By Malachy Doyle (author) , Erin Brown (illustrator) Part of the Bloomsbury Readers series
"A thrilling retelling of the traditional Irish legend of Cuchulainn written by Malachy Doyle"
Paperback In Stock £6.99 £6.29
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Book Band: Grey (Ideal for ages 8+)
This is a modern twist on a lesser-known Irish folktale. A story of realised dreams and the perseverance of one little Shepherd boy. It tells the story of Setanta who wants to be a Red Branch Knight.
The young warriors are great hurlers and Setanta knows his skills are every bit as good as theirs.
The early chapters are set in the home with Setanta’s parents, where his dreams are not recognised. His mother thinks they are too poor and lowly for their son to be recognised by the King and his Knights, and when Setanta wants to travel with his father to the town of Emain Macha, to try his luck with the trainee warriors, his father produces a plethora of reasons why not. (A lot like many parents faced with a pleading child.) However, he not only wins over his father, but also the King who witnesses his skills and finally the warriors, who after much bullying and rejection of an interloper to their group, recognise both his ability but also his bravery.
Throughout the book there is a feeling of hope of success, but there are also some exciting twists and encounters. This is an exciting adventure story, but also a story with some important themes and areas for discussion: Setanta’s pride and belief in himself, bullying and its consequences, and the bravery and determination, in one so young.
Young Setanta, the son of poor shepherds, is determined to impress the might king of Ulster with his strength and bravery and to join the Red Branch Knights. He could easily beat the other warriors at hurling. He could even triumph over them in a fight. But can he defeat the ferocious hound of Ulster, the smith Culann's menacing guard dog, and prove his worth?
Read the full description
This page-turning story from Malachy Doyle, based on the traditional Irish folk tale, has exciting black-and-white illustrations by Erin Brown and is perfect for children who are developing as readers.
Malachy Doyle has written over 120 books, from picture books to teenage novels. His books have won the Nestle Smarties Prize, the Tir na n-Og Award and the English Association Award.
Malachy spent twenty-five years in Wales, before returning to Ireland, where he lives on a tiny island with his wife Liz and collie dog Treacle.
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Young Setanta, the son of poor shepherds, is determined to impress the might king of Ulster with his strength and bravery and to join the Red Branch Knights. He could easily beat the other warriors at hurling.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Hound of Ulster: A Bloomsbury Reader and determined it is suitable for children aged 7-8 years old
The Hound of Ulster: A Bloomsbury Reader features in the following genres: Adventure Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Reading Scheme, Educational: First / native language: Reading and writing skills, Grammar, Spelling & Literature, Educational: Language, literature and literacy, Educational material, Traditional Tales, Featured Books for 7+ readers, Recommendations
Paperback. £6.29, down from the £6.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Hound of Ulster: A Bloomsbury Reader was written by Malachy Doyle and published by Bloomsbury Education
The Hound of Ulster: A Bloomsbury Reader has 63 pages
Yes it is part of Bloomsbury Readers series
£6.29, reduced from £6.99. In Stock.
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