Chwilio

*Scroll down for English* Gwaith Celf/illustrations: Lowri Roberts Oed diddordeb/interest age: 3+ Oed darllen/reading age: 5+ “Ti ’di mynd dros ben llestri!” Faint o weithia glywes i’r geiriau yna wrth dyfu i fyny?! A sgwn i faint o rieni sy’ ‘di bod yn arthio’r ‘run peth ar eu plant ‘leni dros y lockdown? Dipyn go lew, dybiwn i! Clywed ei wraig yn dwrdio un o’u plant wnaeth Huw Davies, yr awdur, ac fe ddaeth cymeriad direidus Ben Llestri i fodolaeth yn fuan wedyn. Heb amheuaeth, mi fuodd y cyfnod clo yn ofnadwy mewn llawer o ffyrdd, ond un peth da a ddaeth o’r cyfnod yw’r ffaith fod nifer o bobl brysur wedi cael cyfle i fod yn greadigol, a rŵan mi ydan ni’n gweld ffrwyth eu llafur. Mi benderfynodd Huw gydweithio â’r arlunydd, Lowri Roberts, ar ôl trafod y syniad am flynyddoedd ac mae ei lluniau ysgafn yn cyfleu’r hiwmor yn dda. Yn debyg i lawer o hogia bach direidus, gwneud cymysgeddau hollol afiach yn yr ardd sy’n mynd â bryd Ben Llestri. Ac yndi, mae’r teitl “bwced ych-a-fi” yn addas iawn i ddisgrifio’r sglyfaeth peth, sy’n cynnwys pridd, bîns ac ambell i napi ymysg pethau ffiaidd eraill! (napi i’r Gogs, ond Cewyn i’r Hwntws!) Wrth gwrs, i Ben, mae’r gymysgedd afiach yn destun balchder mawr, ac mewn dim mae o’n hel cynlluniau i gyflawni un o’r pranks hynaf sydd ‘na – fatha rywbeth allan o Home Alone! Y broblem efo triciau fel hyn ydi bod angen blaengynllunio manwl iawn, ac mae gofyn am dipyn o waith meddwl ac amseru perffaith os am lwyddo. Dydi Ben druan ddim cweit wedi meistroli hyn eto! Ar achlysur lansio’r llyfr, dywedodd yr awdur “mae angen mwy o lyfrau sy’n dathlu gweithredoedd twp, ond ar ôl 2020 a’r cyfnodau clo mae angen storïau direidus a dafft ar blant yn arbennig!” Ti’n gwybod be’ Huw? Dwi’n tueddu i gytuno efo chdi! Mae gen i ddau gefnder bach direidus yn y teulu fyddai wrth eu boddau’n darllen y stori yma (er, dwi’m isio nhw gael syniada chwaith!) ac yn aml iawn, mi fyddai’n tyrchu yn y siop lyfra am storis-gneud-chi-wenu fydd yn siwtio eu natur ddireidus nhw a finnau. Dyma stori fydd yn apelio at blant bach drygionus ond fydd hefyd yn siŵr o godi gwên ymysg rhieni. Mae darnau o’r llyfr yn ail adrodd a bydd plant yn gallu ymuno wrth gofio trefn y cynhwysion drewllyd. Dwi’n siŵr y bydden nhw’n heglu hi i’r garej wedyn i wneud cymysgeddau tebyg! Rhieni – watch out! Stori syml yw hon sy’n osgoi negeseuon moesegol dwys, ac sy'n cynnig rhywbeth ysgafn a doniol yn lle – jest y peth at gyfnod fel hyn! Nadi, tydi’r prif gymeriad ddim yn angel o bell ffordd, ond mae hynny’n rhan o’i apêl. Dwi’n falch bod ‘na gyfres newydd sydd ddim yn cymryd ei hun ormod o ddifri a dwi’n gobeithio y cawn ni gyfle arall i weld pa driciau direidus fydd ganddo dan sylw tro nesaf! I gloi, dim ond gair o gyngor sydd gen i Ben Llestri - dwi’n meddwl y bydd rhaid iddo wella ei gêm os ‘dio am fod yn giamstar ar chwarae triciau! "Ti ‘di mynd dros ben llestri!" How many times have I heard those words whilst I was growing up?! And I wonder how many parents have said those exact words over the lockdown? Quite a few, probably! Huw Davies, the author, heard his wife admonishing one of their children, and the mischievous character of Ben Llestri came to be shortly afterwards. Without a doubt, the pandemic and its associated lockdowns have been terrible in many ways, but one good thing that came from it is the fact that several normally busy people have had the opportunity to be creative, and we’re starting to see the fruits of their labour now. Huw decided to work with the artist, Lowri Roberts, after discussing the idea for years and the light touch of her illustrations conveys the book’s humour well. Like a lot of little boys, making disgusting concoctions the garden is right up Ben Llestri’s street. The title, "bwced ych-a-fi" is aptly named to describe the revolting mixture, which includes soil, beans and nappies amongst other things! Of course, for Ben, the awful mixture is a source of great pride, and it’s not long before he’s hatching plans to carry out one of the oldest tricks in the book – like something straight out of Home Alone! The problem with pranks like this is that they need quite a bit of planning don’t they? You need perfect timing and good execution if they’re going to work. I’m not quite sure Ben Llestri’s got it all figured out just yet! Upon the book's launch, the author commented that “we need more books that celebrate silly things, after 2020 and the lockdown, children in particular need mischievous and daft stories!" You know what Huw? I Couldn’t agree more! I’ve got two little cousins who’d just love this story (although I don’t want them getting any ideas!) and quite often, I’ll trawl the bookshops for make-em-laugh stories. This is one that will appeal to the playful, and the prank-loving out there, but I’m sure parents will also raise a smile. Parts of the book repeat a similar pattern and children will enjoy joining in as they recall some of the smelly ingredients. I'm pretty sure they’ll want to head to the garage themselves afterwards to make their own nasty potions! This is a simple story that avoids deep moral messages, and offers something light-hearted and amusing instead – just the thing after last year! The main character is by no means an angel, but that is part of his charm, I guess. I'm pleased that we’ve got yet another series that doesn't take itself too seriously and I hope we’ll get to see what other tricks he’s got up his sleeves. I’ve got a bit of advice for Ben Llestri – you’ll have to improve your game if you’re going to be king of the pranksters! Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Y Lolfa Cyhoeddwyd/released: 2021 Pris: £4.99 ISBN: 978-1-80099-058-6

*Scroll down for English* Genre: #ffuglen #doniol #dyddiadur / #fiction #funny #humour #diary Gwerth addysgiadol/educational value: ◉◉◎◎◎ Negeseuon positif/positive messages: ◉◎◎◎◎ Themau trist,anodd/upsetting, tough themes: ◎◎◎◎◎ Trais, ofn/violence, scary: ◉◎◎◎◎ Iaith gref/language: ◉◎◎◎◎ Rhyw/sex: ◎◎◎◎◎ Hiwmor/humour: ◉◉◉◉◉ Her darllen/reading difficulty:: ◉◉◎◎◎ Oed diddordeb/interest age: 8-15 Oed darllen/reading age: 8+ This series will appeal to anyone who enjoys a bit of silliness and has been known to really appeal to boys who don't normally read. Ydych chi wedi clywed am Jeff Kinney? Mae’r gyfres Diary of a Wimpy Kid gan Jeff Kinney yn ANHYGOEL o boblogaidd ac yn ffenomenon byd eang, sydd wedi cynhyrchu deuddeg nofel, pedwar ffilm, ac sydd wedi gwneud yr awdur yn ddyn cyfoethog iawn iawn! (mae o’n werth tua $70 miliwn yn ôl rhai!) Mae adroddiad ‘What Children are Reading 2020’ yn dweud mai Jeff Kinney oedd yr awdur mwyaf poblogaidd llynedd o bell ffordd, gan guro David Walliams a Roald Dahl! Roedd nifer o’i lyfrau yn ymddangos fel ffefrynnau ar restrau disgyblion o flwyddyn 3 hyd at flwyddyn 10 ac maen nhw’n boblogaidd iawn gyda bechgyn yn enwedig. Mae rhai yn meddwl fod llyfrau Dyddiadur Dripsyn yn hollol wirion, ac mae eraill yn meddwl eu bod nhw’n genius! Beth bynnag yw eich barn am y gyfres neu addasiadau yn gyffredinol, allwch chi ddim dadlau gyda’r sales figures! Be 'di'r gyfrinach? Dwi’n meddwl mai’r gyfrinach tu ôl eu llwyddiant ysgubol yw’r hiwmor. Mae’r rhain yn llyfrau doniol. Doniol iawn. Yn ôl Scholastic, mae 42% o blant yn chwilio am hiwmor mewn llyfrau cyn dim byd arall. Wrth gwrs fod angen darllen ystod eang o lyfrau a genres, ond mae gwneud i rywun chwerthin yn gallu bod yn arf pwerus iawn. Weithiau mae’n braf cael “switch off” a darllen rhywbeth ysgafn, sy’n hawdd i’w ddarllen, a does dim o’i le gyda hynny. Mae ‘na filiwn o resymau eraill pam bod y gyfres mor boblogaidd, ond mi fasa hynny’n flogiad yn ei hun! Llyfr 10: Yn ôl i oes yr arth a’r blaidd Yn anffodus i Greg, mae ei Fam wedi cael syniad. Mae hi wedi penderfynu y byddai’n syniad da i bawb wneud sbel heb dechnoleg a chyn hir, mae hi wedi llwyddo i berswadio’r pentref i gyd i fynd yn ddi-dechnoleg am benwythnos. Hawdd? Dim wir! Dydi hi ddim yn cymryd yn hir i bethau ddechrau fynd o chwith. Wrth frwsio’i ddannedd, llwydda Greg i ollwng caead y past dannedd lawr y sinc, ac wrth geisio’i gael yn ôl, mae pethau’n mynd o ddrwg i waeth! Yn dilyn yr helynt gyda’r sinc, mae ei daid yn cytuno i fynd a fo lawr i’r siop yn y car, ond maen nhw hanner ffordd yno cyn sylweddoli nad oes gan taid drwydded i yrru! O diar! Yn dilyn yr helynt gyda’r car, does gan Greg ddim dewis ond dianc i Fferm Mochras am wythnos ar drip ysgol er mwyn osgoi ffrae anferthol gan ei rieni! Does dim technoleg ar Fferm Mochras chwaith, ac mi fydd raid i’r bechgyn ddygymod gyda’r cyfleusterau llai-na-delfrydol! I wneud pethau’n waeth, mae sôn o amgylch y gwersyll bod ‘na ddyn gwyllt o’r enw Selwyn Sgriff yn crwydro’r coed! Dyfarniad Dwi’n meddwl fod y rhain yn rhai o’r addasiadau gorau yn y Gymraeg ac maen nhw’n swnio’n llafar ac yn naturiol iawn, sy’n gwneud y darllen yn haws. Fodd bynnag, mae’r addaswr wedi dewis iaith Ogleddol iawn, felly fydd hyn ddim at ddant pawb. Os ‘da chi’n rhywun sydd ddim fel arfer yn hoffi darllen, a ‘da chi awydd stori wirion gyda llwyth o dwdls sy’n siŵr o wneud i chi chwerthin, rhowch gynnig ar hwn! (a’r 9 llyfr arall wedyn!) Beth nesaf? Ym myd y ffilmiau, mae sequels wedi cael enw drwg am beidio bod cystal â’r cyntaf, ond nid yn achos Dyddiadur Dripsyn – mae’r gyfres yn bell o fod wedi chwythu ei blwc. Peth hawdd fyddai rhedeg allan o stêm erbyn y degfed llyfr, ond nid Jeff Kinney! Dywedodd o’n ddiweddar ei fod am ddal ati i sgwennu, felly mi gaiff ‘fans’ Dyddiadur Dripsyn ar hyd a lled Cymru gysgu’n dawel o wybod fod mwy ar y gorwel! Have you heard of Jeff Kinney? The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney is incredibly popular and has become a global phenomenon, which has produced twelve novels, four films, and made the author a very rich man! (he’s worth about $70 million according to some!) The 'What Children are Reading 2020' report says that Jeff Kinney was by far the most popular author, beating even David Walliams and Roald Dahl! Many of his books came top on lists by pupils from year 3 to year 10 and these books have been particularly good at enticing boys who normally wouldn’t be interested to read. Some think that the Dyddiadur Dripsyn books are completely silly, and others think that they are pure genius! Whatever your views on the series, I think the global sales figures speak for themselves! I think the secret behind their resounding success is the humour. These are very funny books, the kind of humour that is perfectly tuned to that of pre-teens and young teenagers. Making someone laugh can be a powerful tool, and according to Scholastic, 42% of children look for humour in books before anything else. Of course, we know that you need to read a wide range of books and genres, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to read something light and easy every now and again. If it gets you to pick up a book in the first place, we’re all for it! Greg Heffley is the ‘hero’ of these books, but he’s far from perfect. I wouldn't say he’s a very good role model either, but so what? Yes, he doesn’t always do the right thing, often makes mistakes and things backfire on him quite often, but that’s part of his charm and it’s obviously something that children can identify with. He wouldn’t be half as interesting if he was a little angel now would he? There are a zillion other reasons why Greg and his antics are a big hit, but I think that would be a blog in itself! Book 10: Oes yr Arth a’r Blaidd Unfortunately for Greg, his Mum's had a big idea. She’s decided that things were better in the old days, and even managed to persuade the town council that everyone should go tech-free for the weekend! Easy-peasy, right? I doubt it! It doesn't take long for things to start going wrong. Whilst brushing his teeth, Greg succeeds in dropping the lid of the toothpaste down the sink, and in his efforts to get it back, things go from bad to worse! After the ‘incident’ with the sink, his grandfather drives him down to the hardware shop, but they’re halfway there before they realise that Grandad doesn’t have a licence to drive! Oh dear! And after all that palaver with the car, Greg has no choice but to escape to Mochras Farm for a week on a school trip to avoid a huge telling off from his parents! There’s no technology at Mochras Farm and the boys must learn to cope with the less-than-desirable facilities! To make matters worse, there’s whispers going around of a madman on the loose. Will they ever get to the bottom of this mystery? Verdict I think these are some of the best adaptations available in Welsh and they flow quite naturally, which makes the reading easier. (some adaptations can be a bit awkward) However, the translator has chosen a very Northern dialect, so this won’t appeal to everyone. If you're a reader who doesn’t normally like reading long novels, and who enjoys a bit of silliness, give these a try – they’re almost a cross between a comic and a novel. (graphic novel) What next? In the world of films, often get some stick for not being as good as the first, but I don’t think that’s the case with Dyddiadur Dripsyn, and the series seems to have life in it yet. You’d think that it may run out of steam by the tenth instalment, but not Jeff Kinney! He recently said that he will keep on writing, so fans can sleep easy knowing more will be on the way! Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Rily Cyhoeddwyd/released: 2020 Pris: £6.99 ISBN: 978-1-84967-484-3 Os 'da chi'n mwynhau Dyddiadur Dripsyn... Efallai y byddwch yn hoffi Cyfres Twm Clwyd... If you liked Dyddiadur Dripsyn, take a look at these...

*Scroll down for English* Mi ges i fy atgoffa yn ddiweddar o stori sydd wedi aros yn y cof ers i mi ei chlywed hi am y tro cyntaf mewn gwasanaeth yn yr ysgol gynradd. Chwarae Moch Bach yw’r stori honno, sef addasiad Emily Huws/Ann Jones o Piggybook gan Anthony Browne CBE. Os ’da chi’n gyfarwydd â gwaith yr awdur, mi fyddwch chi’n gwybod fod ei luniau’n gallu bod yn reit wahanol a quirky. Mae rhai pobl yn meddwl eu bod nhw’n grêt tra mae eraill yn eu gweld nhw’n weird ac yn creepy. Mae Morgan yn dad sy’n byw mewn tŷ gyda’i wraig a’i feibion. Waeth i ni fod yn onest, mae bechgyn y tŷ yn hen bethau diog a digywilydd sy’n poeni am ddim ond am eu boliau, a does ’na ’run ohonynt yn mentro codi bys i helpu. Wrth i’r fam druan chwysu chwartiau yn golchi’r llestri, smwddio a gwneud y gwlâu, yr unig beth sydd gan y dynion dan sylw ydi loetran o gwmpas yn diogi. Wedi cyrraedd pen ei thennyn, mae’r fam yn diflannu, gan adael nodyn digon swta: “Hen foch ydych chi!” Dyna pryd mae’r weirdness yn dechrau! Dwi’n licio’r elfennau swrrealaidd sydd i’r stori, ac os edrychwch yn ddigon manwl, fe welwch fod ’na lot o bethau bach rhyfedd - fel y gwrthrychau siâp moch sydd ym mhobman. Heb neb yno i gadw trefn, buan iawn mae pethau’n mynd yn draed moch – yn llythrennol. Mae’r bechgyn ar eu gliniau ac yn edrych yn ddigon truenus ynghanol y budreddi. Tybed ydi hi’n rhy hwyr? Ddaw Mam byth yn ôl? Cyhoeddwyd y llyfr 35 mlynedd yn ôl, ac mae’n ymddangos fod y llyfr gryn dipyn o flaen ei amser ar y pryd yn y ffordd y mae’n cyflwyno trafodaeth am gender roles a gender inequality (ok, mae o wedi dyddio erbyn rŵan). Yndi, mae hwn yn sicr yn llyfr o'i gyfnod (fe welwch fod diffyg amrywiaeth yn y llyfr a rhai stereotypes) ond mae nifer o’r negeseuon yn berthnasol heddiw. Mae hi’n stori reit glyfar ac mi allwch ei mwynhau hi ar sawl lefel. Mae’r awdur hefyd yn hyfedr wrth ddefnyddio hiwmor tywyll i godi cwestiynau sy’n gwneud i chi feddwl ac yn herio'r syniad (annerbyniol) mai'r merched sy'n gwneud y gwaith tŷ. Wnaethon nhw droi’n foch go iawn? Chawn ni byth mo’r ateb, a dwi’n licio hynny. Yn sicr does ’na ddim prinder o gyfleoedd trafod gyda phlant ifanc yma. Mae Sul y Mamau wedi mynd a dod ’leni, a dw i’n mawr obeithio fod mamau ar draws y wlad wedi cael seibiant haeddiannol, ond, meddyliwch, ydach chi’n gwneud digon i helpu o gwmpas y tŷ bob diwrnod arall o’r flwyddyn? Os ddim, well i chi ddechrau rhag ofn i chi droi'n fochyn eich hun! I was recently reminded of a story that stayed with me since I first heard it in a school assembly years ago. That story is Chwarae Moch Bach, Emily Huws/Ann Jones's adaptation of Piggybook by Anthony Browne CBE. If you’re familiar with the author's work, you’ll know that his illustrations can be quite different and quirky. Some people think they’re great while others see them as weird and creepy. Morgan, the father, lives in a house with his wife and sons. Let’s be honest here, the men of the house are rude, boorish and lazy, who don’t seem to care about anything other than where their next meal is coming from. Not one of them is prepared to lift a finger to help! As poor mum rushes round like a headless chicken washing the dishes, ironing and making the beds, the men sit around lounging about complaining. Having reached the end of her tether, the mother disappears, leaving nothing but a curt little note: "You are all pigs!” That's when the book gets a little bit weird. I have to say I rather like the surreal elements to the story – it’s full of little details, such as all the pig-shaped objects everywhere. Without anyone there to maintain order, things soon become a shambles and the house turns into a pig sty – literally! It’s not long until the boys are on their knees begging for mum to come back. Will it be too late? Will she ever come back or are they doomed to live like this forever? The book was published 35 years ago, and I think it was ahead of its time back then in the way that it presents a frank discussion about gender roles and gender inequality. (though it’s aged considerably by now) Yes, this is a book that is very much 'of it's time' - you'll notice a distinct lack of diversity and quite a few stereotypes, however, I've decided to just accept it as a book that was written in 1986 and not judge it against today's standards. Despite all this, many of its messages are still relevant today. I think it’s a clever story with lots of little details that can be read on many levels. The author is skilled at using a somewhat dark humour to raise some really good moral questions. He challenges the unacceptable and antiquated idea that it's the mother's job to do the housework. Did they actually turn into real pigs? I guess we’ll never know but I quite like that. There’s certainly no shortage of good discussion points. Mother's Day has once again come and gone, and I very much hope that mothers across the country had a well-deserved break, but just think, are you doing enough to help around the house on the other days of the year? If not, you’d better start or you might end up with trotters yourself! Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigon Cyhoeddwyd/published: 1986, 1993 Pris: Allan o brint - holwch yn eich llyfrgell leol.

*Scroll down for English* ♥Llyfr y Mis i Blant: Mawrth 2021♥ ♥Children's Book of the Month March 2021 ♥ Lluniau/illustrations: Amy Husband, Mike Love Addaswyd gan/adpated by: Siân Lewis Heb amheuaeth, dyma un o’r llyfrau pwysicaf y byddwch chi’n ei ddarllen ’leni! Ydych chi wedi drysu gyda termau fel ‘cynhesu byd eang’ a ‘newid hinsawdd?’ Ydych chi’n chwilio am lyfr sy’n esbonio hyn i gyd a llawer mwy mewn ffordd hawdd i’w ddeall? Wel, os felly, dyma’r llyfr perffaith i chi! Mae Stori Newid Hinsawdd, fel Ronseal, yn gwneud be mae o’n ei ddweud ar y tun. Dyma lyfr sy’n cyflwyno stori amgylcheddol ein planed o’r cychwyn cyntaf hyd at y presennol - tipyn o gamp i’w wneud mewn un llyfr! Mae lluniau lliwgar Amy Husband a Mike Love yn ardderchog, ac yn bwysig iawn ar gyfer esbonio rhai o’r cysyniadau sy’n cael eu trafod. Dyma lyfr sy’n sicr yn edrych yn dda iawn, ond un sy’n cynnwys lot o wybodaeth hefyd. Fe gewch chi’ch synnu cymaint o wybodaeth a ffeithiau sydd wedi eu gwasgaru ar draws y tudalennau. Yn y dechreuad... Mae’r llyfr yn cychwyn miliynau o flynyddoedd, yn y cyfnod cyn y dinosoriaid, pan oedd y blaned yn ifanc iawn. Yna, rydym yn hepgor cyfnod y bobl gyntaf ac yn neidio o amser cyn hanesyddol yn syth at Oes Fictoria. Y rheswm dros y naid enfawr yw’r ffaith nad oedd cynhesu byd eang yn broblem fawr cyn y chwyldro diwydiannol. Fe ddysgwch am sut mae ffatrïoedd a ffermio dwys yn rhyddhau nwyon i’r atmosffer a sut y gall hyn arwain at newidiadau mawr i’n planed a’n ffordd o fyw. Mae’r llyfr yn cydnabod mai ni (y bobl) yw achos newid hinsawdd y blaned, ond mae’n esbonio hyn yn glir heb geisio dychryn darllenwyr iau fel mae ambell lyfr tebyg wedi gwneud. Fy unig gŵyn yw’r diweddglo. Er bod trafodaeth ynglŷn â sut y gallwn ni helpu’r amgylchedd, gallai’r negeseuon yma fod yn fwy amlwg i’r darllenwyr. Doeddwn i ddim yn teimlo bod y dudalen olaf yn cyfleu cymaint o waith sy’n dal i’w wneud ac mai megis dechrau ydan ni. Yn y dosbarth... Mi fydd y llyfr yn adnodd arbennig o ddefnyddiol yn yr ystafell ddosbarth ar gyfer gwaith ymchwil, gan ei fod ar lefel addas iawn i CA2. Yn y cwricwlwm newydd, bydd mwy o bwyslais ar weithio’n draws gwricwlaidd - rhywbeth y mae’r llyfr yma yn sicr yn cynnig y cyfle i’w wneud, gan ei fod yn cynnwys elfennau o ddaearyddiaeth, gwyddoniaeth a hanes. Er mai Covid-19 sy’n llenwi’r penawdau i gyd ’leni, mae’n rhaid i ni gofio bod argyfwng yr hinsawdd yn parhau i fod yn un o fygythiadau mawr ein hoes. Os ydym am barchu’r ddaear a ffeindio ffyrdd mwy cynaliadwy a gwyrdd o fyw, bydd rhaid i bawb weithio gyda’i gilydd i gyrraedd y nod. Dyma obeithio y bydd y llyfr yma’n ysbrydoli ac yn sbarduno gwyddonwyr, peirianwyr, dyfeiswyr a gwleidyddion y dyfodol i weithredu ac i achub y ddaear! Without a doubt, this is one of the most important things you’ll read this year! Are you confused with terms like 'global warming' and 'climate change?' Are you looking for a book that explains all this and much more in an easy-to-understand manner? Well, if so, look no further. Stori Newid Hinsawdd is like Ronseal – ‘it does what it says on the tin.’ This book presents the environmental story of our planet from the very beginning to the present day - quite a feat in one book! Amy Husband and Mike Love’s colourful cartoon illustrations are excellent, and very important for reinforcing some of the concepts being presented. This is a book that certainly looks good, but is comprehensive too. You’ll be surprised just how much info is spread across all the pages. In the beginning... The book starts millions of years ago, before the dinosaurs even, when the planet was very young. We then skip quite a bit and jump from a pre-historic time straight to Victorian times. The reason for the huge jump is the fact that global warming just wasn’t a problem before we arrived, and started the industrial revolution. You’ll learn about how factories and intensive farming release gases into the atmosphere and how this can lead to major changes to our way of life. The book acknowledges that we humans are the cause of the planet's climate change, but explains this clearly without trying to scare younger readers as a few similar books have done. Although there’s a discussion of how we as individuals can help the environment, I think those messages could have been conveyed clearer, perhaps as a list? I personally didn't feel that the last page finished on a note that conveyed just how much work still needs to be done. In class... The book will be a particularly useful resource in the classroom for research, as it’s at the right level for KS2. In the new curriculum, there will be a greater emphasis on cross-curricular working – something that this book provides plenty of opportunities to do, with elements of geography, science and history. Although Covid-19 filled all the headlines last year, we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that the crisis remains one of the biggest threats of our time. If we are to truly respect the earth and find a greener, more sustainable way of living, we’ll all have to work together. I hope this book will inspire the scientists, engineers, inventors and politicians of the future to act so we can save the earth from the mistakes of our generation! Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Rily Cyhoeddwyd/published: 2021 Pris: £6.99 ISBN: 9781849675376

*Scroll down for English* Gwthio, tynnu, troi - mae digon i'w weld a'i wneud! Push, pull, turn - there's plenty to see and do! ♥ Dyma un o'n hoff gyfresi! ♥ This series is a Sôn am Lyfra favourite! Lluniau/illustrations: Mel Matthews Oed diddordeb/interest age: 1-3 Mae digonedd i’w wneud yng nghyfres ‘Prysur’ ac mae pob llyfr yn cynnig cyfleoedd da i wneud y darllen yn brofiad mwy rhyngweithiol. Mae babanod yn dysgu drwy ailadrodd yr un symudiadau ac fel rheol maen nhw’n mwynhau tynnu, gwthio a throi gwahanol ddarnau o’r llyfrau, sydd hefyd yn dod ag elfen o hwyl i’r darllen. Dw i’n credu ei bod hi’n bwysig magu cariad at lyfrau yn gynnar, a dwi’n meddwl fod y gyfres yma’n apelgar iawn gan fod pob llyfr yn rhoi rhywbeth penodol i’r darllenwyr ifanc ei wneud yn ogystal â’r gwaith darllen. Dyma lyfrau cardfwrdd lliwgar sy’n edrych yn ffres ac yn fodern. Bydd y tudalennau trwchus yn siŵr o fedru ymdopi â chael eu defnyddio dro ar ôl tro gan ddwylo bychan. Mae’r themâu sydd dan sylw yn y llyfrau i gyd yn bethau sy’n gyfarwydd i blant ifanc ac mae llawer o’r lleoliadau a thestunau yn debygol o fod yn rhan o’u byd a’u profiadau. Bydd eu chwilfrydedd yn sicr o gael ei danio wrth iddyn nhw ddarllen a darganfod mwy am y byd o’u cwmpas a sut mae hwnnw’n gweithio. Ailgylchu Prysur Erbyn hyn, rydan ni gyd yn gwybod pa mor bwysig ydi ailgylchu, a’r rôl enfawr sydd ganddo i’w chwarae yn y frwydr yn erbyn newid hinsawdd a chynhesu byd eang. Mae hi wedi cymryd blynyddoedd i’n haddysgu am fanteision ailgylchu, felly mae wir yn syniad dysgu plant ifanc sut i ofalu am y blaned o oedran ifanc iawn, er mwyn sicrhau bod y genhedlaeth nesaf yn well am barchu’r ddaear, ac o bosib, yn gallu gwneud iawn am rai o’n camgymeriadau ni. Mae’r llyfr yn cyd-fynd yn agos â phedwar pwrpas y cwricwlwm newydd i Gymru sydd am weld pob dysgwyr yn datblygu i fod yn “ddinasyddion egwyddorol, gwybodus yng Nghymru a’r byd.” Yn y llyfr yma, bydd darllenwr yn dysgu am loris ailgylchu, ail ddefnyddio gwrthrychau, sut i fod yn llai gwastraffus, a sut i waredu â sbwriel yn gywir. Mae llawer yn digwydd ar bob tudalen felly mae digon o bwyntiau trafod yn codi wrth edrych ar y lluniau. Efallai y gallai’r llyfr fod wedi sôn ychydig am oblygiadau peidio ailgylchu, trwy, er enghraifft, ddangos llygredd neu safle tirlenwi, ond dwi hefyd yn deall nad oedd digon o le i gynnwys hyn, o bosib. Defnyddia’r llyfr benillion sy’n odli, ac mae’n gwbl ddwyieithog, gyda’r testun Saesneg i’w weld yn llai oddi tanodd, fydd yn help i rieni di-Gymraeg gyd-ddarllen gyda’u plant. There’s plenty to do in the 'Prysur' [busy] series and each book offers good opportunities to make reading a more interactive experience. Babies and toddlers learn by repeating the same movements and usually enjoy pulling, pushing and turning different moving parts which brings an element of fun to the reading. I think it's important to build a love of books early on, and I think this series helps do that quite well as it gives readers something specific to do as well as reading. These are colourful board books that look fresh and modern. The thick pages will easily cope with being put through their paces by little hands. The themes featured in the books are all familiar to young children and many of the settings and topics are part of their immediate worldand experiences. Their curiosity will be satisfied as they read and discover more about the world around them and how that works. Ailgylchu Prysur We all now know how important recycling is, and the huge role it has to play in the fight against climate change and global warming. It’s taken years to educate people about the benefits of recycling, and we’ve still a long way to go, so it’s really a good idea to teach young children how to look after the planet from a very young age, ensuring that the next generation more respectful of the earth, and who knows, may even be able to correct some of our mistakes. The book fits closely with the four purposes of the new curriculum for Wales which wants to see all learners develop into "ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world." In this book, the reader will learn about recycling trucks, re-using objects, being less wasteful, and how to dispose of rubbish correctly. There’s a lot going on every page with plenty of discussion points to pick out whilst looking at the pictures. Perhaps the book could have shown a little of the implications of not recycling, for example some litter pollution or landfill, but there was probably no room to include this. The book uses short, rhyming sentences, and is fully bilingual, with the English text underneath, which will help non-Welsh speaking parents or learners. This really is a lovely book. Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Dref Wen Cyhoeddwyd/released: 2021 Pris: £4.99 ISBN: 978-1-78423-162-0 Mae llwythi o lyfrau eraill yn y gyfres: There's loads more in the series:

*Scroll down for English* Gwthio, tynnu, troi - mae digon i'w weld a'i wneud! Push, pull, turn - there's plenty to see and do! ♥ Dyma un o'n hoff gyfresi! ♥ This series is a Sôn am Lyfra favourite! Lluniau/illustrations: Mel Matthews Oed diddordeb/interest age: 1-3 Mae digonedd i’w wneud yng nghyfres ddwyieithog ‘Prysur’ ac mae’r llyfrau’n cynnig cyfleoedd da i wneud y darllen yn brofiad mwy rhyngweithiol. Mae babanod yn dysgu drwy ailadrodd yr un symudiadau ac fel rheol maen nhw’n mwynhau tynnu, gwthio a throi gwahanol bethau, sy’n dod ag elfen o hwyl i’r darllen. Dw i’n credu ei bod hi’n bwysig magu cariad at lyfrau yn gynnar, a dwi’n meddwl fod y gyfres yma’n apelgar iawn gan fod pob llyfr yn rhoi rhywbeth penodol i’r darllenwyr ifanc ei wneud yn ogystal â’r gwaith darllen. Dyma lyfrau cardfwrdd lliwgar sy’n edrych yn ffres ac yn fodern. Bydd y tudalennau trwchus a’r darnau symudol cadarn yn gallu ymdopi â chael eu defnyddio dro ar ôl tro gan ddwylo bychan. Mae’r themâu sydd dan sylw yn y llyfrau i gyd yn bethau sy’n gyfarwydd i blant ifanc ac mae llawer o’r lleoliadau a thestunau yn debygol o fod yn rhan o’u byd a’u profiadau. Bydd eu chwilfrydedd yn sicr o gael ei danio wrth iddyn nhw ddarllen a darganfod mwy am y byd o’u cwmpas a sut mae hwnnw’n gweithio. Tyfu Prysur Dwi’n cofio mynd allan i helpu taid i arddio pan oeddwn i’n hogyn bach, a dwi’n ddiolchgar iawn iddo fo am y profiadau cynnar hynny wnaeth fagu cariad ynof tuag at fyd natur a’r awyr agored. Does dim yn well gen i rŵan na mynd i botsian yn yr ardd neu’r allotment. Fe allwch chithau gyflwyno rhyfeddodau byd natur i’ch plant gyda’r llyfr deniadol hwn. Fe gawn nhw ddysgu am yr hadau mân sy’n troi’n blanhigion mawr cryf, deall sut i ofalu am y blodau a’u cadw’n iach gan hefyd ddysgu sut mae’r hyn yr ydym ni’n eu tyfu yn ein cadw ni’n iach hefyd. Cymaint yw’r prysurdeb ar bob tudalen na fyddwch chi byth yn brin o bethau i’w trafod ac i sylwi arnynt. Cofiwch chwilio am y wenynen fach sy’n cuddio ar un o’r tudalennau wrth ddarllen! There’s plenty to do in the bilingual 'Prysur' [busy] series and each book offers good opportunities to make reading a more interactive experience. Babies and toddlers learn by repeating the same movements and usually enjoy pulling, pushing and turning different moving parts which brings an element of fun to the reading. I think it's important to build a love of books early on, and I think this series helps do that quite well as it gives readers something specific to do as well as reading. These are colourful board books that look fresh and modern. The thick pages will easily cope with being put through their paces by little hands. The themes featured in the books are all familiar to young children and many of the settings and topics are part of their immediate world and experiences. Their curiosity will be satisfied as they read and discover more about the world around them and how that works. Tyfu Prysur I remember going out to help Taid in the garden when I was a little boy, and I'm very grateful to him for those early experiences that fostered in me a love of nature and the outdoors. Even now, I like nothing better than pottering around in the garden or the allotment. And now, with this book you can introduce your little ones to the wonders of nature and watching things grow. They’ll learn about teeny tiny seeds that transform into big, strong plants; understand how to water and care for flowers and learn how the things we grow keep us healthy too. There’s so much to see and talk about on every page with valuable opportunities to introduce vocabulary. Remember to keep an eye out for that bumble bee hiding on one of the pages whilst you’re reading! Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Dref Wen Cyhoeddwyd/released: 2021 Pris: £4.99 ISBN: 978-1-78423-163-7 Mae 'na fwy ar gael: More are available:

*Scroll down for English & comments* Hanes 14 o ferched rhyfeddol! The stories of 14 remarkable women! Rhestr fer Gwobr Tir na n-Og 2020 / Shortlisted for the Tir na n-Og Award 2020 Rhest fer Gwobr Llyfr y Flwyddyn: Plant a phobl ifanc 2020 / Shortlisted for Children & Young People's Book of the Year 2020 Genre: #ffeithiol #ysbrydoli #merched / #nonfiction #inspirational #women Negeseuon positif/positive messages: ◉◉◉◉◉ Themau trist,anodd/upsetting, tough themes: ◎◎◎◎◎ Trais, ofn/violence, scary: ◎◎◎◎◎ Iaith gref/language: ◎◎◎◎◎ Rhyw/sex: ◎◎◎◎◎ Hiwmor/humour: ◎◎◎◎◎ Her darllen/reading difficulty:: ◉◉◉◎◎ Dyfarniad/Rating: ★★★★★ Gan y Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru Dyma lyfr ysbrydoledig ar gyfer pob merch gan Medi Jones-Jackson ar gyfer Y Lolfa. Dwi’n falch iawn fod y wasg wedi cydnabod cyfraniad aruthrol merched i’n bywydau – ac mae’n anhygoel meddwl fod cymaint o’r rhain, sydd wedi siapio’r byd, yn rhannu rhyw gysylltiad â Chymru. Mae’r llyfr yn canolbwyntio ar bedair ar ddeg [14] o ferched arbennig sydd wedi cyfrannu at feysydd di-ri fel mathemateg, chwaraeon, meddygaeth, llenyddiaeth, ffasiwn, busnes a mwy! Mae’r ystod eang o ferched, rhai’n hanesyddol a rhai mwy diweddar, yn sicrhau y bydd rhywbeth at ddant pawb. Caiff pob merch dudalen ddwbl sy’n BYRLYMU â ffeithiau diddorol o bob math, wedi eu cyflwyno mewn ffordd hynod o effeithiol. Mae llyfrau heddiw yn edrych mor atyniadol o gymharu â rhai ers talwm, ond mae’r llyfr yma’n gwthio’r ffiniau ac yn mynd â phethau i lefel arall. Mae gwaith dylunio Dyfan Williams a lluniau modern Telor Gwyn yn ffantastig ac yn gweddu’r llyfr i’r dim. Dwi’n falch fod cymaint o sylw wedi cael ei roi at y dyluniad - maen hynod o drawiadol a chyffrous! Mae ‘na restr geirfa sydd o gymorth i ddysgwyr ac yng nghefn y llyfr mae llu o weithgareddau difyr i gadw unrhyw un yn brysur am oriau! Ceir hefyd linell amser sy’n rhoi’r cyfan mewn cyd-destun yn daclus. Y tu mewn i’r cloriau mae enwau llwyth o ferched ifanc o Gymru - sy’n anfon neges bwerus fod pob merch yn ddawnus ac yn rhyfeddol mewn rhyw ffordd neu’i gilydd! Rydym ni’n disgwyl pethau mawr gan y merched yma - efallai y cawn eu hanes yn y gyfrol nesaf ymhen 10 mlynedd! Er bod y gyfrol yn canolbwyntio ar ferched, peidiwch â meddwl fod y llyfr yn addas i ferched yn unig. Dwi’n meddwl ei bod yn bwysig fod bechgyn hefyd yn cael y cyfle i ddysgu am rai o’r