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To the Island
Fia looks out her window and across the bay. She longs to see the mythical island of Hy Brasil, which appears and disappears in the water.
She slips out of bed, walks across a moonbeam and arrives at the island. She walks with magical creatures, dances with a host of girls and boys, and visits the bottom of the sea and the stars in space.
Finally, Fia returns to the town, and follows the small compass of her heart – all the way home.
She slips out of bed, walks across a moonbeam and arrives at the island. She walks with magical creatures, dances with a host of girls and boys, and visits the bottom of the sea and the stars in space.
Finally, Fia returns to the town, and follows the small compass of her heart – all the way home.
- GenresPicture Books
40 pages, Hardcover
Published June 1, 2021
11 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Forde
59 books180 followersPatricia Forde lives in Galway, in the west of Ireland, with her husband Padraic and two teenage children. She has previously published Picture
Books and Early Readers for children in Irish and in English. She has written two plays and several television drama series for children and
teenagers. In an earlier life, she was a primary school teacher and the artistic director of the Galway International Arts Festival.
The List ( The Wordsmith in the UK and Ireland) is her first novel.
Books and Early Readers for children in Irish and in English. She has written two plays and several television drama series for children and
teenagers. In an earlier life, she was a primary school teacher and the artistic director of the Galway International Arts Festival.
The List ( The Wordsmith in the UK and Ireland) is her first novel.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 19, 2021
A magical story of Fia and her late night visit to Hy Brasil, a mythical island near Ireland. Lovely descriptions and brightly coloured, imaginative images which are suitable for all primary ages.
September 9, 2020
With lyrical writing, Patricia Forde has created a journey that is filled with magic, imagination and swirling, textural imagery that is echoed to perfection in the beautiful illustrations by Nicola Bernardelli. Both story and pictures create a landscape that is the stuff of dreams, painting a new fairytale from old legend. The gentle, lulling rhythm holds us captive as we ride the moonbeam along with Fia, meeting the residents of Hy-Brasil as if they are old friends. Evocative, magical, soothing and full of quiet, glorious wonder.
TO THE ISLAND is a work commissioned as part of the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture programme. It is simultaneously published in the Irish language as AN T-OILEÁN THIAR, capturing the true feel of the Irish legend of Hy-Brasil and a real sense of Irish culture. In these pages, you find familiar scenes of Galway City, along with mystical depictions of Hy-Brasil that will inspire your dreams and curiosity. Each child starting primary school in Galway this September will receive a free copy of the book. While the events of 2020 have put quite a damper on the mass celebrations of Galway 2020, this book will create an impact to be felt for a long, long time.
Sweet dreams and glorious journeys, everyone.
TO THE ISLAND is a work commissioned as part of the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture programme. It is simultaneously published in the Irish language as AN T-OILEÁN THIAR, capturing the true feel of the Irish legend of Hy-Brasil and a real sense of Irish culture. In these pages, you find familiar scenes of Galway City, along with mystical depictions of Hy-Brasil that will inspire your dreams and curiosity. Each child starting primary school in Galway this September will receive a free copy of the book. While the events of 2020 have put quite a damper on the mass celebrations of Galway 2020, this book will create an impact to be felt for a long, long time.
Sweet dreams and glorious journeys, everyone.
September 24, 2020
At the back of this book there’s a note for the adult readers who will be reading it to their children, briefly outlining the history of Hy Brasil island and there’s probably the bones of a whole other book right there. But this particular book is for the very young and it’s an absolutely breathtaking publication.
Fia is a Galway girl who knows about the legend of the island of Hy Brasil and of how it only appears once every seven years, rising out of the Atlantic ocean like a mysterious apparition. Fia spends many full moons hoping to see it. And then it happens! She sees it one night and she sneaks out of bed, creeps through the Galway streets and hops on a moonbeam at the Spanish Arch quay. The moonbeam takes Fia straight to the magic island.
Commissioned by Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture and published by Little Island, this book is full-on gorgeous. The artwork by Nicola Bernardelli is outstanding, the depth and colour and light of the illustrations just something to behold. Text by Patricia Forde is pitch perfect and the scenes of Galway city, as well as the magic island, are wondrous. Also published in Irish under the title An tOileán Thiar, it’s one of the most attractive children’s picture books I’ve seen published this year. Exceptional.
Fia is a Galway girl who knows about the legend of the island of Hy Brasil and of how it only appears once every seven years, rising out of the Atlantic ocean like a mysterious apparition. Fia spends many full moons hoping to see it. And then it happens! She sees it one night and she sneaks out of bed, creeps through the Galway streets and hops on a moonbeam at the Spanish Arch quay. The moonbeam takes Fia straight to the magic island.
Commissioned by Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture and published by Little Island, this book is full-on gorgeous. The artwork by Nicola Bernardelli is outstanding, the depth and colour and light of the illustrations just something to behold. Text by Patricia Forde is pitch perfect and the scenes of Galway city, as well as the magic island, are wondrous. Also published in Irish under the title An tOileán Thiar, it’s one of the most attractive children’s picture books I’ve seen published this year. Exceptional.
March 28, 2025
A beautiful, magical book, full of the whimsy of a mysterious island. I'd be interested in finding out more about Hy Brasil and the legend of it.
The illustrations were beautiful. I was so impressed with how parts looked like the page was glowing!
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!
The illustrations were beautiful. I was so impressed with how parts looked like the page was glowing!
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!
December 30, 2023
Whimsical. Journey, adventure and going back home safely.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews