A PRIMARY school teacher from Kilrush has delved into the world of children’s books by releasing her first publication, Rosie the Daisy.
By Niamh Kirrane
Meadhbh Chambers told The Clare Echo that her passion for literature and children’s education were the spark that led her to creating Rosie The Daisy, which “kind of wrote itself”.
“One day I was early for an appointment and I said I’d go and get a cup of tea. I always have a book or notebook with me, and I just started writing and it came out. And I haven’t changed too much about it since then and that was about four years ago,” she explained.
Cappa-based Meadhbh puts an emphasis on providing an avenue for adults to approach important conversations with young people about sharing thoughts and feelings. The book, which is beautifully illustrated by Béibhínn McCarthy, follows the story of a flower who overcomes feelings of low self-esteem.
“I like a book with a message, obviously it’s lovely to pick up a book and have an enjoyable experience reading it but I do love a book as a resource,” she says.
Meadhbh is extremely “passionate” when it comes to children’s education, adding, “I’m an infant teacher so I teach kids to read all the time and I love it…I love watching the world open up to them when they do read.”
Very thoughtfully, she dedicates the book on the first page to her husband, four children and godson who is currently in Kenya. “I never get to see him because he lives so far away. I thought it would be a nice way to show him that I care about him.”
Rosie The Daisy is available from the Ennis Book Shop, the Lahinch Book Shop and O’Sullivan’s in Kilrush and online from buythebook.ie.