Paddy Donnelly is an award winning Irish author and illustrator of many children’s books, including The Vanishing Lake, which was the 2021 IPPY Gold Medal winner. He grew up on the north coast of Ireland, surrounded by mythical stories of giants, magical creatures, and shape-shifting animals, all set in a stunning landscape from another time. All of this prompted his love of nature, animals, the sea, and storytelling. He creates his illustrations digitally and loves working with a textured, painterly approach. Paddy lives in Belgium. He wishes Pluto was still a planet.

A captivating tale that celebrates a young girl's determination, a granddad's wisdom, and the fantastical wonders of the natural world.

Something mysterious is happening at Lake Loughareema. There are days the lake is beautiful, shimmering, and full. And then there are other days . . . where the lake is completely empty. Meara asks her granddad WHY the water disappears, but every time he blames far-fetched culprits: Narwals! Mermaids! Giants! Unsatisfied with these wild tales, Meara sets out to look under every pebble and search every hill-exploring the entire island to uncover the truth for herself. Little does she know the answer is much larger than she realizes, and it might just take stepping back and opening her eyes to the impossible to discover the magic of Lake Loughareema.

From debut author-illustrator Paddy Donnelly comes a captivating tale celebrating a young girl's determination, a granddad's wisdom, and the fantastical wonders of the natural world.