My summer self-indulgence has been to read a good number of children’s books. This is a refreshing breather in my busy season and helps me keep my balance. I have read several novels by old and beloved author friends of mine, some gems of theirs I have not read before.

Hilda van Stockum, of course, is one of my all-time favorite children’s authors. Our family has been charmed by The Mitchells and challenged by The Borrowed House. The Winged Watchman is probably one of the dearest books of my life. But, I had never read The Bantry Bay series before. Though Dutch herself, Hilda van Stockum lived in Ireland for a time. Some close friends of mine made a trip to Ireland early in the summer and came back extolling its charms, so I decided to visit there myself. I stepped into the O’Sullivans lives and was immediately at home there. Van Stockum’s imagination becomes a four or eight or twelve-year-old with ease, but also has the power to transport you instantly there, too.

The O’Sullivans, like all families, have their challenges—to provide food and shoes and education for their children, to find joy and contentment with friends and family, but in particular long for a family cow and the means to give their crippled son the surgery that will make it possible for one of the twins to run to his heart’s content. The O’Sullivan children are willing to take their part in making the family dreams come true, and the scrapes and predicaments they manage to entangle themselves in are hilarious. Van Stockum’s sense of humor bubbles throughout her children’s stories. In The Cottage at Bantry Bay we find their brave and generous hearts able to pursue and achieve the most valuable things in life. The sequel, Francie on the Run is even more entertaining as newly healed Francie, independent and impetuous as always, decides to set out for home early from the Dublin hospital and has quite a time making his way on his own, but is rewarded by the kindness of strangers. His ability to touch the hearts of all he meets wins him many friends along the way. Van Stockum considered this novel to be her personal favorite of all she wrote. The third book in the series is Pegeen, the story of one of those encounters Francie made on his trek through Ireland who comes to live with the O’Sullivans and turns their life topsy-turvy. One of the authentic aspects to this series is how van Stockum weaves local legends, songs, and poetry throughout the day to day family events.

All in all, I enjoyed my stay with this delightful family for a few weeks and was sad to reach the end of this trilogy, though it is comforting to know they will remain ready to welcome me back any time I decide to revisit them in the pages of these simple and heartwarming stories.

For the joy of reading,

Liz