merched nodedig hyn. Fel bachgen, fe wnes i fwynhau darllen y llyfr yn arw a dwi wedi dysgu llawer! (hanes Betsi oedd fy ffefryn) Byddai’r llyfr yn gwneud anrheg da, neu arf bwerus yn yr ysgol i ddangos nad oes terfyn ar yr hyn y gall merched ei gyflawni. Anelwch am y sêr! Dwi’n sicr y bydd y llyfr yma’n ysbrydoli ac yn annog cenhedlaeth newydd o ferched medrus a genod gwych! Unig anfantais y llyfr yw mai dim ond hanes 14 merch sydd yno!! Bydd rhaid cyhoeddi cyfrol arall, felly! Dyma beth mae eraill yn ei ddweud am y gyfrol: "Rydyn ni gyd wir wedi mwynhau dysgu am y menywod medrus a phwerus, yn enwedig- Angharad Tomos, Jade Jones, Betsi Cadwaladr - mae'r straeon wir wedi ein hysbrydoli ni i ddilyn ein breuddwydion." - Disgyblion Ysgol Gynradd Mynydd Bach "Dysgais lawer iawn wrth ddarllen y llyfr, fe ddenodd sylw fy merch 8 oed a bu fy mam yn pori drwyddo gan ganmol, o safbwynt athrawes, llyfr mor werthfawr ydi o. Tair cenhedlaeth o ferched hapus felly!" - Gwenan Mared, Cylchgrawn Barn "Yn sicr mi fyswn i'n argymell y gyfrol hon i bob un sydd eisiau tanio dychymyg ac ysbrydoli eu plant i feddwl yn uchelgeisiol. Mae'r gyfrol yn addas i ferched a bechgyn ac yn fy marn i." - Heulwen ac Elsi Davies, mamcymru.wales This is an inspirational book for girls of all ages by Medi Jones-Jackson for Y Lolfa. I'm very pleased that this publisher has recognised the huge contribution women make to our lives – and it is incredible to think that so many of these, which have shaped the world, share some link with Wales. The book focuses on fourteen special girls who have contributed to countless fields such as maths, sports, medicine, literature, fashion, business and more! The wide range of women, some historical and others more recent, ensures that there will be something of interest to everyone. All the girls get a double page spread which is BURSTING with interesting facts of all kinds, presented in a very effective way. Today's books look so attractive compared to those of yesteryear, but this book pushes the boundaries and takes things to another level. The design work of Dyfan Williams and Telor Gwyn's modern illustrations are fantastic and really add to the reading experience. I'm pleased that so much attention has been paid to the design- it’s remarkably impressive and exciting! Included is a vocabulary list that helps learners and at the back of the book there are lots of fun activities to keep anyone busy for hours! There's also a timeline that puts it all into a neat context. On the inside covers are the names of loads of young Welsh girls – who send a powerful message that every girl is gifted and amazing in one way or another! We expect great things from these women – maybe we will get their history in the next volume in 10 years’ time! Although the volume focuses on women, don't make the mistake of thinking that this book is just for girls. I think it's important that boys also have the opportunity to learn about some of these distinguished women. Even as a boy, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and I've learned a lot! (My favourite story was that of Betsi Cadwaladr) The book would make an excellent gift, or a powerful teaching tool to show that there's no limit to what women can achieve. Aim for the stars! I'm certain that this book will inspire and encourage a new generation of highly skilled females, from the arts to the sciences! The book's only disadvantage is that it's only got room for 14 girls. They'll just have to write another one then, won't they? This is what others had to say about the volume: "We have all really enjoyed learning about the skilled and powerful women, in particular-Angharad Tomos, Jade Jones, Betsi Cadwaladr-the stories have really inspired us to follow our dreams." -Mynydd Bach Primary school pupils "I learned a great deal from reading the book, it attracted the attention of my 8-year-old daughter and my mum grazed through it, praising, from a teacher's point of view, such a valuable book. Three generations of happy girls!" -Gwenan Mared, Cylchgrawn Barn "I certainly would recommend this volume to all those who want to spark imagination and inspire their children to think ambitiously. The volume is suitable for girls and boys and in my opinion. " -Heulwen and Elsi Davies, Mamcymru.Wales Gwasg/publisher: Y Lolfa Cyhoeddwyd/released: 2020 Pris: £5.99

*Scroll down for English* Allwch chi drechu'r feirws felltith? Are you going to be a hand washing hero? Oed diddordeb/interest age: 1+ Oed darllen/reading age: 5/6+ Lluniau/illustrations: Kasia Dudziuk Os oes ’na ddau ddywediad fydd yn aros yn y cof yn dilyn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, “cofia dy fasg,” a “golcha dy ddwylo,” ydi’r rheiny! Yn sicr, rydan ni wedi cael dipyn o wake up call am ein harferion hylendid personol, ac wedi cael ein hatgoffa o ba mor bwysig ydi gweithred syml fel golchi’n dwylo’n iawn (sy’n fwy o sgil nag ydach chi’n feddwl!). Dyma lyfr lliwgar a hwyliog fydd yn dysgu’r plant lleiaf i gadw eu hunain ac eraill yn saff drwy fod yn archarwyr golchi dwylo! ’Da ni gyd yn cymryd golchi dwylo yn ganiataol braidd, a dwi’n euog fy hun weithiau o fod yn frysiog a jest eu sticio nhw o dan y tap am gwpwl o eiliadau. Na. Na. Na! Mae’r llyfr hwn yn ein hatgoffa o’r camau sydd angen eu cymryd i wneud y dasg yn iawn, sydd hefyd yn dilyn canllawiau Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd. Oeddech chi’n gwybod fod 20 eiliad o olchi’n drwyadl yn well na 2 funud o’i wneud yn anghywir? Rhywbeth unigryw yr oeddwn i’n ei hoffi am y llyfr ydi’r feirws anferth sydd ar y clawr. Drwy ddarllen y llyfr a dilyn y camau, gall y darllenydd weld y feirws yn lleihau ac yn diflannu. Mae’r ffaith fod y feirws yn cael ei bortreadu fel ‘y baddie’ sydd angen ei drechu yn ychwanegu elfen o hwyl at y darllen, sy’n siŵr o apelio at ddarllenwyr iau. Bydd y llyfr yma’n hynod o ddefnyddiol yn y cartref yn ogystal â’r ysgol, ac mae digonedd o gyfleoedd i wneud y darllen yn rhyngweithiol, wrth i un person ddarllen a phawb arall efelychu’r symudiadau a dysgu’r grefft o olchi dwylo’n iawn. Allwch chi gael gwared â phob gronyn o’r feirws felltith? Dyma lyfr dwyieithog cardfwrdd cadarn sydd â negeseuon pwysig iawn nid yn unig ar gyfer pandemig byd eang, ond ar gyfer unrhyw adeg. Gwyliwch y fideo yma sy’n dangos arbrawf gyda golau uwchfioled (dim trio eich dychryn ydi’r nod, ond eich cael i sylweddoli pa mor bwysig ydi’r wybodaeth sydd yn y llyfr yma!): If there’s two things that have been drilled into me this year, that’s "remember your mask," and "wash your hands!” I think we’ve all had a bit of a wake-up call about our personal hygiene habits, and perhaps a bit of a reminder about the importance of washing our hands properly (which take a bit more skill than you think!) This colourful and fun book that will teach the smallest of children to keep themselves and others safe by being hand-washing, bug-busting superheroes! We all take hand washing a little bit for granted. You do it almost without thinking and tend to trust that other people have done the same. To be honest, pre-pandemic, I was probably guilty myself of rushing about, just sticking them under the tap for a few seconds and hoping for the best. No. No. No! This book reminds us all of the steps that need to be taken to do it properly, in line with World Health Organisation guidelines. For instance, did you know that 20 seconds of correct and thorough washing is better than 2 minutes of doing it wrong? Something that was unique about this book is the huge cut-out virus on the cover and throughout the book. Whilst reading and following the instructions, the reader can visibly see the virus shrinking before disappearing altogether. The portrayal of the virus as ‘the baddie’ in need of defeating brings an element of fun to the reading experience, which is bound to appeal to younger readers. This book will be extremely useful at home as well as school, and there are plenty of opportunities to make the reading interactive, with one person reading and everyone else copying the movements. Will you be able to blast away that pesky virus? This bilingual boardbook contains lots of handwashing tips that are useful for everyday life, not just during a pandemic. Watch this video which shows an experiment using ultraviolet light (the aim is not to try to scare you, but get you to realise how important the information in this book is!) Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Rily Cyhoeddwyd/released: 2021 Pris: £5.99 ISBN: 978-1-84967-566-6

