Traveller/Roma Booklist

The Slug and the Snail

Two slugs travel happily together as brothers, until they meet a crow who shows them that they have no home. Ashamed, one of the slugs decides to make himself a home, and calls himself snail.

4-7 Years

Oein DeBhairduin

The Fairy Queen

One day, a greedy king and queen arrive in Ireland and demand gold from all who live there. Anyone who can’t pay is sent to jail. The king of the Travellers and his grandchildren escape to the woods. There, they meet a fairy queen, who turns them into leprechauns and gives the king magical powers beyond his imagination. Together, they go on a quest to save his friends and reclaim their home.

3-7 Years

Chrissy Donoghue Ward

Skein Press

Can’t Lose Cant

A book created by Traveller and settled children in County Kildare that explores the Traveller language Cant through a colourful collection of drawings and illustrations.

All age groups

Created by children in Kildare-Published by Kidsown

Kids' Own Publishing

A-Z and Back again

This beautifully illustrated alphabet book was made during a series of workshops that explored some simple print techniques. A group of young children, Traveller and settled, worked with their older siblings and parents in family groups to produce the artwork and design pages.

0-5 Years

Created by children Derry and Sligo-Published by Kidsown

Kids' Own Publishing

Grow Up Strong

Grow Up Strong encapsulates the resilience and confidence of Traveller children, imparted to them by their mothers, encouraging them to stand tall despite challenges. This book also includes a teacher’s resource.

8-16 Years

Created by children and young people in Cork with Cork STAR team and teachers

Kids' Own Publishing

I Can Run Free

I Can Run Free offers gentle prompts for discussion, interaction, and observation, inviting children and families to explore the world around them through creativity and curiosity.

4- 8 Years

I Can Run Free' emerges from a weekly, process-led engagement in County Waterford, where children and their families worked alongside artists Maree Hensey and Francesca Hutchinson.n Free emerges from a weekly, process-led engagement in County Waterford, where children and their families worked alongside artists Maree Hensey and Francesca Hutchinson.

Kids' Own Publishing

Lamp the Keys

The title, Lamp the Kevs—meaning “look at the shoes” in Cant, the traditional language of the Traveller community—captures the humour, expression, and cultural exchange that runs throughout the book. Examples of Cant are included, giving readers a glimpse into this enduring heritage.

7-12 Years

Lamp the Kevs brings together stories and artwork created by children from Traveller and settled communities, as well as children from Ukraine, Egypt, Brazil, and other parts of the world. The project formed part of Ballina 2023, a year-long celebration of the town’s 300th anniversary, and explored the rich intercultural life of the local school community.

Kids' Own Publishing

The Real Us

The Real Us shares the perspectives of Roma children, offering unique insights into their daily lives and challenges stereotypes about the aspirations of Roma youth, they say “We are stereotyped too often, and people think we don’t want education or to do anything with our lives. But the opposite is true.”

Any age

Young participants collaborated with Kids’ Own Associate Artist Francesca Hutchinson, and Associate

Writers Daniel Brennan and Mary Branley. This books was developed in partnership with Cork Traveller Visibility Group, TUSLA Education Support Service, and the Cork STAR project and funded by the RTE Toyshow Appeal and Community Foundation for Ireland.

Kids' Own Publishing

Through the Eyes of Traveller Children – Experiences, stories and hopes for the future

A new book by Traveller children from Dungarvan, County Waterford, providing a snapshot of their lives and traditions. The book took shape through a series of creative workshops with Traveller children and their parents. The children worked with Kids’ Own artist Orla Kenny and writer Mary Branley to share their experiences, stories and hopes for the future.

5-12 Years

‘Through the Eyes of Traveller Children’ is published by Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership in partnership with Waterford Childcare Committee, Waterford County Traveller Interagency Group and Kids’ Own and was funded by Waterford City & County Council.

Kids' Own Publishing

This Giant Tent – A children’s celebration of Traveller culture and identity

A children’s celebration of culture and identity in response to the Travellers’ Journey/Mincéir Misli’d exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life.

8-12 Years

This project was a collaboration between Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership, The National Museum of Ireland, Involve Youth Project, Ballina and Scoil Íosa, Ballina.

Kids' Own Publishing

Cant turn back

A book all about travellers by children in Mohill, Co. Leitrim.

8-12 Years

This book was created by Traveller and settled children in Mohill, Co Leitrim. It is a heartfelt journey into the past and present of Traveller culture, full of humour, unromantic about poverty, yet celebrates the interdependence of settled and nomadic life.

Kids' Own Publishing

Clotty Malotty and All Her Friends – Collection of rhymes and jokes with artwork

This book focuses on rhymes from the settled and Traveller community of North Dublin but it opens the doorway to explore rhymes from different cultures around the world. Rhymes, ditties, lullabies and jingles are universal and are part of the heritage of every culture.

This book supports a developmental education approach through discussion around the roots of rhymes and what they tell us about living conditions in ‘the old days’ and can act as a prompt for a wider discussion about poverty, justice and fairness in the world today.

5-8 Years

‘Clotty Malotty and all her Friends’ is published by Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership as part of their Unheard Voices series intended to make Traveller culture visible

Kids' Own Publishing

Charlie Barley and All His Friends - Collection of traditional rhymes and jokes with Artwork

A Collection of Traditional Rhymes and Jokes with Artwork by Irish Traveller Children from County Sligo.

5-8 Years

Traveller children along with their parents and grandparents created this book in a series of creative workshops, with artists Orla Kenny, Dermot Seymour and Diarmuid Delargy.

Kidsown

The Lost Homework

Sonny devotes his weekend to helping his neighbours and fellow Travellers with a variety of tasks. He uses many skills, from calculating the amount of fuel needed for a journey, to restoring a caravan. In fact, the only thing he doesn't do over the weekend is his homework - his workbook is missing! What will his teacher say?

4-9 Years

Richard O'Neill

Widely avaliable

Polonius the Pit Pony

When Polonius the pit pony escapes from the coal mine he's worked in all his life, he joins a family of Travellers. Although he enjoys the freedom and the fresh air that their lifestyle offers, he wishes he could give something back to the family in return. When the chance arrives for him to do something to help, he rises to the challenge and uses his intelligence and skills to save the day. Based on true events and retold by a master of the oral tradition, this story bears witness to the Traveller values of independence, initiative, courage and hard work.

4- 9 Years

Richard O'Neill

Widely avaliable

Yokki and the Parno Gry

When a Traveller family experiences a run of bad luck, an imaginative boy called Yokki lifts their spirits with tales of a magical white horse. A traditional Traveller family folk tale which inspires hope and celebrates creativity. Told by a Romani storyteller together with a picture book author to positively reflect Travelling cultures.

4-9 Years

Richard O'Neill and Katharine Quarmby

Widely avaliable

Ossiri and the Bala Mengro

A Traveller girl creates her own musical instrument from a willow branch and lots of recycled objects. She plays it enthusiastically but it sounds terrible! Ignoring warnings not to awaken the ogre in the hills, Ossiri goes there to practice playing her instrument. Will she wake the ogre and will it appreciate her playing? Told by a Romani storyteller and a picture book author, this original tale offers a fascinating insight into Travelling lifestyles and cultures.

4-9 Years

Richard O'Neill

Widely avaliable

The Giant Tent 

This book brings together a collection of artwork and stories that were created by children in Ballina, Co. Mayo, in response to the Travellers' Journey/Minceir Misli'd exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Castlebar. After an initial trip to the museum, the children -from Scoil fosa and Involve Youth Project - went on their own journey of exploration, working alongside writer Mary Branley and artist Cas McCarthy to develop this colourful celebration of identity and culture.

8-12 Years

Mary Branley

Kids' Own Publishing

I'm not allowed to play with you anymore 

A children's book about bullying at school and its effects on the Gypsy and Traveller community. The author of this book is a member of the Travelling Community.

4-9 Years

A short story by the Traveller Movement

Link to Free

Can't is Cool 

Produced by the Navan Travellers Workshop, this free PDF book is a mini vocabulary book of the Cant language and a fantastic resource for teachers who want to learn more about the language.

Any Age

Navan Travellers Workshop

Click Here to Access this Free PDF Book

The Pavee and the Buffer Girl 

Jim and his family have halted in Dundray and the education people have been round mouthing the law. In school, the Traveller kids suffer at the hands of teachers and other pupils alike, called ‘tinker-stinkers’, dirty gyps’ and worse. Then the punches start. The only friendly face is Kit, a settled girl who takes Jim under her wing and teaches him to read in the great cathedral chamber of the cave below the town. With Kit and the reading, Jim seems to have found a way to exist in Dundray but everyday prejudice and a shocking act of violence see his life uprooted once again.

12-15 Years

Siobhan Dowd

Widely avaliable

The Can Caravan 

When Janie’s neighbour Mrs Tolen goes into hospital with a broken hip, it looks as though she will have to move out of her old caravan and into a house. Janie is desperate to help, but all seems lost until her school visits a local recycling plant. All it takes from there is imagination, a supportive community, and lots and lots of hard work to transform Mrs Tolen’s old caravan into a safe and secure new home! The latest picture book by renowned Romani storyteller Richard O’Neill celebrates the traditional Traveller virtues of resilience, adaptability, loyalty and independence.

4-9 Years

Richard O’Neill

Book Link

Why the Moon Travels 

Why the moon travels is a haunting collection of twenty tales rooted in the oral tradition of the Irish Traveller community. Brave vixens, prophetic owls and stalwart horses live alongside the human characters as guides, protectors, friends and foes while spirits, giants and fairies blur the lines between this world and the otherworld.

Collected by Oein DeBhairduin throughout his childhood, retold in his lyrical style, and beautifully illustrated by Leanne McDonagh.

Age 13+

Oein DeBairduin

Widely avaliable

Contentious Spaces

The Traveller families who live in Saint Rita’s are on borrowed time. In just a week they will be evicted by the local council, threatening not only their homes but also their history and the stories that have shaped them. Charlene, a proud young beoir suffers a humiliating betrayal. Her mother, Kate, is left to navigate unbearable loss while holding the family together. Her cousin, Sheena, strives to find her place in a new environment that is quick to dismiss her. Her uncle Tommy fights despair as his teenage son spirals out of control.As eviction day draws closer, the families struggle to preserve their dignity, finding strength in one another as they navigate an unknown future.

Unflinching, Contentious Spaces is a haunting story about identity and loyalty, shame and resilience, grief and love, and the defiant power of voices that refuse to be silenced.

Older Teen

Unsettled

Rosaleen McDonagh writes fearlessly about a diverse experience of being Irish. Unsettled explores racism, ableism, abuse and resistance as well as the bonds of community, family and friendship. As an Irish Traveller writing from a feminist perspective, McDonagh’s essays are rich and complex, raw and honest, and, above all else, uncompromising.

Older Teen

Rosaleen McDonagh

Widely avaliable