REVIEWS

Eileen Moynihan’s Books and Website

‘Dear Eileen,

I went through all your pages which are full of literary stuffs like a garden where many flowers bloom emitting fragrance of love, joy, kindness, compassion, and human symphony! I , as a humming bee, feel wonderstruck as to how I could suck all the enchanting flowers! It makes me feel that you are a writer—-a magical weaver of words with profundity and sensibility and wish you for unflagging endeavor for creativity. ‘ Bam Dev Sharma Assistant Chief of R.R. Campus Tribhuvan University and Poet Nepal

‘I recently purchased a set of Eileens books for my great grandchildren and I must say they were enchanted with them and spoke very highly of them , Thank you Eileen.’  – Mike Ward

‘Educational, imaginative. They draw children in by their easy flow and beautiful descriptions . Truly lovely stories. Well done Eileen.’ – Sally Martin

‘Engaging and Imaginative books that inspire children to play.’ – Ann Gerety Smyth

‘Eileen has written some of my children’s favorite books! The Reckolahesperus, Rory Gumboots as well as Hattie and Hattie and Jacques: Love London are all fun and engaging books. Emmaline, my youngest, loves Hattie and Jacques.’ – Beth Lecroy

A Posy of Wild Flowers

‘I enjoyed this book particularly because I love flowers! I will be doing some research on the wildflowers named in this book to see which ones will thrive in my area. The illustrations are enchanting—each one has a fairy in the midst of the wildflowers. Makes me want to have both wildflowers and fairies in my yard! The cover art is right in line with the rest of the book—restful colors and theme.’ – Alice Cauble

‘Delightful poems of wildflowers in A Posy of Wild Flowers. every poem was lyrical to read and flowed off the tongue. The illustrations by Angela Corkey were gorgeous. This book I will keep close to hand to lift my spirits’. – Patricia Stinson

‘I enjoyed ‘A Posy of Wild Flowers’ by Eileen Moynihan. It is such a brilliant idea to talk about wildflowers of Ireland in a picture book full of poetry. The illustrations are beautiful. And children will get the information about how the flowers look and what are they used for in lyrical floating poems.
As an author of picture books with photographic illustrations myself, I was very touched to read how this book was born. Watching Margaret O’Driscoll flower photographs evoked the idea of writing a children’s book with poems about flowers and trees. And together with the author’s sister who is an illustrator, the three of them sat together and finally this wonderful book was born.‘ – Lieve Snellings

‘Beautiful from cover to cover. Congratulations to Eileen Moynihan and everyone that was involved. I love it my granddaughter loves it. GREAT TEAMWORK’ – Katherine Shanahan

‘This book is wonderful for the imagination. It reels you into a world of fairies and woodland magic. It’s informative too, I love how there’s a little bit of fact and history woven into the child-friendly verse. The illustrations are just beautiful, so colourful and enticing. Anselm loves looking at them, trying to find the fairies amongst the flowers. It is a beautiful book, anyone with children interested in the countryside should have it on their shelf.‘ – Margaret Coyne

‘Congratulations on the publishing of your poetry book ‘A Posy of Wild Flowers.’ Such a beautiful collection of poetry. Each line is bursting with colour and imagery and the delicate illustrations add to the magical atmosphere of each poem. I feel that the poems are three dimensional as it’s as if I’m walking through the woods pickng flowers and then arranging them in a jar at home or that I’m on a cliff discovering and  admiring.’ – Esther Göbl Uí Nualláin 

‘A Posy of Wild Flowers is a beautiful illustrated book of poetry for children of various ages.Very young children will delight in the colourful pictures while the nature filled verses will open up a world of wonder for older children. Also an ideal book to be shared with adults in the family as it sparks the interest of all with it’s informative vivid pictures of each flower presented.Loving the bit of Gaeilge with the Irish translation of the name of each flower.My children Grace and Ryan enjoyed this book and it has become a firm favourite for our night-time read.’ Laura Cannon

‘A Posy of Wild Flowers charms with its amazing illustrations, and the reader can learn about many homeopathic remedies for the flowering trees/herbs through the rhyming verses, too! The poems are written in simple, short stanzas so an older child can begin her/his journey into the world of rhyme, but adults who prefer the whimsy of the fairy world and have an interest in blooms and herbs will enjoy each offering as well. I enjoyed it.’ T C Thayne

