Leona's Summer in Ireland

By Kristen McKernan

Do you want to join Leona on her many fun adventures in Ireland?

Leona is an Irish American girl who lives in America but loves traveling to Ireland for the summer. During this fun filled trip Leona will experience countless fun activities. Among these experiences are: flying on an airplane, collecting eggs on her Granny and Granda's farm, picking blackberries with her cousins, traveling to an Irish music competition called the Fleadh Cheoil, warm cuddles with her Granny at the fire, climbing a mountain and many other fun adventures.

Hardcover, 38 pages.

About the Author

Kristen McKernan is a wife and mother of two living in Congers, NY. Along with being a full-time mom, Kristen is a registered nurse. She decided to write a children's book after becoming inspired by her own experience growing up with a strong connection to two great nations, America and Ireland. Kristen is first-generation Irish American, her father from Armagh, Ireland, and her mother from Queens, NY, having also grown up with strong Irish roots. Kristen and her three sisters grew up taking unforgettable trips to Ireland, where she made lasting memories and formed relationships that helped shape the person she is today. She decided to write a children's book about the exciting adventures a little girl can have while also navigating big feelings about having to say goodbye at the end of each trip to her beloved family abroad. In 2018, Kristen married her best friend, Brian, who is from Tyrone, Ireland. They look forward to bringing their children, Leona and Darragh, on many trips to Ireland.

Claire Slattery is a fine artist born and raised in the Hudson Valley, living and working in Asheville, North Carolina. She is a creative business owner and working artist specializing in painting. Claire is a first-generation Irish American whose experiences overseas have greatly influenced her world perspective. Claire has actively been pursuing her love and passion for creating art for as long as she can remember. Claire's work strives to depict the magnificence and color of our natural world through portraiture and landscape. The pursuit of capturing the spirit and expression beyond what meets the eye is the driving force behind her body of work. Illustrating Leona's story felt like she was bringing her childhood experiences to life, navigating the gratitude and challenges of having so many beloved family members in Ireland while living an ocean away.