Nanny Reilly by Annette O'Leary-Coggins

Free ebook download full of magic and adventure.

I could be accused of enjoying this book because the author is a friend, or because I grew up riding ponies bareback through the woods and fields of New England, or because I’ve always loved fairy tales, but it’s more likely because this is a wonderfully entertaining tale about a brave and adventurous Irish girl named Nanny Reilly and her dog Henry Daly. The pair outwit a leprechaun to free a princess; befriend a geeky boy named Ned; stand up to a cranky neighbor, and steal into a witch’s territory to rescue a friend. Oh yes, of course there are also magic ponies galloping beside the ocean. Warning to parents: once you start reading this book to your kids, they won’t let you put it down, and it won’t put them to sleep!

Here’s part of Annette’s description of the book:

“Nanny Reilly is based on my own childhood adventures in Ireland. The places are as real as you and I are. I fished for rocheens at Magandy's pond. I rode ponies on the beach from Ballineskar, to Ballyvaloo, to Coolrainy Curracloe, and into the forest at Culletons Gap. I picked blackberries in Katie's field for my mother to make homemade jam. I picked cockles at Ravens Point and mushrooms from Neville's fields. I believed in leprechauns, the tooth fairy and Santa Claus. I scraped my knees more times than I can remember.”

The book is full of delightful folk art illustrations reminiscent of Grandma Moses, done by Annette’s sisters in Ireland.

Annette is now finishing her next book, Come Back Nanny Reilly! and has made the first Nanny Reilly available as a free download. Get it while you can, before a publisher scoops up this gem!

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