‘A Posy of Wild Flowers is a beautiful book of poetry. The poems are full of lovely metaphors. They are accompanied by beautiful illustrations full of vibrant colors and amazing details. There are blossoms, animals, and fairies in them. I think the charming fairies add an intriguing sense of magic. They go so well with the lovely poems celebrating flowers, trees, and nature. The poetry shows the characteristics of the plants, their uses, historical background, and customs related to them (e. g. conkers or chicory being kept in jars like coffee). Reading these poems can be a great way for children to learn about plants and trees around them. The reader is allowed to stop for a moment and enjoy the essential pleasures of life, which is so important these days. The poems point out how special and wonderful nature is. People of all ages will enjoy this lovely collection.
This is an honest review. Many thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy’. –Zuzana Clark

‘A Posy of Wild Flowers is a captivating collection of poems about a wide variety of wild flowers. The writing and illustrations are a perfect marriage and each serves the other well. Both have a whimsical quality to them and the inclusion of flower fairies in the illustrations lends itself to this feeling.
Besides rhyming verse, the author also weaves the history of the flower within the body of the poem which I think adults and older readers will appreciate.
Be sure to read the introduction section as the book is a family effort and the collaboration between siblings shines through.‘ – Steve Callahan

‘A Posy of Wild Flowers, by Eileen Moynihan, is a children’s illustrated book, arranged in rhymes, that tells the reader about 21 different plants found in Ireland. Each is beautifully illustrated, including a unique fairy, to provide a rich fantasy element and help the reader to stop and consider each page a little more closely. The rhymes describe the plants in an easy-to-understand format, and I especially like how their practical uses are mentioned.
The book makes me want to return to Ireland, for I was there on a short stay around 20 years ago, and I loved it. This book is rooted in that land, so much so that it creates a desire to go and see those plants, perhaps even inciting children to launch their own fairy hunt in the process. I can easily see this book as a valued resource in the hands of local teachers in Ireland, as they can perhaps take just one page at a time, enjoying it with their students. But of course, these plants are not limited to Ireland and can be found around the world, which makes this book even more of a treasure, to kids and adults alike. I appreciate the way the book is less a reference/encyclopedia and more of an adventure book, inviting travelers to come and explore the world around them in a new and exciting way. A Posy of Wild Flowers, by Eileen Moynihan, takes the beauty of the natural world, adds a hint of magic and fantasy, and creates a winning book for young and old readers alike. Highly recommended.‘ – An Avid Reader

‘An informative collection of poems about Irish flowers and their characteristics. The illustrations are playful and detailed, and I especially loved the Rose-hips of Rose Rugosa art piece. The Centaury poem was also a favorite. A pleasant anthology suitable for older kids and adults.’ V.S.

Frances Darwin Investigates

This was a very charming story about a young girl called Frances investigating the disappearance of dogs in her community – which all starts with a small scrap of paper. I like the way the story develops, as well as the new friends that Frances makes along the way – from a stray dog called Bouncer, to his kindly owner Barty. Children will really enjoy this story, and how Frances gradually solves the mystery of the missing dogs.

The Catholic Church Frances attends in the book was also a nice reference, as it reminds the reader the story is set in Ireland! -J.R.Gibson

This story is a cool book to read to your kids and chill. It talks about little Frances who loves to investigate anything and everything till she finds an actual case. People are losing pets and nobodies finds them till Frances investigates. I love the way she finds friends along the way. And her love that brings people together. I love the grandma’s love story the best. And I wish there had been more of it. All in all, a great book. – Rebecca Verghese Paul

Budding sleuth Frances goes on the trail of the disappearing dogs. Helped by her new found friends Tom and Cindy and an exuberant Gran, Frances discovers, through diligent detective work, that dogs in the neighbourhood are going missing. Recruiting helpers as she goes along, she begins to piece together the jigsaw resulting in a trap being set to catch the dog thieves.
Frances Darwin Investigates is a delightful tale about old and young working together to bring criminals to justice. Written in an upbeat style that keeps the reader smiling, it is ideal reading material for the young and not so young. A book I would thoroughly recommend. – The Customer

Charming. Funny. Children will love it. My inner child certainly did. – Tom Blubaugh

This would be a fun book for an older grade-school child to read. There are some fun twists as she searches for clues to work through the mysteries. – BA

I was delighted with what a fast read this was. Almost like a little cozy mystery for kids, like a modern, and younger, Nancy Drew. very charming. I will be looking for more by her! – Kindle Customer

Ten-year-old Frances Darwin is on a quest to find missing dogs and catch a couple of dognappers. She bands together with a couple of other kids, whom she befriends, for help in this case with permission from their families. One dog owner in particular forms a special bond with Frances’ family. J.D

