The Vanishing Lake

by Paddy Donnelly

A captivating tale that celebrates a young girl’s determination, a granddad’s wisdom, and the fantastical wonders of the natural world.

Something mysterious is happening at Lake Loughareema. There are days the lake is beautiful, shimmering, and full. And then there are other days . . . where the lake is completely empty.

Meara asks her granddad WHY the water disappears, but every time he blames far-fetched culprits: Narwals! Mermaids! Giants!

Unsatisfied with these wild tales, Meara sets out to look under every pebble and search every hill—exploring the entire island to uncover the truth for herself. Little does she know the answer is much larger than she realizes, and it might just take stepping back and opening her eyes to the impossible to discover the magic of Lake Loughareema.

From debut author-illustrator Paddy Donnelly comes a captivating tale celebrating a young girl’s determination, a granddad’s wisdom, and the fantastical wonders of the natural world.

What to Expect:

Wild and Fun: Readers are caught up in a slew of outlandish situations.

Natural Themes: With a sense of wonder throughout, this book encourages young readers to explore the wider world around them and seek their own natural wonders.

Gorgeous Art: The illustrations in this book are rich-textured, fun, lively, and entirely engaging.

A Clever Combination of Fiction and Non-Fiction: An educational back matter offers opportunities for discussions about geographical phenomena.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Adventure, Graphic Novels

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 2021

About the author

Paddy Donnelly is an Irish author and illustrator of picture books. Now living in Belgium, he works in a range of illustration styles and was shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards in 2018 and the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards in 2020. He wishes Pluto was still a planet.

Reviews

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a little bit of magic associated with the lake near the home of Meara's grandfather. Without any warning, its waters simply disappear and then reappear days later. Although Meara's grandfather teases her with stories of mermaids unplugging the lake or sheep soaking up the lake with the wool as the answer to the riddle, it's not enough his resourceful granddaughter who decides to solve the mystery through science and investigation. The answer though might not be what Meara is expecting...

Digitally illustrated with rich, warm swathes of green and blues, Donnelly makes the most of the double-page spreads to celebrate this idyllic, Irish spot. As Meara explores the lake floor with a magnifying glass, Donnelly presents lush, green vistas with deep clouds and expansive spaces. Animals, both fantastical and real dot the frame and landscape and children will be drawn in by these visitors to mythical scenes.

What is especially lovely though is granddad's fanciful yarns about why the water has vanished and whether the truth of the story lands on the magic of granddad's side or Meara's science will keep young readers intrigued until the very end.

I particularly liked the information text at the back in which Donnelly shares the story's origin based around a real lake he visited as a child in his home county in Ireland in which the water really did drain away. A fantastical delight.

[Pelio Papadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Η λίμνη Λουγκαρίμα (γράφεται Loughareema), στην οποία αναφέρεται το βιβλίο του Paddy Donnelly «Η λίμνη που εξαφανίζεται», βρίσκεται στη Βόρεια Ιρλανδία, κοντά στη γενέτειρά του. Για τους επιστήμονες, το φαινόμενο θεωρείται ως ένα από τα πιο αινιγματικά γεωλογικά αξιοθέατα: η λίμνη μπορεί να είναι άδεια από νερό μια μέρα και να είναι τελείως γεμάτη την επόμενη. Τι συμβαίνει άραγε; Υπάρχουν φυσικά επιστημονικές εξηγήσεις, αλλά η μικρή Μάιρα προτιμάει τις εκδοχές του παππού της. Μήπως ρούφηξε το νερό της το μαλλί των προβάτων; Μήπως κάνουν κάθε τόσο κατακόρυφο τα ναρβάλ με το σουβλερό κέρατο και την κάνουν... σουρωτήρι; Μήπως σκανταλιάρες γοργόνες βγάζουν πού και πού την τάπα της λίμνης; Μήπως πάγωσε και τη χρησιμοποίησε για παγάκι κάποιος γίγαντας; Ή μήπως ξεδιψούν εκεί κρυφά ορισμένοι απρόσμενοι επισκέπτες; Η Μάιρα δεν το βάζει κάτω και προσπαθεί με κάθε τρόπο να λύσει το μυστήριο!
Ο δημιουργός συνδυάζει με υπέροχο τρόπο τη μυθοπλασία με τη μαγεία της φύσης και φτιάχνει μια τρυφερή ιστορία για παιδιά από 3 ετών, μιλώντας τους για την αποφασιστικότητα ενός μικρού κοριτσιού, τη σοφία του παππού της και για τα θαύματα του φυσικού κόσμου. Κυκλοφορεί από τις Εκδόσεις Ίκαρος σε μετάφραση του Αντώνη Παπαθεοδούλου. Πολύ το αγάπησα!!!

