A fresh voice in Irish children’s publishing has arrived with a mission that reaches well beyond the page. Cherry Jordan, a lecturer in Early Childhood Education & Care and Social Care at TU Dublin’s Tallaght Campus, has launched her first children’s book, Johnny Hedgehog and the Summer Holidays, with every cent of author profit pledged to Barnardos, the charity supporting vulnerable children and families across Ireland.
For parents, teachers, and anyone who follows education and publishing news in Ireland, the launch offers more than a new bedtime read. It shows how professional expertise in child development can shape storytelling that reflects what children genuinely need: adventure, connection, and the freedom to explore the world around them.
Johnny Hedgehog and the Summer Holidays: An Irish Adventure Story for Young Readers
Aimed at children aged six to ten, Johnny Hedgehog and the Summer Holidays follows nine-year-old Johnny as he spends the school holidays with his family on the island of Innisfree. What begins as an ordinary break takes an unexpected turn when Johnny discovers a message in a bottle, setting off an island-wide treasure hunt.
With help from friendly locals, Johnny solves clues, uncovers treasure, makes the local newspaper, and leaves a new map behind for whoever comes next. Along the way, he forms friendships with people from different generations, a thread that runs deliberately through the story.
The values woven into the plot are no accident. Johnny engages with the world around him, cares about the people he meets, and connects meaningfully with his community. As Jordan explains, the character embodies the childhood fun and freedom that all children deserve, and everyone who comes in contact with Johnny benefits in some way from the experience.
From TU Dublin Lecturer to Published Children’s Author
Cherry Jordan’s day job informs her writing in direct and practical ways. At TU Dublin’s Tallaght Campus, she lectures in Early Childhood Education & Care and Social Care, fields that place play, relationships, and child wellbeing at the centre of professional practice. That professional lens shaped her approach to writing for children.
The story itself began at home. Johnny Hedgehog and the Summer Holidays grew out of the tales Jordan told her own children, while her academic interest in child development reinforced the importance of play and fun in childhood. The result is a book that entertains young readers while quietly modelling the curiosity and community spirit that research consistently links to healthy development.
For students weighing up a career in early childhood education, Jordan’s move from lecturer to author shows the range of paths such qualifications can open. Understanding how children learn and grow is not confined to classrooms and crèches; it can inform creative work, advocacy, and community initiatives of every kind. If a career in this field interests you, explore the undergraduate and postgraduate Early Childhood Education courses on offer at TU Dublin to see where a qualification could take you.
Why Barnardos? A Charity Partnership Built on Shared Values
Choosing a charity partner was a considered decision. Jordan wrote the book with the intention of donating the proceeds, and once the manuscript was finished, she recognised how closely Johnny’s values aligned with the mission of Barnardos.
“Barnardos in a much greater way do the same thing,” Jordan explains. “They care about and connect with children and families and support them, especially families who have not had an easy road to travel. Through their work Barnardos recognise that childhood is precious and supporting families is key to supporting children.”
Alison Kelly, Head of Events at Barnardos, welcomed the partnership, noting that Johnny Hedgehog beautifully captures the magic and fun that every child deserves. She confirmed that the funds raised through the book will directly support vulnerable children and families across Ireland, reflecting the charity’s guiding belief that because childhood lasts a lifetime, investing in it matters.
The partnership also reflects a wider trend in Irish publishing: authors increasingly pair launches with causes that extend the impact of their work. For readers, buying the book becomes a simple way to support families in need while giving a child a story worth reading. To see how the charity operates on the ground, visit the Barnardos website and read about its family support programmes across the country.
What Parents and Educators Can Take From Johnny’s Treasure Hunt
Beyond its charitable purpose, the book offers practical takeaways for the adults reading alongside children:
- Curiosity drives learning. Johnny’s adventure begins with a simple discovery and a willingness to investigate. Encouraging children to ask questions and explore their surroundings builds the foundations of independent learning.
- Community connections matter. The treasure hunt succeeds because locals help Johnny along the way. Stories like this show children that people across generations have something to offer one another.
- Ordinary moments hold magic. The book’s central promise is that children can find the extraordinary in everyday life, whether that means a summer on an island or an afternoon in their own neighbourhood.
- Play is serious business. Anyone trained in early childhood care will recognise this immediately. Play-based experiences support language, problem-solving, and social skills in ways that formal instruction cannot replicate.
These themes make the book a useful resource not only for family reading but also for classroom discussions, summer camps, and library story sessions throughout Ireland.
How to Order Johnny Hedgehog and the Summer Holidays
The book is available to order for €10, with all author profits donated to Barnardos. It is the first in a planned series of Johnny Hedgehog adventures, so young readers who take to Johnny and the island of Innisfree can expect more stories to follow.
For families, the price point makes it an accessible addition to a home library, and the charitable purpose gives the purchase an added dimension. For schools and libraries, it sits comfortably alongside other Irish children’s titles that celebrate local places and community spirit. Order your copy of Johnny Hedgehog and the Summer Holidays today and put a well-told story to work for a good cause.
A Welcome Addition to Irish Children’s Literature
Book launches by academics are not everyday occurrences, and launches that direct every author profit to charity are rarer still. Jordan’s debut combines professional insight into child development with a natural storytelling instinct, and the partnership with Barnardos gives the project a purpose that resonates far beyond the Tallaght Campus where she teaches.
For readers following news articles about Irish education and publishing, the story is a reminder that university communities contribute to cultural and civic life in varied ways. Lecturers bring their expertise into public view through books, community projects, and charity partnerships that reach families nationwide.
Whether you are a parent hunting for a summer read, an educator building a classroom library, or a reader who wants a purchase to do a little good, Johnny Hedgehog and the Summer Holidays deserves a place on the list. Have a favourite Irish children’s book that celebrates curiosity and community? Share your recommendations in the comments below, and subscribe to our updates for more news stories from across Ireland.