*Scroll down for English* ♥ Enillydd Gwobr Tir na n-Og 2016 ♥ ♥ Tir na n-Og Award Winner 2016 ♥ Gwaith celf/artwork: Valériane LeBlond Oed diddordeb/interest age: 7+ Reading age/oed darllen: 8-9+ Synopsis Y Mabinogi yw chwedlau hynaf ac enwocaf Cymru, a'r Pedair Cainc yw straeon craidd y chwedlau hyn. Er iddyn nhw gael eu hysgrifennu ar femrwn tua wyth canrif yn ôl, bu storïwyr yn eu hadrodd ar lafar sawl canrif cyn hynny. Mae'r chwedlau wedi para cyhyd am eu bod yn dal i allu cydio yn y dychmyg â'u hud a lledrith, eu hantur, eu rhamant a'u rhyfeddodau unigryw. Argraffiad clawr meddal. (Gwales) A luxurious edition in paperpack. The Four Branches of the Mabinogi are the oldest and most famous legends in Wales. First written down around eight hundred years ago, they were being told for many years before that. Join us and explore these captivating stories with their unique mix of magic, romance, adventure, giants, wars and wizards. (Gwales) Adolygiad gan Sarah Down-Roberts Mae'n siŵr fod y rhan fwyaf ohonom yn gyfarwydd â Phedair Cainc y Mabinogi – rhai ohonom, o bosib, wedi gorfod eu hastudio'n fanwl mewn Cymraeg Canol, ac eraill ohonom wedi cael bras syniad o'r straeon ar ôl eu darllen mewn llyfrau plant. Wel, dyma lyfr sy'n cynnwys rhywbeth yn y canol – addasiad swmpus o'r pedair stori. Mae'r llyfr yn addas i blant hŷn ac oedolion. Mae ynddo dros 120 o dudalennau ac y mae hynny'n rhoi syniad i chi o'r manylder a geir yma. Mae'r llyfr clawr caled wedi cael ei gyflwyno mewn diwyg glân, hawdd ei ddarllen ond yr hyn sy'n gwneud y llyfr hwn yn gwbl atyniadol yw'r lluniau gan yr artist Valériane Leblond. Ar ddechrau'r gyfrol ceir llun o bawb ym mhob cainc gydag eglurhad pwy yw pwy. Ceir hefyd fapiau o Gymru'n dangos lle yn union mae'r mannau gwahanol a enwir yn y ceinciau. Dyma lyfr, heb os, sy'n haeddu bod yn hosan pob plentyn y Nadolig hwn. Bydd ei ddarllen yn rhoi cyflwyniad penigamp i rai o brif gymeriadau ein llên i genhedlaeth newydd o ddarllenwyr. Mae'r awdur wedi dal naws y ceinciau i'r dim – eu tristwch a'u hiwmor, ac mae'r dweud mewn mannau yn hyfryd o gynnil a diwastraff. Mi ellid ei ddarllen dro ar ôl tro a chael pleser pur yn byseddu'r tudalennau cain. Ar gael yn Saesneg hefyd. Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. Review by Sarah Down-Roberts I'm sure most of us are familiar or have at least heard of the Four Branches of The Mabinogi - some of us may have studied them in great detail in Middle Welsh, and others may have got a rough idea from reading about them in children's books. This book is something in-between - a substantial adaptation of the four tales. It's appropriate for adults and children. There are over 120 pages and this gives you some idea of the detail included. This paperback version is clean and easy to read, but what makes it so attractive is the artwork by Valériane Leblond. At the start of the book we get a picture of everyone and an explanation of who's who. We also get maps of Wales showing exactly where everything is. This is without a doubt a book that deserves to be in stockings this Christmas. Reading it will give a great introduction to some of the main characters in Welsh literature for a new generation of readers. The author retains the 'feel' of the Branches- their sadness and their humour, and the writing is concise and to the point. It can be enjoyed over and over! Also available in English. A review from www.gwales.com with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Rily Cyhoeddwyd/released: 2017 Pris: £6.99 ISBN: 9781849670234

*Scroll down for English* Genre: #jôcs #doniol #hiwmor / #jokes #funny #humour Themau trist,anodd/upsetting, tough themes: ◎◎◎◎◎ Trais, ofn/violence, scary: ◎◎◎◎◎ Iaith gref/language: ◎◎◎◎◎ Rhyw/sex: ◎◎◎◎◎ Hiwmor/humour: ◉◉◉◉◉ Her darllen/reading difficulty:: ◉◉◎◎◎ Oed darllen/reading age: 7/8+ Oed diddordeb/interest age: 7-11+ Wel, os ’da chi ’di bod yn teimlo braidd yn fflat ar ôl y flwyddyn ddwytha o lockdowns, dwi’n meddwl mai hwn fydd jest y peth i chi! Ma’ nhw’n dweud mai ‘chwerthin yw’r moddion gora’ dydyn, a fedra i ddim cytuno mwy! Mae Ha Ha Cnec yn drysorfa o jôcs fydd yn codi calon unrhyw un ac fydd yn siŵr o lwyddo i roi gwên ar wyneb hyd yn oed yr unigolion mwyaf sarrug! Mae’n rhaid i mi ddeud fy mod i’n licio jôc dda. Er hynny, dwi wastad wedi cael un problem fach – dwi jest methu deud jôc i achub fy mywyd. Am ryw reswm, dwi bob amser yn mynd to bits reit cyn y punchline! ’Da chi’n gwybod yr awkward moment ’na pan ’da chi’n deud jôc a does ’na NEB yn chwerthin a ’mond sŵn tumbleweed sydd i’w glywed – wel ma’ hynny’n digwydd i mi bob tro! Dwi wedi dod i’r canlyniad fod deud jôc wirioneddol dda yn SGIL! Wrth i Ha Ha Cnec gael ei lansio ar ddiwrnod y llyfr, ella fod ’na obaith o’r diwedd i mi allu dysgu deud jôcs yn iawn, heb iddyn nhw swnio fel dad jokes sâl! Dyma lyfr sy’n chock-a-block o jôcs a dwdls dwl, sydd wedi’u trefnu o dan lwyth o benawdau gwirion. Mi gewch chi lond trol o hwyl yn darllen ac yn rhannu’r jôcs yma gyda’ch ffrindiau! Beth am ddysgu ambell un neu ychwanegu rhai eich hunain (mae ’na ddigon o le handi yn y cefn)? Pwy sy’n dweud nad ydi llyfra jôcs yn addysgiadol? Wel, mi gewch chi ddweud wrth eich athrawon rŵan eu bod nhw definitely yn dysgu pethau pwysig fel geirfa i chi! Dwi fy hun wedi dysgu gair newydd bendigedig o’r llyfr yma, sef cnec. ‘Rhech’ da ni Gogs yn ei ddeud, ond dwi’n eitha licio ‘cnecs’ a ‘chnecio!’ Dwi’n meddwl y gwna i ddal ati i ddefnyddio ‘rhech’ ar gyfer trwmpsan fawr wlyb, ond mae ‘cnec’ yn air perffaith ar gyfer y rhai bach slei! Dwi’m yn meddwl y cewch chi lyfr jôcs gwell am £1 yn y byd i gyd yn grwn, felly ewch da chi i nôl eich copi, ac mi fyddwch chithau’n chwerthin un pen ac yn cnecio’r pen arall mewn dim! O... ac un peth bach arall.... pwy ar y ddaear ydi JEFFREY GIBBINGTON?!?!? If you’re feeling a bit flat after all these lockdowns, I think this’ll be just what you need! They do say don’t they that laughter is the best medicine and I couldn’t agree more! Ha Ha Cnec is a treasure trove of jokes that is sure to cheer up even the most miserable of individuals! I have to say that I do like a good joke. But there’s always been one teeny tiny problem– I just can't seem to come up with or tell a good one to save my life. I just always seem to go to bits right before the punchline! Have you ever experienced that awkward moment when you crack a joke and absolutely NO ONE laughs? Those times when all you can hear is a tumbleweed drifting past… Well, that happens to me every time! I've come to the conclusion that telling a good joke is all about the delivery, and it’s a real skill. Now that Ha Ha Cnec! has been published in time for this year’s World Book Day, maybe there’s a slim chance that I might finally be able to learn how to crack a joke, without it sounding like a really bad dad joke. Over the pandemic, the nation has taken illustrator Huw Aaron into their hearts, as he kept everyone going with his #criwcelf online sessions, giving children some useful and entertaining advice and parents a much-needed break! Fortunately for us, he found time in the midst of all his other projects to put together this brilliant book! This is a book that’s chock-a-block full of silly jokes and zany cartoons, organized under a load of even sillier headlines. You’ll have loads of fun reading and sharing these jokes with your friends! You could even learn a couple or add your own using the handy space at the back. Who says that joke books aren’t educational? Well, you can go right ahead and tell your teachers that they definitely do teach you important things like vocabulary! For example, I’ve just learned a brand-new and wonderful word – ‘Cnec.’ (fart) We Gogs tend to say ‘rhech’ but I’m really quite taken with this new one. I’ll probably carry on using ‘rhech’ to describe a loud, wet one, but 'cnec' is perfect for those sly ones that just pop out without warning! I honestly don’t think you'll get a better collection of jokes for a £1 in the whole wide world, so go on, grab your own copy, and you'll be laughing from one end and ‘cnec-ing’ from the other in no time! Oh, and one more thing, who on earth is JEFFREY GIBBINGTON?!?!? Cyhoeddwr/publisher: BROGA https://broga.cymru/croeso Cyhoeddwyd/released: Diwrnod y Llyfr 2021 Pris: OMB £1 !!!!! ISBN: 9781914303005 Os fethoch chi nhw, ewch i gael sbec ar y sesiynau #CriwCelf gan Huw If you missed them, go and take a look at the #CriwCelf sessions by Huw. ar sianel YouTube Huw Aaron

