Eve Bunting Books

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Eve Bunting is an Irish-American author that writes children’s novels. Born in 1928 in Maghera, North Ireland, her father (Sloan) was a postmaster. Her mother (Mary) was a housewife. Eve has a husband, children, grandchildren, and a few pets.

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Most of her education took place in Northern Ireland, specifically Belfast. A former student of Methodist College and Queen’s University, Eve was still studying when she stumbled upon her future husband. She met the business executive in college and the two started a family soon after.

Initially migrating to Scotland, Eve and Edward eventually decided to move to the US. That was in 1958. A decade later, she became a United States citizen. She was already older than most aspiring authors when Eve finally sat down to write fiction.

As a child, the author was obsessed with Northern Ireland’s rich storytelling culture. She was particularly fascinated by the so-called Shanachies, storytellers that went from home to home spreading ancient folktales. While she thought that she fit the idea of a Shanachie, Eve did not necessarily harbor notions of pursuing a publishing career.

Everything changed when she immigrated to the US. Eve Bunting spent several years raising her three children. But eventually, they did not need her quite as much. She stumbled upon a brochure promoting a writing class at the local Junior college.

Eve knew that there was no shortage of ideas for stories in her mind. And she understood that writing them down would give her great joy. But, still, she wasn’t certain of her future in publishing. None the less, she signed up for the class, honed her skills, and published her first novel.

Having taken up the pen in her mid-thirties, Eve Bunting was 40 when her first book was finally published. It was an exploration of a folktale that followed the exploits of an Irish giant and his conflict with a Scottish giant.

The story was so common in Ireland that Eve thought everyone knew it. Once she realized that Finn McCool wasn’t quite as well known as she presumed, Eve made him the center of her story. The exotic setting and foreign concepts in her work won Eve many adoring fans.

She went on to write many more novels, building an extensive bibliography with over 200 published works over a relatively short period. The author writes children’s books. She tries to produce content to fit all ages. She has always wanted to write for every child, not just the pre-schooler but the middle grader and the older teens.

Her bibliography also includes adult-oriented novels. Her stories are not afraid to tackle difficult subjects. She always adds as much diversity as possible, introducing children to characters of all backgrounds. Eve’s stories tackle happiness, death, immigration, basically every concept that is present in the real world regardless of how negative it might be.

Eve Bunting Awards

Bunting has been the recipient of the PEN Los Angeles Center Literacy Award, the Arab American Book Award, and the Golden Kite Award

Best Eve Bunting Books

Even though so many of her works are set in Ireland, Eve Bunting makes an effort to be as inclusive as possible with the characters she uses, with some of the best titles in her bibliography including:

Smoky Night: A young boy and his mother live quiet lives in an apartment building. They keep to themselves, minding their own business. The same goes for their neighbors. Everyone avoids unnecessary interactions with everyone else. When violent riots descend on Los Angeles, the pair is forced to kindle bonds with their neighbors at a time where they must all unit to survive the looting.

This picture book tackles racial tensions and rioting.

Fly Away Home: Andrew is a boy without a home. He stays with his father in an airport because it is better than living on the street. Survival isn’t easy. They have to keep moving from terminal to terminal. This is the only way to keep the relevant authorities from noticing them. What seems like a bleak situation takes a curious turn when a bird that was trapped gains its freedom.

This book is 32 pages long because it is aimed towards children, hence the illustrations. But it still discusses homelessness in such a straightforward manner.

When Does The Next Eve Bunting book come out?

Eve Bunting doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is Alligators, Alligators and was released on December, 1st 2023. It is the newest book in the Eve Bunting Picture Books.

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