We are in Ireland and it's an awfully long time ago. Centuries and centuries. The country is supposed to have gone Christian, but there's still magic in the air, salmon in the rivers, berries in the bushes, druids in the forest, a Worm in the lake, fairy music in the distance. Manchan's mother wants to make a monk of Manchan. Manchan most emphatically does not want to be made a monk of. He'd rather sing songs with his father, or go fishing with his friend, Pagan-of the-Six-Toes, or go charging through the forest with his pet pig, Muck, or go bare-back riding over the bog on the chieftain's mad ram, Balor. Anything fun or adventurous or magical, and absolutely nothing to do with turnips, penance, prayers, monks and chanting. Poor Manchan! The more he mucks about having fun, the more his mother is determined to tame him.

About the Author
John Chambers was born and raised in Ireland and is now based in Berlin. He is the creator of long-running comic strip The Adventures of Festy O'Semtex in Phoenix Magazine and has developed concepts and written scripts for TV series, long and short films and many children's animation series, including Ted Sieger's Molly the Little Monster. Three times winner of the Best Animated Screenplay Award at the International Animated Film Festival, he was also Writer in Residence at the National Theatre, England in 2006. He has brought masterful storytelling and wry humour to a range of children's titles including; Granny Samurai, the Monkey King and I, Granny Samurai and the Brain of Ultimate Doomitude, and The Seven Deadly Finns (Walker Books).

Reviews

Charming, quirky, and lots of fun.

* LoveReading4Kids *

There is plenty of historical detail and Chambers's witty illustrations are full of energy, making the tales come alive. Ideal for readers who have an interest in history.

* Irish Independent *

An extremely funny romp through early Christian history, chronicling the fierce resistance of some (underage) pagans, this book is golden.

* The Meath Chronicle *

The stories are told almost entirely from Manchan's point of view, so things that happen to him are almost never his fault, and are brought to life with beautiful illustrations throughout.

* Inis Reading Guide, Children's Books Ireland *


Awards
Short-listed for Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year 2019 (Ireland) and The Literacy Association of Ireland Children's Book Award 2019 (Ireland). Nominated for IBBY Honours List 2020.



Book Information
ISBN 9781912417056
Author John Chambers
Format Paperback
Page Count 129
Imprint Little Island
Publisher Little Island