Absolutely loved this book! I read it in one sitting. It reminded me a little of 101 Dalmatians but in a very fresh and original way. I like how the characters are developed and how there is an underlying message of kindness throughout the book. This one’s a must read! – Ajanta

This book is a great read for children at least starting at the age of 10 or even 9, especially if they enjoy reading books or watching cartoons about solving mysteries. When I was little I watched Scooby-Doo Where Are You? and Inspector Gadget so much that I thought about becoming mystery solver when I grew up. However, reality hit me and I couldn’t see myself putting my life in danger. lol Being a detective, policeman, or even a fireman is done by someone with a special kind of courage, and selflessness. Lastly, the drawings were cute but I would’ve loved it if they were colored. -The Artist Named Marcus

This is a charming little book. It is perfect for the older grade school age to read on their own. This could also be enjoyed by those younger who have someone to read it to them. Its about a 10 yr old little girl who dreams of becoming a detective someday. She is able to practice and begin developing her skills immediately as a mysterious event taking place in her town is happening. Helped by her grandma and a few other adults, she and some friends are out to solve it. They follow one clue and continue on until they are certain they know the culprits of the crime. This book is a great read that could be read all in one day or in chapters every night before bed. At the end, all of their hard work is acknowledged and celebrated. I love the ending for the grandma as well . Very well written. Cute story. So glad I have discovered this author. I am going to be reading this book with my grandchildren upon their next visit. – Catie Cat

Dipping Into The Font

‘When I ordered DIPPING INTO THE FONT by Eileen Moynihan, I was unsure of what I would find. But as soon as I read the very first poem, From A Railway Carriage, I was hooked! Her poems are beautifully written and touching as she shares the view of life through the eyes of others. These poems have also given me a taste of what it is like to live in another country where views and feelings are all similar and what unites humanity.’ – Becky Villareal

‘Interesting poems about life in Ireland and England. “Coming and Going” which was my favourite poem, is basically a miniature story which cleverly summaries the poet’s father’s background in verse. The poems in this book contrast between rural and town life. Other poems I liked in this collection were: “Lush and Ripe Brambly Fruits” which describes berries waiting to be picked, and “I wish I was there”, especially the verse “New horizons and faraway places, Calling me, calling me over the oceans” as it stirs up vivid imagery of the countryside.

The poems definitely make me want to move to Ireland! ‘ J.R. Gibson

‘Of all the available genres, I find poetry books the most difficult to review. After all, almost every page is a story in itself and neither is every poem penned in the same style. ‘Dipping into the Font’ is very much a case in point.

Initially, I struggled with it. Most of the poems were structured in such a way that seemed to make little sense. It took a few pages before it all fell into place – ignore the rigid structure of the lines and read to the punctuation. Reading some of them as simple prose was transformative – an over the rainbow moment when black and white becomes technicolour. Once I’d kicked myself for being an idiot, I went back to the beginning.

In the end I found that I disliked a few, liked most, and very much enjoyed some others. ‘Loose Moose’ is the sort of total nonsense that really tickles me, so I had to chuckle at it, whereas ‘Falling Between the Lines’ was very poignant and thought provoking. Both were my favourites and couldn’t be bettered.
To solve the problem of rating the book, all I could do was average out the good, the bad, and the indifferent. I was rather surprised that I came up with an average of four stars – very high for me with this type of book. Well done Eileen Moynihan.’ – S.P. Muir

‘I enjoyed this book and these poems very much. I was surprised how many touched me deeply. I started dog-earring the pages of the ones I liked best and by the end of the book I had folded over quite a few page corners.
I believe this is the first book of poetry I’ve ever purchased and owned. It’s high time I added some poetry to my shelves. This lovely book will grace my shelves.’ – Nancy Kuykendall

‘Its a magical journey through common places in such an aesthetic way that one would like to live each verse’ – Juan Manuel Rodriguez Caamaño 

