It's Too Dark, Puffling

It’s Too Dark, Puffling

Story by Erika McGann

Illustrations by Gerry Daly

For Michael O’Brien, who saw the wonder in this and so many other books

Acknowledgements Thanks to Jamie Dunning for helping us make the puffins glow!

To Dean Brown of the Interaction Research Studio and his brilliant puffin sunglasses.

And many thanks to Eoin O’Brien and everyone at O’Brien Press.

First published 2023 by The O’Brien Press Ltd, 12 Terenure Road East, Rathgar, Dublin 6, D06 HD27, Ireland Tel: +353 1 4923333; Fax: +353 1 4922777 E-mail: books@obrien.ie Website: obrien.ie The O’Brien Press is a member of Publishing Ireland.

Published in

Copyright for text © Erika McGann Copyright for illustrations © Gerry Daly The moral rights of the author and illustrator have been asserted Copyright for layout, editing and design © The O’Brien Press Ltd Puffin sunglasses designed by Dean Brown of the Interaction Research Studio ISBN: 978-1-78849-379-6 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any way or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

87654321 26 25 24 23 Printed and bound in Poland by Białostockie Zakłady Graficzne S.A. The paper in this book is produced using pulp from managed forests.

It’s Too Dark, Puffling receives financial assistance from the Arts Council

2

The sun was getting low over Skellig Michael.

A puffling popped her head out of her burrow and saw a little puffling crying nearby.

‘What’s wrong, little puffling?’ the puffling asked.

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4

The little puffling would not go into his burrow.

‘I don’t like the dark. It’s too dark in the dark!’

‘But it’s nearly bedtime,’ the puffling said.

‘I love my burrow at bedtime.

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‘It’s so snuggly and cosy

and lovely

and warm.’

6

But the little puffling shook his head.

7

The puffling pulled twigs and fluff from her burrow.

‘Here!’ she said to the little puffling.

‘Now do you want to go to bed?’

8

The little puffling hugged his new toy and shook his head.

‘I don’t like the dark. It’s too dark in the dark.’

‘Hmm,’ said the puffling.

‘I know what might help.’

9

The pufflings walked to a big stone hut,

where some rabbits were playing hide and seek.

‘I love to hide in here where it’s dark,’ a small rabbit said.

‘My siblings can never find me!’

‘And it looks so snuggly,’ the puffling replied.

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But the little puffling did not want to play.

‘I don’t like the dark. It’s too dark in the dark.’

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The pufflings spotted a fulmar that stood right at the edge of a cliff.

‘I love the nighttime.’ The fulmar yawned.

‘It’s quiet and calm and makes me feel sleepy.’

‘That does sound cosy,’ the puffling said.

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