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The O'Sullivan Family #1
The Cottage at Bantry Bay
This book, written in 1938, offers a vivid picture of an Ireland that has all but disappeared. The O'Sullivan family invite the reader to share their many homey adventures. Michael and Brigid brave the wilds and gypsies on an errand for their injured father and come home with a new friend; twins Liam and Francie keep everyone hopping; Mother and Father draw the family together with story-telling, warmth and humor. Then Michael and Brigid find a treasure which changes the course of things for all.
Ireland, 1930's
RL4.9
Of read-aloud interest ages 6-up
Ireland, 1930's
RL4.9
Of read-aloud interest ages 6-up
239 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1938
About the author
Hilda van Stockum
55 books84 followersBorn February 9, 1908, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Hilda van Stockum was a noted author, illustrator and painter, whose work has won the Newbery Honor and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Brotherhood Award. She was also a charter member of the Children's Book Guild and the only person to have served as its president for two consecutive terms.
Van Stockum was raised partly in Ireland, and also in Ymuiden, the seaport of Amsterdam, where her father was port commander. With no car and few companions, she recalled turning to writing out of boredom. She was also a talented artist. A penchant for art evidently ran in the family, which counted the van Goghs as distant relatives.
In the 1920s, she worked as an illustrator for the Dublin-based publishing house, Browne & Nolan. She illustrated her first book, an Irish reader, in 1930, and her last book in 2001, giving her a 71-year career as a book-illustrator.
Van Stockum attended art school in Amsterdam and later in Dublin, where she met and later married Ervin Ross "Spike" Marlin, who at the time was her brother Willem's roommate at Trinity College. Willem Van Stockum was killed piloting a bomber over France in 1944. Van Stockum memorialized him in her book The Mitchells (1945), about the travails of raising a family in Washington, D.C., during the war. She often used her family as models for the written and illustrated characters in her books.
Not surprisingly then, Van Stockum was, in fact, raising a family in Washington, D.C., at the time, having married Marlin, who by 1935 was a Roosevelt administration official.
She had written and illustrated her first book for children, A Day on Skates , in 1934. It had a foreword by her aunt-by-marriage, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and won a Newbery Honor. During the next four decades she averaged one book per year written, illustrated, translated or some combination.
Van Stockum and the couple's six children were in tow for Marlin's peripatetic assignments, and it seems nothing short of miraculous that she managed to write and illustrate a score of children's books. In addition, she translated and illustrated editions of many other authors.
Asked in 1942 by the Washington Post how she did it, Van Stockum replied with characteristic aplomb, "By neglecting my other duties." Highly organized in her work, she illustrated and painted in the winter and wrote in the summer, when she could get her children out of the house.
Known for their warm, vivid, and realistic depictions of family life in the face of danger and difficulties, van Stockum's books typically featured families and were set wherever she happened to be living; Francie on the Run (1939), about a child who escapes from a hospital, was set in Ireland. Friendly Gables (1958) completed the Mitchells' saga — by then they had moved to Montreal from Washington.
Her most popular book, The Winged Watchman (1962) is the story of two Dutch boys who help the Resistance during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. The book is based on letters Hilda received from relatives in the Netherlands, and has been praised for conveying an accurate sense of life under Nazi occupation.
Hilda van Stockum died in 2006 at the age of 98.
Van Stockum was raised partly in Ireland, and also in Ymuiden, the seaport of Amsterdam, where her father was port commander. With no car and few companions, she recalled turning to writing out of boredom. She was also a talented artist. A penchant for art evidently ran in the family, which counted the van Goghs as distant relatives.
In the 1920s, she worked as an illustrator for the Dublin-based publishing house, Browne & Nolan. She illustrated her first book, an Irish reader, in 1930, and her last book in 2001, giving her a 71-year career as a book-illustrator.
Van Stockum attended art school in Amsterdam and later in Dublin, where she met and later married Ervin Ross "Spike" Marlin, who at the time was her brother Willem's roommate at Trinity College. Willem Van Stockum was killed piloting a bomber over France in 1944. Van Stockum memorialized him in her book The Mitchells (1945), about the travails of raising a family in Washington, D.C., during the war. She often used her family as models for the written and illustrated characters in her books.
Not surprisingly then, Van Stockum was, in fact, raising a family in Washington, D.C., at the time, having married Marlin, who by 1935 was a Roosevelt administration official.
She had written and illustrated her first book for children, A Day on Skates , in 1934. It had a foreword by her aunt-by-marriage, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and won a Newbery Honor. During the next four decades she averaged one book per year written, illustrated, translated or some combination.
