A grizzly bear walked all the way from the zoo to my front door and not a single person noticed him. I suppose it helped that it was night, and that he was wearing a big black duffle coat with an enormous hood that covered his hairy head. He knocked on the front door three times, loud knocks that shook the house.

Patrick makes his unexpected guest at home, while keeping him hidden from the neighbours, police and his very distractable mum!

An intriguing, engaging and rather remarkable tale.

About the Author
Born in Dublin, Gerry Boland is a writer, teacher and committed environmentalist. Aine Mc Guinness is from a small village on the East coast of Ireland. An early love for art led her to study animation at the National Film School of Ireland where she graduated with a degree in 2007. She worked as an animator until 2010 before starting her career as an illustrator. Her work is often inspired by childhood memories and nature and mainly combines digital and watercolour painting. Aine is currently based in Dublin, Ireland.

Reviews

such a loveable story, by the end you will wish you had a grizzly bear as a friend

-- Mad About Books

This is a fun and gentle tale where the extraordinary is accepted with refreshing and comic matter-of-factness. In effective, simple prose, Boland manages to capture something of a little boy's loneliness and confusion, while providing a warm and whimsical solution to his woes.

-- BookFest

it can be a struggle to find books that will engage six-to-eight year olds, but one sure to capture their imaginations is Gerry Boland's debut, Marco Moves In

-- Sunday Independent

Boland certainly has a keen ear for a madcap narrative

-- The Sunday Business Post

'very touching and well written tales about a boy and his friend, a grizzly bear.'

-- Irish Times

'compelling story'

-- Sunday Independent

'illustrated with wonderful simplicity'

-- Roscommon Herald

'a well-written book with great humour and an easy to read story ... the illustrations have a contemporary, yet slightly retro animated feel to them. The black and white ink wash pictures suit the atmosphere and tone of the book beautifully'

-- inismagazine.ie

'A fun, delightful and gently subversive tale of friendship and finding a place where you belong ... It feels like a rainy evening, both cosy and a bit gloomy, then as the weather breaks and a solution is discovered, a warm glow evolves'

-- on thebookbag.co.uk

'Marco could well turn into a favourite with many young readers'

-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

'Gentle, funny tale of a humanised, friendly bear and a boy who needs a friend'

-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

'a fast-paced, first-person narrative that will appeal to 6-10 year-olds'

-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

'direct and engaging'

-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books


Awards
Short-listed for Irish Children's Book of the Year (Junior) 2011 (Ireland).



Book Information
ISBN 9781847172297
Author Gerry Boland
Format Hardback
Page Count 64
Imprint O'Brien Press Ltd
Publisher O'Brien Press Ltd
Weight(grams) 233g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 142mm * 11mm