Su familia terrícola es agradable, salvo Manchón (el hermano de cuatro patas) y el Bebé (que empapa por varios sitios). Pero las cosas empiezan a torcerse para Daniel (es decir, para Pataplof) cuando muerde a su maestra para comprobar si los humanos son comestibles o cuando intenta sacrificar una cabra.

The third title featuring Lola, the little sister who’s larger than life! Perfect for children learning to read. Poor Natalie’s broken her leg and is stuck up in her bedroom all alone.But Lola has a plan to keep Natalie from getting bored. It involves a walkie-talkie, her new imaginary friend Mrs Beasly, a puppy called Pebbles, a pig, an elephant and a witch. Oh, and Natalie’s brand new birthday bike that she only got to ride once…The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It’s the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 2 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for readers who are growing in confidence and are beginning to enjoy longer stories. • Clear type • Up to 8 lines per page • Bright, appealing pictures for added interest • A variety of sentence structures • A wider range of vocabulary • Strong themes and characters to discuss All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children’s reading.Book band: Purple The third title featuring Lola, the little sister who’s larger than life! Perfect for children learning to read. Poor Natalie’s broken her leg and is stuck up in her bedroom all alone.But Lola has a plan to keep Natalie from getting bored. It involves a walkie-talkie, her new imaginary friend Mrs Beasly, a puppy called Pebbles, a pig, an elephant and a witch. Oh, and Natalie’s brand new birthday bike that she only got to ride once…The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It’s the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 2 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for readers who are growing in confidence and are beginning to enjoy longer stories. • Clear type • Up to 8 lines per page • Bright, appealing pictures for added interest • A variety of sentence structures • A wider range of vocabulary • Strong themes and characters to discuss All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children’s reading.Book band: Purple

**The funniest new picture book of the year, from the Irish Children's Laureate***Shortlisted for the 2026 Peters Children's Book of the Year Award***'The perfect night-time read' - Daily Mail****'Hilarious and delightful' - Paddy Donnelly****'Funny and ingenious' - Bookseller**It’s a dark and stormy night, and Sophie knows that there is a MONSTER hiding under her bed. So, like any sensible child, she decides to send him a letter.Dear Monster,I know you are hiding under my bed. I hear you breathing. This is your last warning. Leave now or I will call THE MONSTER POLICE. I have their number. Yours truly,SophieAs the letters fly back and forth, Sophie begins to wonder if Monster isn’t as scary as she thought. What if he’s the friend she’s been looking for all along?From Irish Children's Laureate Patricia Forde and award-winning illustrator Sarah Warburton comes an irresistible picture book that turns the idea of the monster-under-the-bed on its head!

Fia looks out her window and across the bay. She longs to see the mysterious island, which appears and disappears in the water.One night a moonbeam reaches across the bay and leads her to the island. She walks with magical creatures, dances with a host of girls and boys, and visits the bottom of the sea and the stars in space.Lyrical text with gorgeous colour illustrations, from a multi-award-winning Irish author. Based on the mythical Irish island of Hy Brasil, which lies off the west coast of Galway.

Fia looks out her window and across the bay. She longs to see the mysterious island, which appears and disappears in the water. One night a moonbeam reaches across the bay and leads her to the island. She walks with magical creatures, dances with a host of girls and boys, and visits the bottom of the sea and the stars in space. Lyrical text with gorgeous colour illustrations, from a multi-award-winning Irish author. Based on the mythical Irish island of Hy Brasil, which lies off the west coast of Galway.