by Kids’ Own
A children’s arts organisation and publishing house.
Too Cold for Sharks is our new book made in partnership with the Health and Safety Authority, Kilkenny Education Centre, the Association of Teachers’ Education Centres in Ireland (ATECI) … and 116 children from all over Ireland.
The book is filled with the children’s stories, anecdotes and artwork about ocean safety and fishing life, helping other children to learn about the dangers of the ocean and how to stay safe. Too Cold for Sharks will be launched on 2 December 2014 at Croke Park by Minister for Business and Employment, Gerald Nash T.D. and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney T.D.
Too Cold for Sharks will be distributed to all primary schools and libraries nationwide and will also be available to buy from the Kids’ Own online bookshop from 2 December.
The Making of the Book
Children from primary schools throughout Ireland took part in an ‘On the Ocean’ competition organised by the HSA, submitting artwork, short stories and poems on a safety theme. The entries explored coastal life, visiting the ocean, the life and work of fisherman, the work of the Coast Guard, the importance of knowing how to swim, and the use of life jackets and life rings.
The 84 winning students collaborated with Kids’ Own artists Sharon Kelly and Orla Kenny in fishing towns and villages across Ireland to create the book. Representatives from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution(RNLI), the Coast Guard and Fisherman’s Co-op gave talks to the children which were followed by brainstorming sessions and creative workshops. The children had the opportunity to work outdoors, creating observational drawings and sketches. They also worked together to develop the page layouts that you see in the book.
The six workshops took place in: Tourism College, Killybegs; Howth Yacht Club, Dublin; The Stella Maris Hall, Kilmore Quay; Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) Training Centre in Castletownbere; The Harbourmaster’s Office in Dingle and the RNLI station in Galway.