The Slug and the Snail by Oein DeBhairduin
Drawn from the Irish Traveller storytelling tradition, DeBhairduin's tale is a gentle allegory about identity, self-acceptance and different ways of seeing the world. Two slugs travel happily together until they meet a crow who asks them where their home is. The younger brother, embarrassed, makes himself a shell, and calls himself snail.
The older brother carries on as he is. At first, the brothers grow apart. But in time, they learn to respect each other's way of life.
About the Author
Oein is from Galway. He loves stories, new and old, long-shared and freshly-told. It brings joy to his heart to read and tell tales from and about his community, the Mincéirí. He works in the National Museum of Ireland where he collects the objects and their stories that connect our past to our present and hopeful futures. He was gifted this tale and he’s sharing it with you, in hopes that it travels well.
About the Illustrator
Olya Anima is an artist-illustrator and visual storyteller. She holds an honours bachelor’s degree in animation and an honours master’s degree in children’s book illustration from Cambridge School of Art. Olya paints, illustrates books, and occasionally makes short animated films. One of her main sources of inspiration is the quiet mystery of the Irish countryside, especially along its western seaboard. Where, as Olya believes, live many magical creatures like fairies and elves.
Publisher: Little Island Press
Date Published: 6 July, 2023
Hardback, 32 pages
ISBN: 9781915071071