*Scroll down for English* Genre: #ffuglen #arddegau #defaid #doniol / #fiction #teens #sheep #funny Negeseuon positif/positive messages: ◉◎◎◎◎ Themau trist,anodd/upsetting, tough themes: ◎◎◎◎◎ Trais, ofn/violence, scary: ◉◎◎◎◎ Iaith gref/language: ◉◎◎◎◎ Rhyw/sex: ◉◎◎◎◎ Hiwmor/humour: ◉◉◉◉◎ Her darllen/reading difficulty: ◉◉◉◎◎ Lluniau/illustrations: Jac Jones ’Da chi ’rioed ’di cal yr hunllef ’na lle ’da chi’n troi fyny i’r ysgol heb eich trowsus ac mae pawb yn chwerthin ar eich pen? Naddo? Wel, dwi’m yn siŵr be di’r peth gwaetha – hynny, ta’r pethau anffodus sy’n digwydd i Dewi druan yn y llyfr yma! Mae’n saff deud fod gan y cradur dipyn o broblem, achos gyda’r nos, mae o’n troi’n anifail! I mean, fair enough, os ydach chi’n cael troi mewn i ryw fath o werewolf- ’ma ’na rwbath eitha cŵl am hynny - cael bod yn gyhyrog a chryf, curo’r bwlis, neu cael gwneud be ’da chi isio achos mae pawb eich ofn chi! O leia mae ’na rywbeth reit secsi am droi mewn i ryw fath o hync golygus fel wolverine ’does? Meddyliwch felly pa mor siomedig fasa chi o ddarganfod mai’r hyn rydach chi’n trawsnewid iddo fo ydi dafad. Ia. Blydi dafad. Dwi’n siŵr fod y cyhoeddwyr wedi edrych yn reit rhyfadd ar Bethan Gwanas pan oedd hi’n pitchio’r syniad yma’n y swyddfa... Dwi’m yn meddwl y baswn i wedi gallu stopio fy hun rhag chwerthin! Cyn darllan y llyfr, do’n i ’rioed wedi cael amsar i ystyried materion mawr athronyddol fel cael fy nhroi’n ddafad, a dwi’n meddwl mai rhyw fath o morbid curiosity oedd hannar y rheswm dros ddewis y llyfr yma i’w ddarllen! Rhaid i mi gyfadda,’ mi fues i’n gwenu drwy gydol y nofel fwy neu lai, ac mi oedd y llyfr jest y peth o’n i angen ar gyfer cael gwared â’r lockdown blues. Oes, mae angen dipyn bach o suspension of belief efo’r stori yma, ond unwaith ’da chi’n dod i dderbyn y ffaith fod Dewi jest yn fachgen tair ar ddeg oed, sy'n digwydd bod efo cyrn dan ei het, mae o jest yn gweithio! Pwy fasa’n meddwl y bysa bod yn ddafad mor broblemus? Yn sicr dydi ei fam ddim yn rhy hapus ar ôl i Dewi fwyta’i houseplants gora – ydi hi’n deall fod gan ddefaid anghenion wir?! Yn dilyn ei antics ar bedair coes un noson, mae o’n deffro’n noeth borcyn yng nghanol y cae – sut ar y ddaear mae o’n mynd i esbonio hyn wrth ei rieni? A bechod, mae hyd yn oed y defaid eraill yn chwerthin am ei ben! Cwestiwn mawr y llyfr, wrth gwrs, yw pam fod hyn i gyd yn digwydd i Dewi, o bawb? A sut goblyn mae stopio’r peth? Roedd ’na dipyn o dwist tua diwedd y llyfr, ac mi aeth y stori i rywle tywyllach nag oeddwn i’n ddisgwyl, gan groesi i’r byd ffantasi, rhamant ac arswyd am chydig. Mae’r llyfr yn dipyn o oed erbyn hyn, ond dydio o ddim wedi heneiddio ac mae ei apêl yn dal i fod yr un mor gryf. Dwi’n digwydd gwybod ei fod yn cael ei ddarllen mewn sawl ysgol uwchradd ar draws Cymru, a hynny, mae’n debyg, am ei fod o mor ddoniol. Mae o ar gael yn y Saesneg hefyd o dan y teitl Ramboy, ond i mi, y teitl Cymraeg sydd pia hi! Mae ’na rwbath reit satisfying am alw rhywun yn hen ben dafad yn does, yn yr un modd a ’sa chi’n defnyddio twpsyn – a mae ’na ddigon o rheiny yn y byd ’ma does! Gyda chymaint o ymchwil yn dangos fod bechgyn, ar y cyfan, yn darllen lot llai ’na merched, mae’n bwysig iawn fod ’na lyfrau doniol, ysgafn fel hyn i godi awydd darllen ymysg bechgyn yn eu harddegau - sy’n gallu bod yn dipyn o tough crowd i’w plesio (mae ’na dipyn o gystadleuaeth yn dod o'r xbox does!). Ma’r awdur yn hen law yn y maes yma, ond yn gyffredinol, mae na brinder o stwff newydd fel hyn yn y Gymraeg sy’n genuinley funny. Mae ’na linell denau rhwng bod yn ddoniol a thrio’n rhy galed- ond mae BG yn dallt hi'n iawn! Os wnaethoch chi fwynhau Pen Dafad – ewch i chwilio am lyfrau eraill y gyfres (o’r un enw) - chewch chi mo’ch siomi (mae gormod i’w rhestru yma). Ac os am rywbeth mwy diweddar, mae Brenin y Trenyrs gan Pryderi Gwyn Jones hefyd yn un da sy’n siŵr o apelio at y grŵp oedran 10-15. Did you ever get that nightmare where you turn up to school without your trousers and everyone laughs at you? No? Well, I don’t know what’s worse – that, or the strange events plaguing our main character here! It’s safe to say that poor Dewi has a bit of a problem on his hands, or should I say hooves, because at night-time, he starts turning into an animal! I mean, fair enough, if you're transforming into some kind of werewolf-like creature- there’s something quite cool about that – being muscly and strong, getting one over on the bullies, or just generally getting your own way ’cause everyone’s terrified of you! At least there’s something quite sexy about turning into some sort of wolverine… So just think how disappointed you’d be if the only thing you could turn into was a plain, ordinary sheep… I'm sure the publishers looked very oddly at Bethan Gwanas when she initially pitched this idea to the board! I doubt I'd have been able to keep a straight face! Before reading Pen Dafad, I'd never taken the time to consider great philosophical and thought-provoking issues such as being turned into a sheep, and I think I partly chose this book out of morbid curiosity! I’ve got to admit though, I smiled most of the way through, and it was just what I needed to shift those lockdown blues! Now then, you do need a little bit of suspension of belief with this one, but once you just learn to accept the fact that Dewi, a thirteen-year-old boy, suddenly develops hooves and horns, it just works! Who’d think that being a sheep could be so problematic? His mother certainly isn’t too impressed when he eats all her best houseplants – doesn’t she know that a sheep has needs?! Following some of his four-legged antics one night, he wakes up naked in the middle of the field – how on earth is he going to explain that to his parents? Even the other sheep are laughing at him, poor thing! The big question is of course, why is all this happening to Dewi of all people? And how the heck will he get it to stop? There was a bit of a twist towards the end, and it took a darker turn than I was expecting, crossing into fantasy, romance and horror territory for a while. The book has been around for a while now, but the story still works and it’s got plenty of life left in it. I think it was recently reprinted, actually. I happen to know that it’s still a popular choice in many secondary schools across Wales, probably because of its humour. It’s also available in English under the title Ramboy, but for me, you can’t beat Pen Dafad! Calling someone a ‘Pen Dafad’ when they’ve done something stupid has a nice ring to it! With research showing that boys, on the whole, read less than girls, it’s very important that there are plenty of funny, light-hearted books like this to spark their interest- they can be a tough crowd to please at times (especially when you consider the competition from the xbox!) The author's written a lot for this age group and knows it well, but I still think we need more books like this in Welsh – genuinely funny novels that aren’t too long or taxing to read. As far as humour is concerned, getting it ‘right’ is a skill – there’s a very fine line between being naturally funny and trying too hard. BG's nailed it, to be fair! If you enjoyed Pen Dafad – have a look at the rest of the series (which shares the same name) - you won’t be disappointed (too many good ones to list here). And if you’re looking for something new, Brenin y Trenyrs by Pryderi Gwyn Jones is also a good one that should suit the 10-15 age group. Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Y Lolfa Cyhoeddwyd/released: , 2005, 2020 Pris: £3.99 ISBN: 9780862438067 Cyfres: Pen Dafad Athrawon - mae llawlyfrau gweithgareddau i gyd-fynd â'r gyfres: https://www.ylolfa.com/products/9780862438036/llawlyfr-athrawon-pen-dafad-1 Ar gael yn y Saesneg hefyd... Available in English too as...

