An Irish Country Welcome is a charming entry in Patrick Taylor's internationally bestselling Irish Country series. In the close-knit Northern Irish village of Ballybucklebo, it's said that a new baby brings its own welcome. Young doctor Barry Laverty and his wife Sue are anxiously awaiting their first child, but as the community itself prepares to welcome a new decade, the closing months of the 1960s bring more than a televised moon landing to Barry, his friends, his neighbors, and his patients, including a number of sticky questions. A fledgling doctor joins the practice as a trainee, but will the very upper-class Sebastian Carson be a good fit for the rough and tumble of Irish country life? And as sectarian tensions rise elsewhere in Ulster, can a Protestant man marry the Catholic woman he dearly loves, despite his father's opposition? And who exactly is going to win the award for the best dandelion wine at this year's Harvest Festival? But while Barry and Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly and their fellow physicians deal with everything from brain surgery to a tractor accident to a difficult pregnancy, there's still time to share the comforting joys and pleasures of this very special place: fly-fishing, boat races, and even the town's very first talent competition! Welcome back to Ballybucklebo, as vividly brought to life by a master storyteller.

This beautifully illustrated guide shows a distinguished plantsman-photographer's personal favorites for every season and garden use.Published at $17.95 Available Now at $8.98

The New Year brings challenges and changes to the colorful Irish village of Ballybucklebo. The Christmas holidays have barely passed before a fire engulfs the humble thatched cottage housing Donal Donnally and his family. Although the family escapes the blaze more or less unsinged, Donal, his wife, their three small children, and their beloved dog find themselves with nothing left but the clothes on their back. Good thing Doctors O'Reilly and Laverty are on hand to rally the good people of Ballybucklebo to come to their aid. Rebuilding the cottage won't be quick or easy, but good neighbors from all walks of life will see to it that the Donallys get back on their feet again, no matter what it takes. Meanwhile, matters of procreation occupy the doctors and their patients. Young Barry Laverty and his wife, Sue, frustrated in their efforts to start a family, turn to modern medicine for answers. O'Reilly must tread carefully as he advises a married patient on how to avoid another dangerous pregnancy. As a new and tumultuous decade approaches, sectarian divisions threaten to bring unrest to Ulster, but in Ballybucklebo at least, peace still reigns and neighbours look after neighbours.

In their new book, the winners of the TES National Award for Outstanding Literacy Initiative share the secrets behind school improvement through raising literacy levels across the curriculum. Graham Tyrer and Patrick Taylor draw on the successful literacy initiative that raised their school from good to outstanding, as well as their work in three UK schools with a range of Ofsted ratings. The 54 practical strategies are grouped into beginning, embedding, sustaining and evaluating stages and include ideas such as choosing the literacy focus of your school, involving students as literacy leaders and creating a 'Litbox'. Each entry details the literacy outcomes of the strategy, provides step by step guidance for implementing and sustaining it and includes feedback and tips for staff and students who have used it. The Literacy Leader's Toolkit is a must read for all literacy coordinators and leaders who want to implement a whole-school programme , as well as for those teachers who are determined to improve the literacy provision in their classroom.