Mayo author releases her first children’s book

Westport resident Anne Printer has released her very first children's book, ‘Ollen the Oak Tree’.

The book, which follows an Irish oak tree and a long-eared owl, is aimed at young children, between the ages two to six.

Ms Printer told The Mayo News that aside from being a lovely story for children, the book also aims to educate.

“It’s that bit of an introduction to young children on biodiversity, and it’s all based on an Irish forest, so the other creatures are those you would find in an Irish forest, like pine marten, badgers and things like that.

Released just a month ago, the beautifully illustrated hardback book follows Ollen, an oak tree which feels lonely due to its size compared to the other trees in the forest. When Loxy the long-eared owl needs a place to call home, Ollen finds a friend and companion for life.

“The oak tree would be the oldest tree in the forest, and this oak tree’s name is Ollen. Ollen is very lonely because he gets so big he can’t talk to the other trees he grew up with, because they stayed small, and he got big.” 

She continued: “So, what happens is one night an owl comes to visit and says the hollow in the tree would make a lovely home so it makes a home in the tree and has three little owlets, and then Ollen isn’t lonely anymore.”

_{The cover of 'Ollen the Oak Tree'}

Through the story, the book introduces young children to different birds and animals who live in the forest with the oak tree, showing the young age group the important role of biodiversity in our forests while listening to the story and looking at the hand-painted illustrations.

Ms Printer explained: “The whole idea behind the book was for children to be able to recognise a tree, so from the leaves of a tree they’d be able to spot ‘oh that’s an oak tree’ or ‘that’s a rowan tree’, so it is very accurate”. Ms Printer has taken great care to ensure that the information and detail is precise, even meeting with Brendan Fitzsimons from the Tree Council of Ireland to look over the book before it went to print. 

While ‘Ollen the Oak Tree’ is the author’s first release, her love for storytelling dates back to her time as a teacher.

 “I used to teach French to very small children for many years, so I think that showed me the power of storytelling to get information across to little children,” Ms Printer said.

“It’s taken about two years [to write the book]. I enjoyed creating the characters, and I have another story written, so I am hoping if this goes well I’ll be able to start working on the next one and some of the same characters come into the story, so the kids will be able to identify with the characters,” added Ms Printer.

_{A look inside 'Ollen the Oak Tree'}

The inspiration for the book didn’t just come from the art of storytelling, but her rural Mayo surroundings.

“I live in a rural area overlooking a lake and that is what inspired me to write the story,” concluded Ms Printer.

The book currently retails for €13.99 and is stocked in The Bookshop (Duffy’s), McLoughlin's Bookshop in Westport, Tertulia at The Quay, and in The Castle bookshop, Castlebar.

Alternatively, you can buy the book on McLoughlin Bookshop’s website and the Mayo Books website.