The Island of the Bees

Author: Patricia Forde

Interest age: from c 3 years

Published on 14 May 2026 by Penguin Random House Children's UK (Puffin) in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 32 pages
231 x 285 x 5 | 190g

An epic tale of volcanoes, dragons and wild storms, with themes drawn from Irish legend. Written by the current Irish Children's Laureate, this is a celebration of the magic of bees and the power we can all draw from the natural world.

Nestled on a peaceful island, Orla and her grandmother live tending their beloved bees. But bubbling below is a monster waiting to surface – a dormant volcano – and when it wakes Orla and the rest of the island must flee in search of safety. Orla adventures across the wild sea, guided by her buzzing friends, to find a new home. But what will they find over the horizon?