[NBPB Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meara’s grandpa’s lake disappears now and then. Grandpa gives many explanations of why it disappears. But, little Meara becomes curious, investigates, and gives up after a while. Now, grandpa decided to show her that mammoth secret, and they walked all the way up the mountain. What they find there is something that you won’t believe.

A heartwarming story that is funny and beautiful. We all have heard some intriguing stories during our childhood, and this one will resonate well with all age groups. We picked this book based on the gorgeous cover, and we must say it just didn’t disappoint at all. The illustrations are fantastic. The depiction of each scene is frame-worthy.
Pick this book for its superb illustrations and a comforting storyline.
Read the full review at Nothing But Picture Books

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magical realism adventure based on a real vanishing lake in the author/illustrator's home town!

Meara always asks her grandfather what happens to the lake - how it disappears and reappears all the time - and he gives her many silly answers she doesn't believe, until one day, she finds out the truth!

The illustration in this book are soft and expressive; silly and perfect for the style. There are clues and hints throughout as to the answer to the mystery, but I never picked up on it myself, and was very delighted to re-read and discover them!

In the back, there is a little bit of information about real vanishing lakes in the world and what causes them!

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vanishing Lake

by Paddy Donnelly (Author)

Summary:
Meara visits her granddad at Lake Loughareema in Ireland. She wonders why it disappears. Instead of giving her the scientific reason, he tells her tall tales, such as the sheep wool absorbing it or prehistoric mammoths appearing and drinking it up.

Comments:
What a fascinating story to pair with this natural phenomenon to spark discussions with students during science class. Why do students think it disappears completely and reappears after it rains? This book is a must-have for any school or home library!

The author's note explains what really happens with the vanishing lake.

Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2

[Mairéad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated, magical tale explains the mystery of the vanishing lake in a fun, child friendly, magical way that is sure to be enjoyed by young readers aged 7+
This thoroughly enjoyable, light hearted tale would be a great prompt in a classroom for lessons exploring different geographical oddities with a group of pupils.

[Jenna Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little mystery and adventure for young readers. It is easily relatable to younger audiences that visit their grandparents' house during the summer. There’s a big beautiful lake that occasionally will disappear. But then it will rain again and the lake reappears. Everytime it disappears, her grandfather would have a new answer for her. This answer would be pretty comical, engaging little readers. She would try to solve the mystery and find her answer. This was such a cute story and would be a perfect addition to a classroom library. It would be great for a point of view lesson, or to discuss the author's purpose for writing the book.

[Bente Pompen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book that sparks the imagination ✨

[Kate Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting fun story about a place that my kids and I now want to visit! We plan to read it again with my geologist dad so he can tell the kids more about the possible reasons for this phenomenon.

[KANCHAN RAJEEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note - Super grateful for receiving this digital arc as a courtesy of Edelweiss and this is an honest opinion of mine.

For a debut novel, the author - illustrator Paddy Donnelly has done a fabulous job on this book ' The Vanishing Lake'. Totally adored the creative and mesmerizing illustrations in the book. The author has woven a story across a scientific concept that may have seemed a bit complicated even for adults as well. And offering a scientific reasoning at the end of the book is a great way to impart learning in the readers too !! That was quite an amazing take at transferring an amazing piece of knowledge to the younger lot. Overall the book is perfect for all aged 8 + and definitely a must read.

[Marie-Pier Dodier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lac réel en Irlande qui se vide et se remplit régulièrement.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is The Vanishing Lake by Paddy Donnelly, an enchanting fable that celebrates imagination, curiosity, and everyday magic.

Meara loves to visit her Granddad and his pet otter, Cara, at his home of the shores of beautiful lake called Loughareema. With cool water to swim in, scattered rocks to jump across, and small islands to explore, Loughareema is a pretty normal lake… most of the time. But sometimes, for seemingly no reason at all, the lake will just up and disappear! Very suddenly, all the water will be gone until it rains again. Meara’s granddad has plenty of ridiculous explanations for this mysterious phenomenon, but Meara knows that there must be an answer in science. She begins to study and gather evidence of where the vanishing lake might be disappearing to, but with no answers and no leads. At last, Granddad offers to show Meara the truth about their disappearing lake… and it’s an explanation that no one expects!

