Folks, it’s all systems go for the holidays around here. The Christmas tree and most of the decorations are up at our place, and we’ve a little bit of shopping done for the kids. Lots still left to do, but it’s a good start to the month, regardless.
Regular readers know that I spend most of my time in the column writing about things for grown-ups, good stuff like CDs, books, festivals, items of archival interest and what not. I haven’t spent much time here addressing the interests of the little ones, or of the parents of little ones, and that’s by design.
But this week is different because ’tis the season for thinking about kids’s gifts and as it happens I just received a book called “Brian O'Lynn, A Rare Irish Gentleman” in the mail. An illustrated telling of the ancient ballad “Brian O'Lynn,” it is a well executed tale for children that draws from Ireland’s deep musical tradition in a respectful, entertaining way. And it comes with a bit of a twist in presentation – online access to a special recording of the song upon which the book is based! If you love traditional music, this is a book you can read and enjoy with your child, but if you approach it right, it’s one that your young one might just fall in love with and build strong positive memories around.
If you’re not familiar with “Brian O'Lynn,” it’s a centuries-old but fairly familiar song about a man and his humorous but not necessarily common sense responses to the ridiculous situations in which he always seems to find himself. The song’s rightly considered a classic, it has been published and recorded often and dozens of different versions have been collected over the centuries, each one relating O'Lynn’s foibles differently, sometimes strikingly so.
In this telling, the troubles in which our protagonist finds himself are lighthearted and entertaining. Every situation is presented alongside bright, colorful illustrations, and each has been given a very “active” look. The text, which is “good bedtime story length,” is presented using an easy rhyme that I don’t think would be beyond the amusement of young kids. At the end of the book, there’s an informative section for adults called “About Brian O’Lynn” that gives the song a bit of background and light historical context. It’s a nice little package.
If you grew up knowing the song, “Brian O'Lynn” can be an opportunity for a sing along, but if singing’s not your thing, fret not. A QR code is printed on the book’s back cover that will take you to a gorgeous recording of the song as it appears in the book. The QR code will work flawlessly with your cell phone and at just under seven minutes long, the recording gets you through the whole book. (Yes, I realize a phone is a less-than-ideal at bed time, but let’s be honest, sometimes you need a little help!)
The two folks responsible for this book are award-winning artist Kate Murtagh Sheridan (www.katemurtaghsheridan.com) and singer Fionnuala Maxwell, both of County Leitrim. Sheridan is an a visual artist specializing in fresco paintings and ceramics. Her work is colorful and full of style, and it lends itself very well to this book. Maxwell is a fine singer with a great sense of melody and a clear, piercing voice, and her recorded version of the song is lovely. Together, they’ve done fine work in putting together this book and deserve all the praise they’ll receive.
Now, it’s possible that you – perhaps through an older relative – already know this song thanks to an earlier kids’ book. In 1901, County Down artist and writer Sophia Rosamond Praeger wrote ”The Olde Irishe Rimes of Brian O'Lynn,” the first illustrated telling of the “Brian O'Lynn” idea for children. It was brilliantly done with a somewhat “Seussian” look to it, and although it was fairly popular for the time, I don’t know that Praeger’s visual or prose style would fit in with the kind of books kids are read these days. This is to say, Sheriden & Maxwell’s is a far more contemporary-feeling work that builds on Praeger’s example and is a very worthy successor to her approach. (BTW if you’re interested in seeing Praeger’s 1901 book, you can access a digital copy through the Toronto Public Library’s Digital Archive by visiting tinyurl.com/BrianOLinn.)
I think “Brian O'Lynn, A Rare Irish Gentleman” is a book any young Irish parent will want to know about. Or better yet, I think it’s a book that friends and relatives of young Irish parents will want to know about, because it makes an easy, thoughtful, and – most importantly – enriching gift. The illustrations have great character, the text is gentle and interesting, and the Maxwell’s recording is a nice touch that offers parents a lot of flexibility: you and your child enjoy Sheridan’s pictures on their own, or you can read the text as it’s written, or, you can sing along with the text, or read along with Maxwell’s recording. It’s a funny little continuation of old time tradition that’s done in a engagingly modern way. What’s not to love? (Also, you might particularly love this book if you’re from Leitrim, as there are traces of home throughout!) To learn more and to order, visit theguggeringbag.com.
