Tá Seán Scamall ag Déanamh Cruthanna

Make teaching the water cycle fun for little children with this curriculum-aligned picture book from the Na Weatherbies Irish-language series. This cast of memorable characters make it easy to remember key concepts about the world around us and the need to take good care of our planet. The game of “What Am I?” will get little imaginations going and can inspire real-life games as kids look to the sky.

“Tá spórt agus spraoi ag Seán Scamall inniu, ag súgradh thíos sa pháirc.

Ag déanamh cruthanna dá chairde uilig, agus iad ina suí ag amharc.

Ach tagann na Truailleáin dhána agus fliuchann Fearghal Fearthainn iad le huisce.

Ach soilsionn Gabhán Grian go geal chun na Truailleáin a thriomú níos gaiste.

Ní thuigeann na Truailleáin timthriall an uisce, nó cá mbíonn an fhearthainn go deo.

Ach insíonn Fearghal faoi thuras an uisce chun gach rud a choinneáil breá beo.”

This book is also available in English as Colin Cloud is Making Shapes. Pair the books for parallel language learning or shared reading in mixed-language groups.

Language, music and learning

The book series is also available in English, and can be used as parallel texts, for children reading them side by side, or for non-Irish-speaking parents and siblings to read along with children learning Irish.

Learning is easier when music is involved! Kids can sing along with accompanying song Amhrán Timthriall an Uisce on streaming platforms. The album Foinn Éicea by Na Weatherbies le Clare Galway, has a whole host of new eco-topical songs such as Cuir sa Bruscair É, Ag Athsholáthar Cumhachta ar Dhóigh Nádúrtha, Beacha Beaga Buí and many more.

Trusted educational partnerships

The Weatherbies are the official Early Years partners for Eco Schools NI, part of the global Eco Schools network delivering the Eco Schools programme by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), one of the world's largest environmental education organisations. The book series and companion materials are aligned to the global Eco Schools themes of biodiversity & nature, climate change, energy, food, global citizenship, health & wellbeing, litter, marine & coast, school grounds, transport, waste, and water. Access the full range of resources to go with this book on the Weatherbies website.

The Weatherbies are UK STEM Ambassadors, are partnered with global teaching resource providers Twinkl and are learner members of Learnovate in Trinity College Dublin.

Yvonne Fleming is a wife, mother, childminder, and children's author who created The Weatherbies from a passion for doodling on paper. Whilst sitting in the garden colouring with the children on a sunny day, she looked up at the sky and began sketching weather formations. Inspired by the much-loved environmentally friendly books and TV show The Wombles, Yvonne wanted to help children form a stronger connection with the weather they see and feel every day. By personifying weather formations, she believes children can be encouraged to take an active interest in climate awareness and sustainability.

Yvonne gave her new characters names and began inventing little stories for her own young children and the others she cared for. She called her creations The Weatherbies — Sammy Sun, Rosie Rainbow, Colin Cloud, Ronny Rain, Flo Snow, Willy Wind, Barry Star, Harry Hail, Tommy Thunder, the Lightning Twins, and Mary Moon – and introduced the Pollutants to provide teachable moments for young children.

Knowing songs are a great way to help kids remember information, and wanting to introduce them to a wide range of musical genres, Yvonne straight away enlisted composer and music publisher husband Peter to co-write and produce a variety of entertaining songs to accompany her stories. When son Steven, who grew up listening to the stories and songs, embarked on a university degree in interactive media, Yvonne made another of her dreams come true by bringing him onto the team to create the graphic designs and educational videos used in schools and homes, making The Weatherbies Ltd an imaginative and fulfilling multimedia family business.

With growing demand for Irish-language versions of these lovable characters, Yvonne, Peter and Steven set about creating books, songs and Fun Topic videos as Gaeilge, landing an Irish distribution deal with Áis and a licensing deal with the BBC for its BBC Gaeilge online education platform. And so Na Weatherbies made their debut, with the stories retold as Gaeilge, featuring Gabhan Grian, Triona Tuar Ceatha, Sean Scamall, Fearghal Fearthainn, Sile Sneachta, Gearoid Gaoth, Ruairi Realta, Conn Cloichshneachta, Tomas Toirneach, Cupla Tintreach, and Gearoidin Gealach – and na Truailleáin.