Wonderful! I absolutely love a good plot twist in a children’s book, and this is one of the coolest – and most moving – I’ve ever seen. Loughareema, based on the actual vanishing lake near the author’s childhood home in Northern Ireland, actually does have a fascinating scientific explanation for its periodic disappearances, and one that Donnelly wisely adds in a very informative author’s note. But for the purposes of the story, it’s the magic of the mystery that is more important than solving it, and Paddy nicely balances fact and fantasy to sell the message that both scientific curiosity and imagination have value, especially for children. This is supported beautifully by the lush and atmospheric illustrations that pulls readers into the world of Meara’s lake, creating both a natural and somewhat mystical environment. The length is great for a storytime, and JJ really enjoyed the surprise twist, and loved that Granddad’s otter shared a name with her mom (lol). Overall, this was a wonderful read with a lot of style and a sweet message, and we highly recommend it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you be pulled down so deeply into fantasy only to discover the wonder before your eyes is actually real? That's the magic that Paddy Donnelly casts over you in his wonder of a picture book The Vanishing Lake.

The Vanishing Lake tells the story of Meara a girl who is staying with her Granddad and his pet Otter Cora. My daughter always adores an animal element and thoroughly enjoyed spotting Cora on each page of the book. Meara notices that the lake is there and then suddenly it's not. She wants to discover why and her Granddad gives all manner of far-fetched reasons to this mystery. Cora doesn't believe the tales her Granddad tells her until one day he takes her to really discover the truth.

The author and illustrator Paddy grew up on the north coast of Ireland and the Lake Loughareema is a very rare, special lake that he grew up near as a child. The author notes in the back compliment perfectly and give you the answers to your questions. My little one thought this section was fascinating but absolutely wanted to believe Meara and Granddad and stay in the world of fantasy!

As a glasses wearer myself I love seeing main characters wearing glasses so to have Meara bespectacled with her big rimmed glasses is wonderful. It still amazes me how little glasses are shown in books when almost 60% of the UK wear them.

The illustrations are warm and wispy and give a great sense of the place and climate. There's a movement to the images that give you the feel of the wind in your hair, the rain on your face or the sun on your back - very clever. I still can't believe Paddy uses photoshop to produce these glorious images - I can just about brighten a photo! The images are dreamy and delight at every turn of the page.

I've only recently noticed another wonderful bewitchment in Paddy's books. Hiding underneath the dust cover is a very different cover. I love books like this that give you a secret glimpse of something different. I do hope this is a feature of Paddy's books that he will continue.

A wonderful read and one that will enthrall readers both young and old. I'd highly recommend another book by Paddy - Dodo Are Not Extinct.

Thank you Paddy for sending us this wonder for review.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I were absolutely mesmerized by this charming and intriguing story! The narrative follows a young girl who visits her granddad's house on Lake Loughareema. Turns out, this is not your average lake. Every so often it vanishes! There is indeed a scientific reason for the fact that the lake vanishes (which the author provides in detail at the end of the book since Lake Loughareema is a real vanishing lake). However, the narrative of this lovely story pays no mind to the logical--instead the granddad comes up with playful explanations like -- maybe the lake froze overnight and a giant used it as an ice cube? or, maybe narwhals live in the lake and are doing headstands that poke holes in the bottom of it and drain it out?

It's all so fun and just perfect for children. The intrigue lasts just the appropriate amount of time and comes together nicely in the end. Again, I appreciate at the end there are pages that share the actual scientific reasoning by vanishing lakes, and the author shares his personal experiences living near Lake Loughareema.

This is a wonderful imaginative tale children will love diving in to. The illustrations are dreamy -- the scenes where they imagine giants and mermaids and woolly mammoths are spot on.

***Note: I was given a review copy of this book by Yeehoo Press. Opinions are my own.

[The Blossoming Bibliophiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeous book is such a fun and magical story!

Meara’s granddad lives on the shores of Loughareema, a lake that every so often disappears! But how?! Meara’s grandad gives her several reasons why the lake might have vanished, which include tales of swimming sheep, narwhals doing headstands, and giants using ice cubes. Meara isn’t convinced by these tales and is determined to solve this mystery herself! The truth ends up being stranger than she could have ever imagined!

What makes this story extra special is that Loughareema is a real lake in Northern Ireland, that does in fact disappear and reappear. The author and illustrator, Paddy Donnelly, grew up near this mysterious lake and has turned some of the mythical stories from his childhood into a truly beautiful book that will delight both children and adults!

