Tomás Toirneach agus a Éan Beag

Kids can learn about birds whilst overcoming a fear of thunderstorms with this charming picture book i nGaeilge featuring a wonderful cast of characters. Gruff Tomás Toirneach leads the other caring Weatherbies in a tale of bird rescue when he finds a little bird endangered by the careless actions of na Truailleáin. It is the eighth book in the Weatherbies series of curriculum-aligned picture books that use these lovable weather characters to make it easy for young children to remember key concepts about the world around us. Tomás Toirneach agus a Éan Beag models pro-social behaviours such as compassion, working together and taking care of wildlife and the environment. 

Tá gach duine tógtha in Skytown, mar tá lá na n-éan ann inniu. Tá Tomás Toirneach ina thost, mar níor mhaith leis na héin a scanradh. Déanann Tomás Toirneach tormán agus cuireann sé eagla ar na héin nuair a fheiceann sé éan gafa san ola. An dig leis na Weatherbies cuidiú leis féin?

This book is also available in English as Tommy Thunder’s Little Bird. Choose one book or get the pair for parallel learning or shared reading in mixed-language groups.

Key Features

• ⁠Engaging eco story by Yvonne Fleming for ages 2–6

• Colourful pictures by James Salenga to enthral little ones

• Lovable, memorable characters modelling pro-social behaviours and values for young readers

• Irish and English editions available for parallel reading or shared reading in mixed-language families/groups

• Aligned to The World Around Us and other key Areas of Learning in the Early Years and Foundation Stage curriculum

• Aligned to the four Aistear Early Childhood Curriculum Framework themes of wellbeing, identity and belonging, communicating, and exploring and thinking

• Aligned to 12 global Eco Schools themes

• Created by The Weatherbies Ltd, UK STEM Ambassadors, the official Early Years partners of Eco Schools NI and partners of Twinkl NI

Entertainment and education for young children

Written by Yvonne Fleming and illustrated by James Salenga, the colourful picture books in the Weatherbies series are perfect for introducing eco topics and other concepts to children at Early Years Foundation Stage. Na Weatherbies are a lovable community of friends who live, learn and play in the wonderful world of Skytown. Through their interactions with the world around them, each other, and the pesky Truailleáin, the Weatherbies gang teach pro-social behaviours and values such as co-operation and responsibility.

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 to read along with children learning Irish.

Learning is easier when music is involved! Kids can sing along with accompanying songs 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, Is Maith Athchúrsáil a Dhéanamh and many more.

​​Deepen the learning from the book with the educational series Topaicí Spraoi leis na Weatherbies, available on BBC Gaeilge’s online learning platform and the Na Weatherbies Foghlaim YouTube channel. All companion materials can be accessed via the Weatherbies website.

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.