"Quinn’s writing has a folksy, intimate tone; readers will feel as though they’re huddled by the fireside, listening to a gifted storyteller holding an audience spellbound." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) This entrancing collection of Irish fairy folk will enchant young lovers of the mystical, the magical, and the occult. Watch for seal-skinned selkies coming to shore every ninth day to dance—but keep a safe distance, lest you become mesmerized. If you spy a fair mermaid combing her hair whilst sitting upon a rock, look away, as that could be bad luck indeed. And legend has it that just one encounter with the silver-tongued fairy known as the Charmer may leave a person lovesick and heartbroken. This gorgeous book offers illuminating introductions to fifteen remarkable fairies, the lesser-known heroes and villains of Irish folklore, from tiny leprechauns to enormous giants, trickster spirits to slippery shape-shifters. Dramatically lit illustrations, stories inspired by tales from the Irish National Folklore Collection, and a look at each fae’s traits and origins make this a keepsake collection and a gift to be treasured. Quinn’s writing has a folksy, intimate tone; readers will feel as though they’re huddled by the fireside, listening to a gifted storyteller holding an audience spellbound. Even folklore enthusiasts will find unique depths within each jam-packed entry. Reminiscent of Stephen Gammell’s work, Flynn’s illustrations are grotesquely gorgeous—like the fae they depict, they are texturally rich, glowing with a unique allure and just a touch unsettling. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Overall, this is a big success and will be great in classes that are looking at folktale imagery and motifs that occur across cultures. For independent enjoyment, recommend to readers who like their fairy tales to come with a little darkness. —Booklist (starred review) In this enchanting debut, Quinn offers an accessible introductory guide to a bevy of myths, monsters, and mischief-makers from Irish folklore. —Publishers Weekly While plenty of modern takes on faeries have done much to erode the Disneyfied fairy-dust image that the volume sets itself against, there’s still much to appreciate here, and even older readers will enjoy the sinister side of faeries and the gorgeous art. —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Síne Quinn is a writer and editor with an MPhil in children’s literature. She is a creative writing facilitator with the Bookmarks program at Trinity College Dublin, a writing program for elementary students, as well as a book doctor for Children’s Books Ireland. Síne Quinn lives in Ireland. Dermot Flynn is an artist, illustrator, and designer based between Dublin and London. He has worked with clients such as Paramount, Apple, Disney, and Adidas and with publications such as the New Yorker , Vogue , and the Guardian . FOREWORD I grew up in Galway, on the west coast of Ireland, hearing stories about faeries from an early age. One thing I learned very quickly was that our faeries are nothing like the ones you see in traditional storybooks, with their gossamer wings and magic wands.    No! Irish faeries are more likely to be shapeshifters, tricksters, or revenge-seeking, lesson-teaching fiends.    I’ve heard it said that some faeries are kindly, of course, and have been known to help us humans. I’ve heard they can give gifts of music and good fortune to those they like. But there are also stories of them leading unsuspecting humans astray or into the faerie realm—and only some return.    Irish people have always been wary of the faeries, wary because the faeries live beside them, among them, above and below. A stroll down a country road could take you past a faerie tree, a faerie fort, a faerie hill. Place names whisper to you of otherwordly forces: Carrigapooka (the púca’s rock) in Cork; Pollaphuca (the púca’s cavern) in Wicklow; Clochán an Phúca (the púca’s causeway) on the Aran Islands.    This, then, is a very special book—a book steeped in magic and lore. Normally, these characters and their stories come to life in dark places, on cold, wet nights when there is a heavy mist to cover all traces. These stories are usually whispered, hidden, delivered carefully and with a little shake in the voice.    For generations, Irish folklore has been passed from mouth to mouth, or, as we say in Irish, “from knee to knee!” as grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles, and aunts gave back the stories they had gathered throughout their lives—one treasure at a time.    Stories about the creatures in this book are usually prefaced with a warning. The sídhe are a sensitive race who demand respect. Mock them at your peril! They like to be known as “the good people,” and you would be wise to pay attention to that.    Síne Quinn and her co-conspirator, Dermot Flynn, have walked a fine line in this book. On the one hand, they speak respectfully about the “good people”; on the other, they give a