Mel Carroll is an Irish illustrator and designer based in Belfast. After working as the creative director for a branding company for over ten years, Mel jumped ship and started UsFolk Illustration Agency in Belfast. He spends his time managing the business and working on illustration commissions. His playful character-based work is colourful, textured and varied in style. This is his first book.
For Mum and Dad
First published 2025 by The O’Brien Press Ltd, 12 Terenure Road East, Rathgar, Dublin 6, D06 HD27, Ireland. Tel: +353 1 4923333; E-mail: books@obrien.ie; Website: obrien.ie
The O’Brien Press is a member of Publishing Ireland.
ISBN: 978-1-78849-500-4
Text and illustrations © Mel Carroll 2025
The moral rights of the author have been asserted. Editing, design and layout © The O’Brien Press 2025
Cover and text design by Emma Byrne
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including for text and data mining, training artificial intelligence systems, photocopying, recording or in any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 29 28 27 26 25
Printed and bound in Poland by Białostockie Zakłady Graficzne SA
The paper in this book is produced using pulp from managed forests.
To the best of our knowledge, this book complies in full with the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). For further information and help with any safety queries, please contact us at: productsafety@obrien.ie
In the not-so-faraway land of Belfast city lived three kid goats, named Fluffy, Duffy and Scruffy Gruff.
‘Hey, Da! I’m starving,’ said Fluffy. ‘Me too!’ cried Scruffy and Duffy.
‘Why don’t youse head on out to Botanic Gardens?’ said Da. ‘You can have a wee picnic there.’
‘Here, follow this map of Belfast,’ said Da. ‘Don’t be late for dinner and DON’T cross the Albert Bridge or you’ll wake the grumpy oul’ troll who lives under it.’
‘Did he say troll?’ said Duffy.
‘Come on!’ said big brother Scruffy. ‘Off we go!’
Fluffy grabbed her scooter, and her brothers jumped on their bikes, and off they sped to find Botanic Gardens.
Off they rode along the docks …
… past Caroline the ship
And stopped by the spiky Titanic Building for a quick photo.
Two giant yellow cranes clinked and clanked.
‘’Bout ye, wee ones. Where are you off to?’ asked Goliath the Crane.
‘We’re looking for Botanic Gardens, but we’ve lost our map,’ said Fluffy.
‘Can you help?’ asked Duffy.
‘Aye, we can, but you’ve some way to go,’ said Samson the Crane.
‘Here, climb up and you’ll see all of Belfast city,’ said Goliath.
‘You can see the whole world from up here,’ said Duffy.
‘Well, the whole of Belfast anyway,’ said Fluffy.
And off they went towards the big Odyssey Arena …
… whizzing past Nuala with the Hula …
… until they came to the Big Fish.
‘Hello, furry ones, what’s the craic?’ said the Big Fish.
‘We’re looking for Botanic Gardens, but we’ve lost our map,’ said Scruffy.
‘Oh aye?’ said the Big Fish.
‘Well, look for City Hall. Green roof, sure ye can’t miss it!’
They rode over the cobblestones under the floating umbrellas … 16