The publisher sent me this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Stephanie Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meara’s granddad lives by Lake Loughareema and something mysterious is happening. Some days the lake is full shimmering and other days the lake is completely empty and would fill back up every time it rained. When she asked her grandad why he tells her a different story every one featuring a more fantastical creature or excuse that are to blame for the water disappearing. So Meara goes exploring to try and figure out where the water goes every time it disappears and when she gives up on finding the answer her grandad shows her the secret of why the water disappears. The illustrations for this are really great and I loved the stories her grandad would tell her to explain the water disappearing each one more farfetched than the previous one. The ending was really fun and grandad finally gives us the explanation about where the lake goes.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, fantastical and almost mythical story of Meara and the Vanishing Lake. Every once in a while the lake near Granddad’s house goes dry and nobody seems to know why or how. Granddad has tons of theories: mermaids pulling the plugs, narwhals poking holes in the bottom, or sheep’s wool absorbing all the water when they went swimming. Meara poo-poos all of Granddad’s stories and goes on a search of her own. Finally, the last of Granddad’s stories makes sense and as Maera witnesses it herself, she is satisfied with the conclusion. Read this fun story yourself for an unexpected ending and a small dip into Irish mythology and geology. Make sure you watch the fantastic illustrations for some hints about the ending. End notes provide a reality check into an actual “disappearing” lake near the author’s boyhood home.

[Moni Ritchie Hadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vanishing Lake

"Do you only believe what you can see?" That is the question Granddad poses to Meara when she questions why the water vanishes from Lake Loughareema. Granddad's answers hint at magic and impossibilities. My favorite part of the book is the relationship between the girl and her Granddad. There is a sense of trust, fun, and playfulness that readers will love. The illustrations are inviting with brilliant blues and vibrant greens. Expect the unexpected in the end. This is one that kids will want to read over and over again!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meara’s Granddad lives by a lake with his pet otter—a pretty ordinary lake except for the fact that it occasionally VANISHES.

Did the sheep go swimming and soak up all the water in their wool? Or are the narwhals doing headstands again and accidentally poking holes in the lake bed? Meara is determined to find out. (And what she discovers with her grandpa is so beautifully satisfying—realistic and magical all at once!)

Inspired by the real life Lake Loughareema near the author-illustrator’s childhood home in Ireland, this absolutely mesmerizing book is such a celebration of curiosity, imagination, and natural wonders.

Click to take a look inside the book.

[Marijt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Als je 6-jarige na het lezen even stil is en het daarna uitroept dat dit een heel mooi boek is, dan mag je dat wel aannemen. (Hij riep dit niet na een Buurman&Buurman boek, dit ter zijde!)

Zo'n mysterieus boek, wat overigens supermooi en voor de verandering wél aantrekkelijk is vormgegeven, zet je even op het verkeerde been, laat je nadenken, laat je verwonderen en opent de poorten van fantasie.

Een prentenboek wat qua taal zeer past in de reflectieve dimensie en je voor kunt lezen nav thema's als natuur, water, fantasie, reizen. Dit boek vraagt om herhaaldelijk voorlezen, juist omdat er zoveel meer in zit en je niet alles de eerste keer ontdekt. Zeker voor groep 3 en 4, maar ook fantastisch voor de bovenbouw passend bij aardrijkskunde/natuur (natuur, wonderen, wateren). Een pareltje!

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meara loves to visit her grandfather at his little house on the lake. It is a beautiful little lake -bigger than a pond. With it's own small island and lots to explore but... sometimes... it disappears. Then the rains come and fill it back up again. For a bit. But then poof. Gone again. Granddad had a different explanation every time asked where the lake went - each a bit more fanciful than the last. But Meara knew there had to be a reason why the lake disappeared - though when Granddad finally shows her, even she is amazed. Mystery solved! Maybe...

The author has a lovely explanation at the end of the book that invites readers to appreciate the magic inspired by nature. And take a peek under the dust jacket - the cover of the book is different!

[Laurie Hnatiuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meara is visiting her granddad, who lives alongside a lake. It would appear to be an everyday lake, but every once in a while, the lake would disappear. When Meara questions her granddad about why he replies with fantastical answers such as the sheep went swimming and the wool soaked up all the water. Meara is determined to solve the mystery, and after having no luck, her grandfather reveals the mystery. It is a charming story, up until the ending that seemed a bit bizarre. Despite reading a digital arc where the illustrations were black and white, they are the star of this story, capturing beautiful landscapes and the everyday life at the lake.

