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Celebrating Irish Children’s Books | Online School and Family Book Festival. This year we are part of the Dublin Book Festival.

Festival books

Supported by the Arts Council of Ireland - Literature

The Haunted Lake

In famed author-illustrator P.J. Lynch’s gorgeous tale, he creates two worlds—underwater and above—to tell an epic and haunting love story.

Jacob and his father are the only people who fish Lake Spetzia, which was formed when the river was dammed and their town was flooded. The villagers say the lake is haunted, but Jacob and his father don’t want to leave, because Jacob’s mother is buried in the cemetery below the water. As Jacob grows up, a village girl named Ellen falls in love with him, and he with her. But before they are married, Jacob disappears—lured underwater by the ghosts who inhabit the sunken village. Years go by, with Jacob held captive by the watery spirits and Ellen never giving up hope that she will find him, until a fateful night when Jacob sees the light of Ellen’s boat floating above. Can he break free and reach the surface? Masterful illustrations alive with achingly expressive characters and eerie underwater light bring readers into acclaimed creator P.J. Lynch’s rich world of love, loss, and hope.

“Watercolor and gouache art plays effectively with light as it shimmers along the top of the lake or creepily glows from under it, and the fluid greenish gloom of the underwater village contrasts with the hearty Irish landscape above. This could be an entertaining read for youngsters who warm to folkloric supernatural stories with just enough chill to make the happy ending satisfying.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Mr. Lynch’s mesmerizing watercolor and gouache paintings are divided between the 19th-century world above Lake Spetzia and the village beneath it that was years ago drowned to create a reservoir… his pictures are masterly. Readers ages 7-12 will not soon forget these creepy and stirring scenes.”

The Wall Street Journal
Buy The Book

Author

PJ Lynch

Illustrator

Publisher

Walker

Related events in the festival

Lunchtime Tales of Wonder with PJ Lynch, Kieran Fanning, Marianne McShane and Lindsay J Sedgwick

Connect with Wonderfest online

Wonderfest Wonderfest · 4 months ago
@WonderFestIre
Watch out for the #BookElves2022 during the @RTELateLateShow #latelatetoyshow2022
They will be recommending some great children's books during the show on social media. https://t.co/KXEM0BnlL6
View on Twitter
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Sinéad O'Hart 🌈🌿@SJOHart
And my favourite #picturebook this year is the amazing #BeWildLittleOne by Irish author @Hopewrites and illuminated by the marvellous art of @DanielEgneus. It's a definite #IrishBooks recommendation for #BookElves2022. A perfect gift for little readers - and not-so-little ones! https://t.co/1zjERJ3FRO
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Wonderfest Wonderfest · 5 months ago
@WonderFestIre
We have a full morning of online events for schools tomorrow with @DublinBookFest - we can't wait!
Drawing with @AlNolan and @whackochacko
Writing with @Erika_McGann and Debbie Thomas
Stories with @chrishaughton and @MuirNiChiobhain and @PForde123
Let the creativity flow! https://t.co/f2G9uSAR84
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Wonderfest Wonderfest · 5 months ago
@WonderFestIre
THIS SATURDAY! 12th Nov 11am @DLR_Libraries @dlrLexIcon
Want to write or illustrate for children. This event is for you!
The latest in the #ProperBook from @KidsBooksIrel in partnership with @DublinBookFest - with some terrific speakers.
Tickets still available. https://t.co/ql3ME8cCYN
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Wonderfest@WonderFestIre
Want to write or illustrate for children? This
@KidsBooksIrel
and
@DublinBookFest
event is a must. Sat 12th Nov 11am
@DLR_Libraries
Lexicon. Supported by
@DLR_Libraries
Hear all about getting published from the experts!
RTs appreciated.
Booking: https://t.co/K2LRJyy13z https://t.co/18EwEEWG6b
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