‘Eileen Moynihan’s collection, Dipping into The Font is, by present day comparison, a collection of forty seven poems, mostly written in ballad form. It takes the reader through the poet’s journey from Essex through life in Longford,[ ‘A desert of grit’], Maria Edgeworth, Brendan O’Donnell, John Paul 2, encounters with family, characters and events that moved her to recall them in verse, to the concluding The Art of Art. ‘…You know it’s art/…when you feel part/ of something that moves you.’
The strength of the collection lies in the range of themes, especially those confronted with courage, often through the painter’s eye, and of the poet’s healthy indifference to fashionable innovation through her admirable insistence on relying on the time-honoured ballad form. In images like ‘Men with braces cutting hedges, glances,’ [From a Railway Carriage], we can both see and feel [in the telling ‘glances’ ] an empathy that many have experienced in a fleeting moment that goes beyond the merely physical . ‘Hungry heroes seek / Freedom and glory…Living their lives/Between truth and lies.’ [Falling Between The Lines] casts a critical eye on political causes that resort to violence. In ‘Either Mad or Both’ ‘a poem based on the life of Brendan O’Donnell, ‘who was convicted of three murders in 1996, Moynihan attempts to explain, rather than justify the motives that drove O’Donnell. ‘His father spilt his jealous wrath / With blackthorn across his back / The boy couldn’t do a thing just right’. In ‘Flying Companion’ the poet is not afraid ‘To plunge her knife’ into the self-centred woman who talked and talked ‘…all about herself / her dramas, her life.’ ‘Lush and Ripe Brambly Fruits’ takes an unexpected sidestep towards the erotic; the fruits ‘glisten seductively in the morning dew…arch their backs / to display their goods…/ and into the mouth to suck/ the heavenly juice’. In contrast ‘Solitary Power’, is, in an age where it is neither popular or profitable to say a good word about the Catholic church, a refreshing celebration of Pope John Paul 2’s life, who was ‘loved with a passion for his humanity / detested and derided for his obstinacy’.
The ballad form can too easily slip into the cliché, the lazy line end, to justify the rhyme and not all of Moynihan’s poems evade these obvious risks, they’re part of the territory. In ‘Friend’s View’ ‘Your death came as a blow,/A hard man to know;/But when I was in a sticky spot / You were there like a shot’ may be an example of the short-comings into which the ballad can lapse. That aside Dipping into The Font is a collection that will be enjoyed by those who treasure the culture, traditions and landscape of an Ireland they believe worthy of preservation.’
Arthur Broomfield

The Dreamsmith

Really enjoyed reading this story – I liked the idea about exploring where dreams come from/how they are made. This is a very good bed time story for children because it explains to them all about dreams, and how dreams can not only be perplexing but positive. The ending where Eleanor’s mother says she had a dream about what Eleanor looked like before she was born was also another nice touch.
The illustrations appear as very colourful sketches and they are made to look like drawings a child could have done, making the story more appealing to children. My favourite illustration was the Dreamsmith and his factory. – J.R.Gibson

‘A story about dreams is a good topic for children. Bad dreams are a common childhood fear. In this book the author gently explains how dreams work and weaves an entertaining story around this educational topic. The story would definitely appeal to parents and children. I enjoyed the bright and colorful illustrations as well. A visually and intellectually appealing book for children.’ – Adele Smith

Dreamy!
The captivating story works together with the delightful illustrations to draw the reader into the wonderful world of make-believe. It offers a whole new take on where dreams come from and how they are made; leaving the reader with a sense of wonder and joy.

An excellent book for children who are intrigued or perplexed by dreams.
Highly recommended for children who are struggling with nightmares and/or having trouble falling asleep. Great as a bedtime story. – Jacqui Shepherd

Hattie and Jacques Love London

A very funny story about a mouse called Hattie, who lives in the house of Mr and Mrs Brown and their two children. When a French au pair called Sophie turns up to look after the children a French mouse called Jacques arrives in her suitcase, and soon becomes close friends with Hattie. Since the children become well behaved after Sophie’s arrival the Brown family decides to reward them with a treat and they all go on a tour of London (along with the mice) and visit some of the main attractions.

I liked the storyline and illustrations, especially the one with Jacques climbing on the Buckingham guard’s bearskin hat! The cutout figures and clothes at the back of the book were also a nice feature. – J.R. Gibson

Visiting London with Hattie and Jacques got another meaning. The two mice from different countries (London and France) join Bobby, Bella, and their au-pair Sophie in a rich cultural experience. What a great way to teach kids about other cultures! This is a cute educational story with colorful drawings. – Kelly Santana-Banks

‘Really happy with my purchase! Thank you’ – Debra Stewart

‘Lovely story, excellent artwork!’ – Mameyole

‘Un bon livre a lire! Very entertaining story of entente cordiale between mice in Londres> What will they get up to next? J’attends l’aventure prochaine!! Alles ma soeur!’ – John Corkery

‘Love this book, arrived super fast time, beautifully written and superb illustrations, look forward to reading it with the grandchildren.’ – Aideen Higgins

‘Lovely illustrations and charming story.’ – Gill Denness

The Reckolahesperus

‘What is the Reckolahesperus? This interestingly named story is a delightful read, about an adventurous boy called Sam and his new friend – the titular character, the Reckolahesperus.
As it turns out Reckolahesperus is actually a mishearing of “The Wreck of the Hesperus” – which is what Sam’s mum describes him as when he returns home in a state after playing. It’s a phrase used to describe something in a ruined state. The phrase comes from an old story about a ship called the Hesperus that hits rocks in a storm, so to refer to something as being like the “wreck of the Hesperus” means it’s very messy and untidy. But Sam of course mishears his mother and thinks that the “Reckolahesperus” is some sort of creature. And as it turns out, he soon encounters a Gruffalo-like being that calls itself the Reckolahesperus that only wants to be his friend and have fun.

