As Gaelige as dtus!

Is feider liom Gaelige a labhairt ach anois ta se an lag. Taim im chonai i Singapore agus ba mhaith liom leabhair Gaelige do phaisti a cheannach. Cabhair le do thoil! Slan libh, Conor

English:

I seek Irish books to read to my very young children (10 months and 2 1/2 yrs). In mainstream bookshops at home in Ireland, the selection was poor.

Someone sent me "Emma agus Julia sa Chistin" by Lucinda Jacob and others in the same series published by poolbeg but frankly they are very poor as children's books, regardless of their language, and I do not recommend them.

I understand young children learn the melody of a language in their early months and years and can benefit from being read to and spoken to from birth. I can vouch for this because my 2 1/2 year old daughter has picked up a lot of Mandarin, Thai and has excellent english as a result of such regular exposure. Before its too late i want to do the same as Gaelige!

Hope someone can help with simple books, photocopies, or reading material.

Conor

My son loved Séanna, I read it to him over and over.
You can find out more about it on http://www.coislife.ie/

Tá téip agus leabhar ann dar theideal 'Rabhlaí Rabhlaí' le rímeanna agus amhráin do pháistí óga.

There is a book and tape called 'Rabhlaí Rabhlaí' with rhymes and songs for young children.

Ansin tá na fístéipeanna 'Bouli agus a Chairde' agus 'Bouli Arís' ann: fear sneachta, an-ghreanmhar. Gan leabhar.

Then there's the Bouli videotapes: a snowman, very funny. No book.

Tá dhá leabhar ann scríofa le haghaidh na bpáistí sna naíonraí: 'Mo Chéad Naíonra' agus 'Ruairí agus Úna sa Naíonra.'

These are two books written for children in naíonraí (Irish-language nursery schools and kindergartens). They're pretty good and for the right age.

B'fhéidir go mbeadh na leabhartha 'Bran' go maith. Is maith liom go mór leabhar ar bith a scríobhann Colmán Ó Raghallaigh mar tá siad go léir suimiúil agus maisithe go hiontach (m.sh., Ceol na gCat, Ruairí sa Zú, agus Drochlá Ruairí). Agus tá pictiúrleabhartha ann, m. sh., 'Céad Focal' agus '100 Focal Tosaigh'. Agus na páistí 6 bliana nó mar sin, molaim: Róisín ar Strae (Ó Raghallaigh), Caitríona agus an tÉinín Óir (Rosemary Canavan?), Micí ar an bPortach (Gwyneth Wynn). Agus Stór's a Stóirín (amhráin, téipeanna plus leabhrán).

I love any of Colmán Ó Raghallaigh's books, both for very young kids and a little older. Picture books are nice and there are a bunch of them out there.

Aontáim le Seosamh!
I agree with Seosamh. It's true that the selection in shops is weak. If you are in Dublin you should go to An Siopa Leabhair in Conradh na Gaeilge's Office, 6 Harcourt Street, D2. They have all Irish books in print, and there are a large selection of books. You can get a Catalog of An Gum's Books for Children, they publish most of what available, and they will send it to you by mail order. I don't have the address with me now, I'll add it this evening. I have spoken Irish to my two boys (3 & 4) since birth, and they understand perfectly, although they will usually answer in German. I found reading to them very helpful; when they were younger they loved the Bran Book's, now I read the m Mairéad Ní Ghrada's translations of Classic Fairy Tales which has the advantage that they know the Stories (in German) too. Also the Eithne Books. There are plenty of books out there, but they are not in most bookshops.

I'll add addresses etc from home later
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