[Aideen Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is absolutely beautiful, it's packed full of stunning illustrations which tell a wonderful story full of adventure and magic. It's a very unique picture book because a 4 year old will love it, but so will a 7 year old! The Vanishing Lake is about a curious little girl called Meara who keeps asking her Granddad why the lake beside his house keeps vanishing, and Granddad comes up with some outlandish and fantastic stories. This book will grab readers from the opening page, and you will re-visit it many times to cherish the threads of magic that are woven throughout the book. Well done Paddy Donnelly on a fantastic book.

[Mary Stergioti · Rating 5 out of 5]

O Donnelly μας γράφει για την λίμνη Loyghareema, δίπλα στην οποία μεγάλωσε, η οποία την μια μέρα μπορεί να είναι εντελώς γεμάτη και την άλλη να είναι εντελώς άδεια. Πέρα από τις διάφορες επιστημονικές εξηγήσεις υπάρχουν βέβαια και διάφοροι μύθοι γύρο από αυτό το φαινόμενο. Συνδιάζει ο Donnelly εξαιρετικά την μυθοπλασία που επικρατεί στα μέρη του με το γεωλογικό αυτό φαινόμενο που θα μπορούσε κανείς να το αποδώσει και σε μαγεία της φύσης.
Η μικρή Μάιρα φαίνεται όσο και να προσπαθεί να εξηγήσει επιστημονικά αυτό το φαινόμενο, να διασκεδάζει εξίσου ίσως και περισσότερο με τις φανταστικές εξηγήσεις του Παππού της.
Τα μαμούθ ειδικά ήταν και του δικού μου 3χρονου η αγαπημένη εκδοχή... ❤️😜

[Charessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Yeehoo Press for a complimentary copy!

This was a surprise one. I must say I was not expecting a mythical aspect to this one--I had frankly assumed it would be a story of nature and science played straight, but I really love the magical element that was added to it (though it could be argued that it was pareidolia that made them see what they saw). It makes you truly wonder when you see a peculiarly shaped mountain or rock.

I really enjoyed this one and I'm sure it'll get kids' imaginations going too, as well as foster a sense of discovery in them as they experiment and research nature.

[Srujan · Rating 5 out of 5]

📌 Children's Picture Book 47 of 2026

📌 Tried to look this one up but couldn't find a reasonably priced copy of this anywhere where I live in India. So we watched a read aloud on it on YT. And before I say anything about how my kids liked it, I would have to confess that I, the full grown adult, was so amazed and intrigued by the idea that a very real lake in Ireland fills and drains in a random non-periodic manner. I immediately went down a Google rabbit hole. The story ends on a fantasy/mythical note and kids might not believe the ending. But the illustrations are wonderful and the story telling is engaging. A fun story overall about a very much real geological wonder on our planet.

[Luyang Xue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating tale that celebrates a young girl's determination, a granddad's wisdom, and the fantastical wonders of the natural world.

Natural Themes: With a sense of wonder throughout, this book encourages young readers to explore the wider world around them and seek their own natural wonders.

Gorgeous Art: The illustrations in this book are rich-textured, fun, lively, and entirely engaging.

A Clever Combination of Fiction and Non-Fiction: An educational back matter offers opportunities for discussions about geographical phenomena.

[Emma Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book all about a mysterious and intriguing lake that sometimes disappears! Her Grandad is always gently teasing his Granddaughter about lots of made-up reasons why the lake has vanished, and the real reason will surprise you! I found it really interesting to learn from the pages in the back of the book that it was based on a real lake! The illustrations are really pretty, showing lush greens and then as the sun sets, burnt oranges and yellow ochre. And I really liked the cute pet otter!!

[Katja Smit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dikke vier sterren voor dit door Dolf Jansen uit het Engels vertaalde boek. Wat een leuk, fantasierijk verhaal over een meer dat verdwijnt en zich weer vult. Geweldig hoe opa allerlei oorzaken verzint voor het leeglopen van het meer. Heel grappig ook op sommige momenten: "Het was eigenlijk een heel gewoon meer. Het was nat, groter dan een plas,...".

In een nawoord legt de auteur uit dat sommige meren inderdaad af en toe droog vallen. Je kunt van alles met dit boek, ook op school.

AK-boek, 2022, meren, verdwijningen, grootvaders, fantasie.

[Juniper Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vanishing Lake is my second book that I’ve read from Yeehoo Press, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first one!

The Vanishing Lake follows Meara, as she visits her grandfather who lives by a lake. Sometimes, the lake goes missing! Meara asks Grandpa why the lake disappears, and we’re off on an adventure to think about why.

I enjoyed the author’s note at the back of the book, explaining that there are several lakes across the world that do indeed just go missing. I liked how the author incorporated their Irish heritage into the storytelling as well.