Van Stockum and the couple's six children were in tow for Marlin's peripatetic assignments, and it seems nothing short of miraculous that she managed to write and illustrate a score of children's books. In addition, she translated and illustrated editions of many other authors.
Asked in 1942 by the Washington Post how she did it, Van Stockum replied with characteristic aplomb, "By neglecting my other duties." Highly organized in her work, she illustrated and painted in the winter and wrote in the summer, when she could get her children out of the house.
Known for their warm, vivid, and realistic depictions of family life in the face of danger and difficulties, van Stockum's books typically featured families and were set wherever she happened to be living; Francie on the Run (1939), about a child who escapes from a hospital, was set in Ireland. Friendly Gables (1958) completed the Mitchells' saga — by then they had moved to Montreal from Washington.
Her most popular book, The Winged Watchman (1962) is the story of two Dutch boys who help the Resistance during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. The book is based on letters Hilda received from relatives in the Netherlands, and has been praised for conveying an accurate sense of life under Nazi occupation.
Hilda van Stockum died in 2006 at the age of 98.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
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June 28, 2019Having enjoyed Van Stockum's wonderful Winged Watchman, a story of the Dutch Resistance during World War 11, this Irish tale left me in a coma of boredom. The adventures were so tame - losing a boat while picnicking on an island, going to a fair, selling a donkey - add to that thick lashings of "Oirish" dialect and it was over and out for me.
August 20, 2017
Mother and Father O'Sullivan of Glengarriff, County Cork, Ireland have four children: older siblings Michael and Brigid, and twins Liam and Francie. Each chapter of this novel relates an episode from the lives of these vibrant characters as they do things like deliver a donkey to market, befriend a strange dog, and pal around with Paddy the Piper, a traveling musician who turns up now and again to visit his widowed mother.
In many ways, this book is to Ireland what Kate Seredy's books are to Hungary. In addition to realistic stories set around the time of the book's writing, The Cottage at Bantry Bay incorporates lots of Irish culture, language, and history into many of its chapters. The result is an appreciation not just for these characters, but for the richness of their Irish heritage, complete with commonly told legends and folktales. For someone like me, who grew up with a father whose grandparents on both sides were Irish immigrants, this is the perfect book to have in my collection and to someday share with my kids.
That said, I did not love this book as much as I did the author's Mitchells series. Sometimes, I felt that the dialogue was trying too hard to sound authentically Irish, and some of the more mundane details of Irish living didn't really grab my attention. For me, the best parts of the story involved the twins causing mischief and Paddy the Piper maintaining his cheerful, whimsical persona despite the fact that almost his entire family was killed at war. But I can also say that this is precisely the type of book I sought out as a child: low-stakes, gentle, and with a solid happy ending. At age 10, I would have read this book again and again until its covers fell off!
I have heard wonderful things about the two sequels to this book, Francie on the Run and Pegeen, and I have every intention of reading those as well. Van Stockum is a great author for Catholic families, and I'm glad to own this book for my kids to read when they are older.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
In many ways, this book is to Ireland what Kate Seredy's books are to Hungary. In addition to realistic stories set around the time of the book's writing, The Cottage at Bantry Bay incorporates lots of Irish culture, language, and history into many of its chapters. The result is an appreciation not just for these characters, but for the richness of their Irish heritage, complete with commonly told legends and folktales. For someone like me, who grew up with a father whose grandparents on both sides were Irish immigrants, this is the perfect book to have in my collection and to someday share with my kids.
That said, I did not love this book as much as I did the author's Mitchells series. Sometimes, I felt that the dialogue was trying too hard to sound authentically Irish, and some of the more mundane details of Irish living didn't really grab my attention. For me, the best parts of the story involved the twins causing mischief and Paddy the Piper maintaining his cheerful, whimsical persona despite the fact that almost his entire family was killed at war. But I can also say that this is precisely the type of book I sought out as a child: low-stakes, gentle, and with a solid happy ending. At age 10, I would have read this book again and again until its covers fell off!
I have heard wonderful things about the two sequels to this book, Francie on the Run and Pegeen, and I have every intention of reading those as well. Van Stockum is a great author for Catholic families, and I'm glad to own this book for my kids to read when they are older.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
July 19, 2016
I read this in college and don't remember anything about it, but per my original journal comments: "You never know quite what you're going to find in the 'drab cloth covers/little-to-no-summary-detail' older section of the library's juvenile shelves, but I usually walk away with something good. This was no exception. Cute old tale of an Irish family."
