This issue we feature some local authors and a selection of books from Gomer Press.

Penllyn:
A Celebration of the History of a Vale of Glamorgan Community.

Nobody is quite sure when the idea of writing a history of Penllyn was first mooted. It may have been when villager Ray Caple unearthed a 700 year old long cross penny while digging his potato patch next to the ruin of a 14th century first floor hall house. Or perhaps it was when villagers excavated and conserved the equally ancient Village Wells.

What is clear is that Penllyn has changed:where once agriculture dominated, and where parishioners lived in unsanitary hovels, there is now a thriving modern community.

Penllyn’s history society and residents association joined forces and the result is this recently published book, which ranges from photographs of the weapons and jewellery deposited in the moors of the Thaw valley to an account of the religious persecution of the Penllyn Turbervilles and the execution of their priests. And then there are the winged serpents, the bulbous-nosed, one-eyed fairing. . .

Now on sale at £14.99.
Hardback, 288 pages, full colour.
Published by Craig & Penllyn Residents Association
and Penllyn History Society.
Researched and written (mainly) by residents.
Edited by Stephen White and Susan Clarke.
Funding from residents, Vale Centre for Voluntary Services,
Kick Start 2 Grant and Creative Rural Communities.
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RUTH MORGAN, PENARTH
Playing Twm
£5.99
ISBN 1-84323-565-X

It couldn’t get much worse for Midge, moving from London to sleepy mid Wales. Teased relentlessly by her new schoolmates, and comforted only by the news that Dylan Blane, Hollywood superstar, has Welsh roots, Midge prefers her personal dream-world to the dubious attentions of Kneck Edwards and his loutish friends. Midge is electrified as dreams start turning into reality.
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PHIL CARRADICE, ST ATHAN
Black Bart’s Treasure
£4.99
ISBN 978-1-84323-740-2

Harriet felt the oilskin packet in her fingers. It was thin and smooth but she felt sure that it contained the whole world.

After spending her savings on an old pirate map, Harriet Amos believes that Black Bart’s treasure is within her grasp. But when Jethro is found dead, Harriet’s confidence crumbles.
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IOLO WILLIAMS
Wild about the Wild
£14.99
ISBN 1-84323-458-0

A diary that takes us to spectacular destinations and once-in-a-lifetime experiences all over the globe, bringing us face to face with such creatures as the human-face spider of Taiwan, the gorillas of Uganda, the dragon of Komodo and the grizzly bear of Alaska. Not to mention a myriad of birds and plants.
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A SERIES OF FOUR WELSH LANGUAGE CHILDREN’S BOOKS BY CHRIS GLYN, A PENARTH ILLUSTRATOR

Chwarae gyda Twts
£3.99
ISBN 1-84323-752-0

Lan a lawr, rownd a rownd. Wyt tin’ barod i chwarae gyda Twts?
Up and down, around and around. Are you ready to play with Twts?

Hwyl gyda Twts
£3.99
ISBN 1-84323-751-2

Mae Twts yn brysur heddiw eto. Beth am ei dilyn o gwmpas y lle?
It’s another busy day for Twts. What is she up to now?

Yn y Bath gyda Twts
£3.99
ISBN 1-84323-750-0

Mae Twts yn frwnt. Does dm amdani felly ond cael bath cynes, braf, yn llawn bybls. . .
Twts is dirty. No wonder she can’t wait to get into the lovely, warm, bath full of bubbles. . .

Rhifo gyda Twts
£3.00
ISBN 1-84323-749-0

Mae Twts yn dysgu rhifo. Wyt ti’n barod? Un, dau, tri.
Twts is learning to count. Are you ready? One, two, three.

Welsh language books are available from Siop Y Fro.
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GOMER PRESS
Deall Geiriau
Understanding Words
Oed/Age 5-6
£4.99
ISBN 1-84323-274-X

Adnabod Llythrennau
Learning about Letters
Oed/Age 4-5
£4.99
ISBN 1-84323-274-X

Entertaining books created by experts to develop your child’s language skills.

Both publications contain various activities to help your child to recognise Welsh words. Includes easy to follow instructions for parents.