Drawn from the Irish Traveller storytelling tradition, DeBhairduin’s tale is a gentle allegory about identity, self-acceptance and different ways of seeing the world. Two slugs travel happily together until they meet a crow who asks them where their home is. The younger brother, embarrassed, makes himself a shell, and calls himself snail. The older brother carries on as he is. At first, the brothers grow apart. But in time, they learn to respect each other’s way of life.
"A warm story of difference and commonality." - Sunday Independent
"A beautifully illustrated refreshing modern-day Aesop’s Fable ... This sweet and unique picture book is rooted in the oral tradition of the Irish Traveller community and gently explores themes of belonging, community, friendship, acceptance, and feelings with a light-hearted and thoughtful touch." - BookTrust Northern Ireland
"I love this story." - The John Toal Show
"In a world full of prejudice, the message here is one of respect for all ways of life." - The Echo
"This is a gorgeous book and hopefully not the last we hear of Oein and Olya." - Read and Reviewed
Author
About Oein DeBhairduin
Oein is from Galway in the west of Ireland. He loves stories, new and old, long shared and freshly told. It brings joy to his heart to read and tell tales from and about his community, the Mincéirí. He works in the National Museum of Ireland where he collects the objects and their stories that connect our past to our present and hopeful futures. He was gifted this tale and he’s sharing it with you, in hopes that it travels well.