September 12, 2008
There is not a book that I've read yet by Van Stockum that I haven't liked. Good clean stories. A sense of humor, and excellently written.
January 2, 2023
A cute story, fast read. I liked the characters, but the setting was wonderful. Really enjoyed hearing about Ireland.
November 8, 2015
We picked this up in our church library, but after reading (mostly skimming, a quick read) I thought that was funny, because maybe it has some catholic elements, but nothing out of the ordinary for a story about a family who is Catholic. It was a nice story about the Irish countryside family life of the past. Maybe a brief episode of violence from the "gypsies" and their mistreatment of a dog, but the dog was taken home and redeemed (after a few misunderstandings requiring some training for the dog). There may have been mention of a spanking or physical discipline from a teacher as well, but nothing unexpected for the time period. I decided not to read it with my 8 year old as a read-aloud because of the length, and the subject just wouldn't be her thing, but my 11 year old read it alone and liked it.
June 1, 2013
The Cottage at Bantry Bay holds a lot of fond childhood memories! As a child, I don't know how many times I flipped through this book just to look at the pictures or reread the humorous parts. It is a simple but charming story of a rowdy, adventurous Irish family whose lives are anything but dull. The beautiful and unique illustrations add to the story. If you read this one, you have to read its companion books, Francie on the Run and Pegeen.
September 14, 2009
In this book, set in post-"Troubles" Ireland, we meet the loving, resourceful O'Sullivan family.
I found this book very entertaining, even as an adult reader! I enjoy the quiet faith exhibited by the family and their friends.
I found this book very entertaining, even as an adult reader! I enjoy the quiet faith exhibited by the family and their friends.
October 30, 2019
I absolutely ADORED this book when I was a young teen. I’ve read the whole series three or four times, and would read them again. It’s very realistic in its portrayal of family relationships, but of course there are plenty of imaginative stories and adventures the kids have.
June 26, 2021
Read this to my daughter, a chapter at a time before bed. She loved it. Looking forward to the sequels, which we'll get to after we read through the Narnia books.
Bethlehem Books is doing the Lord's work publishing books like this.
Bethlehem Books is doing the Lord's work publishing books like this.
January 5, 2011
I just love this author and her characters. I read this book aloud to Paul (my 7 yr. old son). It was a little different reading a book set in Ireland, and some customs and words were new to us.
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April 20, 2015This book baffles me. I picked it up once and there was a chapter in which the family finds a Fairy Mound and goes inside. To this day I cannot find that chapter again. It's very odd to me.
May 4, 2026
Delightful Irish story and illustrations by the author-artist of a slower, simpler time.
“Money is of no use to me,” he said. “Money won’t buy me the things I care for.”
“What things?”
“Well . . . the swell of the sea and the sight of the gulls on the wing, the sweep of a road in front of me, the friendly faces greeting me at cottage doors, the kindness of the stars at night, and the wet nose of a dog pressed in me hand. . . . Money won’t buy me the look in a mother’s eye when she watches her child, nor will it make me flute play faster or me blood run stronger in me veins. . . . Money, me dear, means a lot, and then again it means nothing at all. It’s all a matter of taste.” -Paddy p.249
“Money is of no use to me,” he said. “Money won’t buy me the things I care for.”
“What things?”
“Well . . . the swell of the sea and the sight of the gulls on the wing, the sweep of a road in front of me, the friendly faces greeting me at cottage doors, the kindness of the stars at night, and the wet nose of a dog pressed in me hand. . . . Money won’t buy me the look in a mother’s eye when she watches her child, nor will it make me flute play faster or me blood run stronger in me veins. . . . Money, me dear, means a lot, and then again it means nothing at all. It’s all a matter of taste.” -Paddy p.249
December 6, 2021
This was a lovely read-aloud and it contained one of the best stories-within-a-story that I have read (thanks to Paddy the Piper). A perfect addition to our Ireland studies. We did have to talk about the very negative view of the gypsies in this book, it is a fairly short, but uncomfortable part of the book due both to the treatment of dog in their care and the general view of them by the other characters.
March 15, 2022
This is so much better as an audiobook! I tried reading it and it was slow going and seemed boring. Then I listened to it as an audiobook with my kids and the narrator did a beautiful job with the voices and made it come alive. I wish they narrated the rest of the series.
