Programme: Cavan
WHO Theme: Communication and Information
Funding Stream: I received no grants/funding. All the work in the children’s book I completed myself.
Cost: 1000 – 5000
Status: Completed
Description
Orla, Mary and a Monster called Sean is a new children’s book written and illustrated by me. The book is geared towards children aged seven to twelve years. It’s a story about Orla aged 11, who arrives at Nana’s house for the first time on her summer holidays. Orla thinks she’ll be in her room all week reading, but her expectations take a mysterious turn with lots of adventures. She ends up in the spotlight when visiting the local town with her new friend Mary. Orla ends up in the Anglo Celt newspaper for an act of bravery saving an old lady’s handbag from a robbery.
Being in the countryside, Orla hears the birds singing for the first time: sees all the farm animals on Mary’s farm. Her delight at the arrival of the newborn lamb too. Orla gets to mind one of the weak lambs by feeding the lamb with a bottle. Orla tells Mary she has a secret about a dream she has about Sean the Monster, who tells Orla about eating all the plastic in the ocean, how it destroyed his family and the ocean floor. He wants Orla to tell people to bring home their rubbish and show respect for the planet. Children love Sean, he is a friendly monster. He is very lonely, because he is the only one left of his family. Orla tells Sean how to make new friends in the ocean. In later years Orla made the decision to change her career as she reflected on her childhood encounters with Sean. She was a teacher, but Orla then became a biologist and opened an aquarium named Sean beside the beach in Dublin. Children can visit and watch a video of her doing marine biologist work in the waters around the world. Orla can enrich children lives and help them admire species that inhabit the marine world.
Orla keeps in Contact with her best friend Mary and her family and will never forget her time in Cavan as a child.
Aim of Initiative
The aim of the children’s book is to show children different ways to entertain themselves without their mobile phone. By introducing a friendly Monster named Sean in the story, children learn words like environmentally friendly.
To learn about the danger of plastic in the ocean.
To show respect for the planet by not leaving plastic items on the ground.
To bring home their rubbish for recycling.
To teach children the damage plastic creates on the sea floor and sea creatures.
The project cost €1,846.00 euro total for 100 books. I received no grants. Book is published by local publisher in Cavan town. The book is of a high standard. The quality of the paper is silk, suitable for people who have trouble with their eyesight. All Illustrations created by me are in colour.
Who is it aimed at
The initiative is aimed at children. Parents can also read the book to younger children and tell their children about saving the planet by recycling plastic items. By introducing Sean, the Monster, the language in the story is easy to understand. Children will be aware of different advice on nature after reading the children’s book.
Educating children on recycling rubbish is a fun story in the book.
3 Steps critical to success
- Inspired by my grandchildren. I told them I was going to write a children’s book.
I want them to be creative when they grow up. To let them know how their Nana enjoyed her childhood.
I would like to be an inspiration to them in the future. - Joining a creative writing class proved I could write short stories. I got confidence in myself.
- Completing the book in a short time period and within the format required for printing and publishing.
3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery
- Saving enough money to cover the publishing and printing process for the book. Ensuring the pricing and packaging was going to be successful and generating demand through local advertising.
- The proof reading and full editing and formatting of the book so it was ready to print was a time-consuming process and required several contributors.
- Scaling the project and book outside of Co. Cavan and hopefully in the future with the support and involvement of other county councils and funding initiatives throughout Ireland.
3 Outcomes / Benefits
- Collecting positive feedback from parents and children. Parents said, they liked the focus of the book being local and relatable.
- Distribution of 100+ copies of the book around the Co.Cavan area.
- Application for National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards 2025