Kevin and the Blackbirds

A heartfelt retelling of an ancient Irish tale by a master storyteller, paired with the extraordinary style of an award-winning illustrator.

When young Kevin is sent to a monastery to be cared for, he yearns for the freedom of the woods and fields and misses his parents. One day he reaches out through the cell window towards the light and a blackbird lands in his hands and begins to build a nest there. Kevin waits patiently as the eggs are laid and the baby birds hatch. When they spread their tiny wings and fly off, three new wild things gone out into the world, at last Kevin can rest. PJ Lynch’s atmospheric illustrations perfectly capture David Almond’s moving retelling of this ancient Irish tale about the love of nature and a willingness to let go.

The values of respect for nature are woven into this heartwarming retelling of an Irish legend based on the story of Saint Kevin. Children's Books Ireland
A heartfelt retelling of an ancient Irish tale by a master storyteller, paired with the style of an award-winning illustrator. The Bookseller

David Almond is the acclaimed author of many award-winning novels for children such as Skellig, Kit's Wilderness and My Name Is Mina, and has collaborated with artists Polly Dunbar, Dave McKean and Oliver Jeffers on fiction for younger readers. David's books sell all over the world, and in 2011 he was the recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award. In 2021, David was awarded the OBE for Services to Literature. For more info visit:

P.J. Lynch has won many awards, including the Mother Goose Award, the Christopher Medal three times, the Irish Bisto Book of the Year Award, and the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal twice – first for The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski and again for When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest. P.J. Lynch was Irish Children's Laureate and has been commissioned to design posters for Opera Ireland and the Abbey Theatre, as well as designing stamps for An Post.

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