Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre and Little Island Books are delighted to announce the publication of Sheila’s Busy Day: a picture book for toddlers aged 2 to 4.
Sheila’s Busy Day was written by award-winning author and storyteller Oein DeBhairduin, and tells the story of a day in the life of a young Traveller girl named Sheila.
The book uses words in Cant — a language unique to Travellers — to describe images of a typical day for Sheila and her family.
Sheila’s Busy Day was funded by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and marks a celebration of Traveller culture and heritage — empowering Traveller children to see and use their own language, and inviting children all over Ireland and beyond to recognise and appreciate Cant. Images featured in Sheila’s Busy Day were taken by Kathleen Ward
2,000 copies of Sheila’s Busy Day will be distributed by Kenny’s Bookshop in Galway to Early Learning and Care services, libraries, Family Link workers and Traveller organisations under the Equal Start Programme across Ireland. Sheila’s Busy Day will be distributed along with two picture books based on Traveller folktales, both published jointly by Little Island and Skein Press: The Slug and the Snail by Oein DeBhairduin and The Fairy Queen by Chrissy Donoghue Ward.
“Pavee Point is very proud to have collaborated on this beautifully illustrated book. It will be an invaluable resource in the early years setting and will be a great source of pride and confidence for young Pavee children, celebrating and receiving positive affirmation on our cultural identity and language. Such initiatives need to be developed further, and Traveller culture and identity needs to be reflected at all levels within the education system.”
Pavee Point’s Co Director, Martin Collins
“As a Traveller mother I’m excited that this book has been created. Inside this book you’ll find our story, of our family, which isn’t unique but does highlight our culture, traditions and identity; it is easy to read and each page is an invitation to talk and learn. This book will also help early years educators to create the spaces for these conversations to happen and help celebrate all cultures, traditions and identity overall, including Travellers. It will also help and learn little ones to have pride in their identity from the start.”
Tracey Reilly, Sheila’s mother
“I am immensely proud of this book Sheila’s Busy Day. Sheila was named after my grandmother, who passed away recently, and to have this book in her memory means a lot to me and to the family. I am delighted that this book will be in schools and that Traveller children will be able relate to this book: promoting positive identity and creating a space to have conversations with their peers and with other children who may not be Travellers. I would really love to see this book in every classroom up and down the country.”
Pa Reilly, Sheila’s father
PRESS INQUIRIES:
Mick Donohoe
Pavee Point Digital Communications
📞 087 119 3160
✉️ communcations[a]pavee.ie