It was an enjoyable story overall – the ending suggests that this may be the first book in a series.’ – J.R.Gibson

‘Really happy with my purchase! Thank you.’ – Debra Stewart

‘Sam is in his den and Mum calls him in for some food. After playing outside, he is quite scruffy and Mum describes him as looking like the ‘wreck of the Hesperus’. Sam thinks that Reckolahesperus sounds like the name of a dinosaur. That night in bed the real dinosaur appears and brings Sam out for fun and games. When he gets back to bed, Mum calls him as it’s time to get up. Was it a dream or did it really happen? You’ll have to read the book to find out.’ – Celia Carlisle

‘Very imaginative. I have a new understanding of the Wreck of the Hesperus! I thought that was what our mother thought of our appearances as children – a mess like the wrecked boat. My sister has given this pharse a new twist. A great read with excellent illustrations.’ – John Corkery

‘My grandchild got ‘The Reckolahesperus’ for Christmas. She enjoys listening to the story every night before she goes asleep. Again, as in ‘Rory Gumboots’ also written by Eileen Moynihan, the illustrations and bright and clear, ideal for little pre-readers.’ – Donie

‘Love this story, illustrations beautiful also.’ – Aideen Higgins

‘A wonderful children’s story written in such a way that it captures the imagination. My children and the whole of Year 1 enjoyed it immensely!’ – Dayna

Rory Gumboots

‘It was an interesting read overall, the dilemma that Rory Gumboots and the animals faced involving the “Monster Machines” (they are in fact excavators) that are planning to destroy their forest of Noddinghead Nook. This fits in with the worldwide problem of deforestation, which is well described here to a young audience. Of course the reader wants Rory and his friends to succeed and the forest to be saved in this machine vs. nature story.

Some wicked animals hijack the excavators and plan to use them to destroy Rory and his friends habitats, but it all goes horribly wrong for them.

Professor Puffansneeze was an interesting character; it would be great to find out more about him if there was a sequel to this story.

Pretty illustrations of Noddinghead Nook and the animals that live there, plus I liked the final twist at the end.

This definitely makes a good introduction to a series of children’s books as the story seems to imply that there may be more adventures with Rory Gumboots to come in the future.‘ – J.R.Gibson

‘Really happy with my purchase! Thank you.’ – Debra Stewart

‘This tale of good against evil marries a modern environmental concern with an old fashioned style of children’s book. Resulting in the best of both worlds .
The size of the book together with the delightful , very colourful and detailed illustrations make it ideal to read to a group of children .
A very enjoyable story which also includes a botany lesson .
Hints about other stories have made me curious about how Rory got his gumboots and how the unlikely alliance of the conniving fox and the hare came about.’ – Lyndl Nanos

‘This is a lovely story about the threat to the woodland creature’s habitat from men with machines. It is nicely written and moves along at an engaging pace. There are interesting characters like the two baddies, Fernando Fox and Horace Hare, plotting mischief and Professor Puffanwheeze who manages to save the day.’ – Celia Carlisle

‘Very atmospheric language, brought to life with excellent illustrations. A marked improvement on the first version – Danger in Noddinghead Wood. Can’t wait to find out about Rory’s other adventures. Get writing Eileen!’ – John Corkery

‘A heroic hedgehog that goes about in a pair of red gumboots. A mouse called Maisie and a badger called Badger. A sleepy owl called Oswald and a rabbit called Roberta. A tricky fox called Fernando and a professor called Puffanwheeze. Full of colour and great sounding words, this book is a visual treat for kids.’ – Alan McMonagle

‘A lovely book with beautiful illustrations.’ – A Reader

‘This is my daughter’s favourite book to read to her cuddly toys at night time. I think she likes the big pages and illustrations. It’s the sort of story I would have liked as a child, classic and engaging.’ – Jennifer Barrett

‘My grandchild loves to listen to the story of Rory Gumboots every time she comes to visit. She enjoys looking at the bright and colourful pictures.’ – Donie