*Scroll down for English* Genre: #ffuglen #arddegau #trosedd / #teenage #crime #fiction Negeseuon positif/positive messages: ◉◉◎◎◎ Themau trist,anodd/upsetting, tough themes: ◉◉◉◉◎ Trais, ofn/violence, scary: ◉◉◉◉◎ Iaith gref/language: ◉◉◉◎◎ Rhyw/sex: ◉◉◉◎◎ Hiwmor/humour: ◉◉◉◎◎ Oed diddordeb/interest age: 13+ [addas i oedolion ifanc/oedolion hefyd] Oed darllen/reading age: 13+ [suitable for teenagers, young adults and adult readers] Cynnwys rhai themau y gall beri gofid i rai. Contains themes that some may find upsetting. ADOLYGIAD GAN LLIO MAI HUGHES I chi sy’n gyfarwydd â chyfresi fel The Bridge a The Killing, anghofiwch am Scandi noir achos mae Bethesda noir wedi cyrraedd a dw i isio mwy! Dw i wastad wedi bod yn hoff o ddarllen ond mi oedd ffeindio llyfr oedd wir yn dal fy sylw ac yn tanio’r diddordeb yna mewn darllen yn ystod fy nghyfnod yn yr ysgol uwchradd yn gallu bod reit anodd ar adegau. O na fyddai Llechi wedi bod o gwmpas bryd hynny! Rydan ni gyd yn gwybod am ddawn ysgrifennu arbennig Manon Steffan Ros erbyn hyn, ac yn siŵr o fod wedi darllen ambell gampwaith ganddi bellach, neu wedi clywed am rai o’i llyfrau o leiaf. Dydi Llechi yn sicr ddim yn siomi, ac mae gallu Manon i’n tynnu i mewn i fyd ac i fywydau’r cymeriadau nes ein bod wedi ymgolli’n llwyr yn parhau i fod mor gryf ag erioed yn y nofel hon. Shane ydi’r adroddwr – hogyn ysgol 16 oed. Fo sy’n ein tywys trwy’r holl ddigwyddiadau yn dilyn llofruddiaeth Gwenno, ei gyd-ddisgybl - hogan brydferth, glyfar a chlên, merch y teulu sy’n cyflogi ei fam fel glanhawraig, a’i ffrind pennaf (er nad oes neb arall yn gwybod hynny). Mae marwolaeth Gwenno yn dipyn o ddirgelwch. Pa reswm yn y byd fyddai gan unrhyw un i fod isio lladd Gwenno o bawb? Mae hi’n gwneud yn dda yn yr ysgol, mae hi’n boblogaidd ac yn perthyn i deulu bach perffaith. Trwy lygaid Shane a’i ffrindiau, fesul dipyn cawn wybod mwy a mwy am y teulu Davies ac am y Gwenno go iawn – Gwenno sy’n wahanol iawn i’r un sy’n cael ei phortreadu ar y newyddion. Daw sawl ffaith a digwyddiad annisgwyl i’r amlwg yn ystod cyfnod ymchwiliad yr heddlu, nes bod mwy nag un person dan amheuaeth gynnon ni. Fe wnes i fwynhau’r twist ar ddiwedd y nofel, a’r ffaith ein bod ninnau fel darllenwyr yn cael ein twyllo fel yr heddlu a phawb arall yn y pentref trwy ran helaeth o’r nofel. Gawn ni wybod pwy lofruddiodd Gwenno? Fyddwch chi’n gallu dyfalu? Mi fydd yn rhaid i chi gael gafael ar gopi er mwyn cael gwybod! Er mai nofel drosedd ydi hon yn bennaf, gyda mymryn o ddirgelwch, caiff themâu eraill eu trafod gan yr awdur, fel cam-drin emosiynol, iselder, dial, cyfeillgarwch, teulu, a dosbarth cymdeithasol. Mae cymeriad snobyddlyd a dauwynebog Glain Davies, mam Gwenno, yn cael ei gyfleu i’r dim trwy’r linell hon lle mae hi’n sôn am fam Shane: ‘Bechod. Hi ydi’r cleaner.’ Fe gawn ni hefyd sylwebaeth graff gan yr awdur ar sut y caiff Bethesda (ac o bosib Cymru yn gyffredinol) ei bortreadu gan y cyfryngau a gan bobl o’r tu allan i Gymru: ‘Doeddan nhw ddim yn gweld yr holl bethau hyfryd, cynnes, cyfeillgar am Fethesda. Doeddan nhw ddim eisiau gweld hynny. Roeddan nhw o’r farn fod byw mewn lle oedd ddim yn llawn Range Rovers a BMWs yn rhoi rhyw fath o esboniad i’r ffaith fod hogan un ar bymtheg oed wedi cael ei lladd.’ Roedd yr awdur yn dda iawn am daflu goleuni ar y ffaith fod pethau'n gallu edrych mor 'berffaith' ar y tu allan, ond bod y realiti tu ôl i ddrysau caeedig yn wahanol iawn, fel yn achos y teulu'r Davieses'. Da chi byth yn gwybod pa gyfrinachau sydd gan bobl! Y neges bwysicaf ar ddiwedd y nofel ydi pa mor bwysig ydi hi i ofyn am gymorth os ydach chi eich hun neu rywun rydach chi’n eu hadnabod yn mynd trwy gyfnod o iselder neu mewn sefyllfa anodd yn emosiynol. Mae’n bwysig bod yn ymwybodol o’r arwyddion ac i edrych allan amdanyn nhw – tydyn nhw ddim bob amser yn amlwg. Fe wnes i wirioneddol fwynhau darllen Llechi. Mae’n rhaid i mi gyfaddef fy mod i’n euog am fod â rhagfarn yn erbyn nofelau i bobl ifanc, oherwydd fy anwybodaeth am y ddarpariaeth sydd ar gael erbyn hyn, mae’n siŵr o fod. Doeddwn i ddim yn meddwl y bysan nhw’n apelio ata i fel rhywun sydd o leiaf ddegawd yn hŷn na’r grŵp oedran targed, ond mae’n rhaid i mi ddisgyn ar fy mai. Mae’r nofel yma’n sicr yn un y gellir ei mwynhau’n fawr gan bobl ifanc, ond sy’n rhoi’r un mwynhad i gynulleidfa hŷn hefyd yn fy marn i. Braf ydi gweld mwy a mwy o nofelau fel hyn yn ymddangos yn ddiweddar; nofelau sy’n pontio’r cyfnod hwnnw lle mae rhywun yn raddol dyfu o fod yn berson ifanc i fod yn oedolyn. Mae angen mwy o nofelau fel hyn i sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn dal ati i ddarllen ac i fwynhau darllen. REVIEW BY LLIO MAI HUGHES Those of you who are familiar with The Bridge and The Killing, you can forget scandi-noir because Bethesda-noir is here to stay! I’ve always enjoyed reading from a young age, but I remember finding good books that grabbed my attention was quite a challenge when I was in secondary school. If only Llechi had been around back then! Most of us are familiar with Manon Steffan Ros's writing abilities by now, and will probably have read at least one, if not several of her many excellent novels. Llechi certainly doesn’t disappoint, and her ability to draw us into the lives of her characters until we are fully engrossed is as strong as ever in this novel. Our narrator is a 16-year-old boy called Shane, and the story is told entirely from his point of view. He takes us through the events following the murder of his classmate, Gwenno - a beautiful, clever, likeable girl who is the daughter of a well-off family who employs his mother as a cleaner. She’s also his best friend (though nobody else knows that). Gwenno's untimely death is something of a mystery. What reason would anyone have to kill Gwenno of all people? She was doing well at school, was popular with her peers and has the ‘perfect’ little family. Through Shane and his friends, bit by bit the story unravels about her family life and about the real Gwenno – a very different girl to the one portrayed on the news. During the police investigation, a few mysterious facts come to light, that place several characters under suspicion. Will we ever get to know why Gwenno was killed and by whom? I’m giving nothing away here! Although this is primarily a crime novel with some elements of murder mystery, other themes come up such as emotional abuse, depression, revenge, friendship, family, and social class. The snobby, two-faced nature of Glain Davies, Gwenno's mother, is very accurately portrayed when she is caught talking about Shane’s mother in a patronizing manner. There’s also some great social commentary from the author on how Bethesda (and possibly Wales in general) is portrayed by the media and by people from outside Wales. She also makes reference to how well some ‘perfect’ families give the impression that all is well on the outside, but the reality behind closed doors is very different. You never can tell what dirty little secrets people are hiding! The most important message at the end of the novel is how important it is to ask for help if you yourself or someone you know is going through a tough patch or is struggling emotionally. It’s important to be aware of the signs and to look out for them – they aren’t always so obvious. I really enjoyed reading Llechi. I have to admit that I was guilty of being a bit sceptical about Young Adult fiction, probably because I hadn’t really given it much thought and I didn’t realize there were so many good titles out there. Initially, I just didn't think they’d appeal to a reader who’s a good decade older than the target age group, but now I realize I was wrong. This is definitely one that will appeal to teenage readers, but equally is a great book for adult readers and learners too. Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Y Lolfa Cyhoeddwyd/released: 2020 Pris: £6.99 ISBN: 9781784619558 Here's another great review of this awesome book from Nation.Cymru: https://nation.cymru/culture/review-llechi-is-a-masterclass-of-exposition-written-by-an-author-at-the-peak-of-her-powers/ *dewis personol yw'r Top 5 - bydd angen i athrawon wneud yn siwr bod y llyfrau'n addas gyntaf.