PRH and McAnulty donate 1,000 copies of Diary of a Young Naturalist to schools

To mark World Autism Day this month (2nd April), Penguin Random House and 18-year-old author, naturalist and campaigner Dara McAnulty have partnered to donate 1,000 copies of his award-winning debut book, Diary of a Young Naturalist, to secondary schools across Ireland. 

The books will be accompanied by relevant educational materials which will help teachers to lead conversations about the themes in the book with their pupils, as well as a letter from the author.

Over the next four weeks teachers based in Ireland can sign up to receive a copy of the book and a lesson plan, which can also be downloaded by teachers across the UK.

Diary of a Young Naturalist won several major awards, including the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing in 2020, which made McAnulty the youngest ever winner of a major literary prize, the AN Post Irish Book Award for Newcomer of the Year 2020, and Book of the Year for Narrative Non-Fiction at the British Book Awards 2021. 

It explores the natural world through the eyes of Dara McAnulty, an autistic teenager coping with the uprooting of his home, school, and his mental health, while pursuing his life as a conservationist and environmental activist. Recalling his sensory encounters in the wild, McAnulty reveals worlds we have neglected to see around us, whether that’s in forests and fields, or even in our own back gardens. 

A powerful portrayal of the beauty of the natural world, the publisher says Diary of a Young Naturalist also shines a light on autism, overcoming severe anxiety, and the binding love of family and home, demonstrating how we can help one another through the most difficult times. 

McAnulty said: “There is still so much misunderstanding, discrimination around autism and a lack of compassion towards autistic people. Diverse and dynamic resources are needed to bridge the gap, especially books written by autistic authors. I’m honoured and delighted to collaborate with my brilliant publisher, Penguin Books, to donate copies of Diary of a Young Naturalist and in turn give hope, perspective and solidarity to those who need it.” 

Paperback rights to Diary of a Young Naturalist were acquired by Ebury after the book’s original publication by Little Toller.