April 24, 2024
4.5 stars! A heartwarming story of an Irish family and their everyday life in Ireland. The author's writing of the beauty of the land and family life is so touching and the beautiful end moves one to tears!
February 1, 2019
Impossibly good.
March 30, 2020
Great read aloud!
April 28, 2020
Sweet story set in 1930's Bantry Bay. Full of the charm of Irish speech and innocent but difficult economic times. Loved the stories within the story.
June 27, 2020
This is a very nice book with endearing characters! I would recommend as a read aloud for young children or independent reading for older children.
December 1, 2020
It was alright
May 14, 2021
Sweet and charming story about a loving and faithful Irish family in the 1930s. My kids laughed hard and were enchanted by the poetry and the countryside descriptions interwoven throughout the book.
April 3, 2022
Just the way children’s books are meant to be.
May 15, 2023
Love this book. So sweet.
July 22, 2024
Such a delight. I read this aloud to my girls and we laughed all the way through it.
October 24, 2024
A sweet little read with a perfectly happy ending. It’s also a surprisingly good way to learn a bit about the long-standing Ireland-England feud- especially since it was written in 1938!
April 16, 2025
Listened with the kids. Super sweet! Would listen to other titles in the series.
July 26, 2025
It would be hard to think of a more charming and endearing book than this. Hilda can Stockum is a treasure.
February 15, 2015
The O’Sullivan family is an Irish family doing their best to get by in the first half of the 1900s (1930s, I think). The four kids (Michael, Brigid, Liam, and Francis) star prominently in this book. First published in 1938, the book is a fun and quaint look at Irish country living of the same time period.
The story starts off with the eldest two kids on a small adventure. Their father has sprained his ankle and can’t take the donkey to market. So off the kids go with packed lunches to sell the beast. Along the way, they come across some gypsies and end up walking away with a dog, who they name Bran. The book continues with many other adventures (or difficulties) the kids get into. Bran himself causes a certain amount of grief with his outdoor manners, but the family strives hard to turn him into a suitable house pet.
There’s storms and stories, lost kids and secret caves, irascible cows and picnics. One of the twins, Francis (aka Francie), has a bad foot that occasionally slows him down. But he doesn’t let that keep him from trying all sorts of questionable feats. Brigid (aka Bridie) seems to have gotten the common sense for the lot of them. It was quite fun seeing the kids get into and out of trouble.
My one criticism is the string of racism towards Gypsies in this book. Now I have no doubt that it was historically accurate for racism to be a part of the O’Sullivans’ lives, but we never get to see things from the Gypsies’ point of view to off set that. So, if you plan to read this to your kids, or have them read it, be prepped to chat about the racism.
Narration: Valerie Gilbert did a great job with this book. Her Irish accent, carried over all the characters, was great. There were a number of Gaelic words as well as the colloquial Irish terms (like for potato) tossed into the mix and Ms. Gilbert did a good job on them all. Her kid voices, and the variety, were totally believable and had the right mix of impishness, fun, and child-like wonder. She also had a variety of voices for the adults, including uncle Patty. There was even singing! Great narration!
The story starts off with the eldest two kids on a small adventure. Their father has sprained his ankle and can’t take the donkey to market. So off the kids go with packed lunches to sell the beast. Along the way, they come across some gypsies and end up walking away with a dog, who they name Bran. The book continues with many other adventures (or difficulties) the kids get into. Bran himself causes a certain amount of grief with his outdoor manners, but the family strives hard to turn him into a suitable house pet.
There’s storms and stories, lost kids and secret caves, irascible cows and picnics. One of the twins, Francis (aka Francie), has a bad foot that occasionally slows him down. But he doesn’t let that keep him from trying all sorts of questionable feats. Brigid (aka Bridie) seems to have gotten the common sense for the lot of them. It was quite fun seeing the kids get into and out of trouble.
My one criticism is the string of racism towards Gypsies in this book. Now I have no doubt that it was historically accurate for racism to be a part of the O’Sullivans’ lives, but we never get to see things from the Gypsies’ point of view to off set that. So, if you plan to read this to your kids, or have them read it, be prepped to chat about the racism.
Narration: Valerie Gilbert did a great job with this book. Her Irish accent, carried over all the characters, was great. There were a number of Gaelic words as well as the colloquial Irish terms (like for potato) tossed into the mix and Ms. Gilbert did a good job on them all. Her kid voices, and the variety, were totally believable and had the right mix of impishness, fun, and child-like wonder. She also had a variety of voices for the adults, including uncle Patty. There was even singing! Great narration!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews