*Scroll down for English*
Antur hud ym myd y Bwbach!
A magical adventure in the land of the Bwbach!
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+
Oed darllen/reading age: 9-11
Digon chwerwfelys yw achos cyhoeddi Dewin y Gaeaf gan Graham Howells. Ar un llaw, mae’n wych cael y cyfle i fentro unwaith eto i fyd hudol y Bwbach, a hynny yn rhan olaf y drioleg. Ond, ar y llaw arall, dyma un o gyhoeddiadau Cymraeg olaf Gwasg Gomer cyn iddynt roi’r gorau i gyhoeddi a throsglwyddo i fod yn gwmni argraffu yn unig, sy’n dod â degau o flynyddoedd o draddodiad cyhoeddi i ben yng Nghymru. Diolch Gomer am bopeth a phob dymuniad da i’r rheiny fu’n rhan o’r daith. Mi fydd ’na chwith ar eich hôl yn sicr.
Ymlaen at y llyfr... Waw! – jest sbïwch ar waith celf Graham Howells – tydi o’n osym?! Blas yn unig mae’r clawr yn ei roi o’r lluniau anhygoel sy’n britho’r tudalennau. Fel Huw Aaron, mae o jest yn deall yn union sut i greu angenfilod, bwbachod, corachod a dewinod sy’n llawn rhyfeddod, a dwi’n siŵr y bydd y darllenwyr wrth eu boddau yn astudio’r creaduriaid hudolus yn fanwl. Mi faswn i wrth fy modd yn cael poster anferth o holl gymeriadau’r llyfrau i’w rhoi ar y wal yn y Man Cave...
Dewin y Gaeaf yw trydydd llyfr (a’r olaf dwi’n meddwl) mewn cyfres sy’n troi o amgylch creadur bach digri a direidus – Y Bwbach. Cafodd yr awdur y syniad am fyd y Bwbach ar ôl ymweld ag Amgueddfa San Ffagan yng Nghaerdydd. Er bod y Bwbach yn ymddangos unwaith eto, rhan llai sydd ganddo erbyn hyn, gan mai’r Dewin a'r Coblyn sy’n mynd am antur y tro hwn.
Heb ddatgelu gormod, mae’r byd mewn trwbl gan fod y tir a’r awyr wedi eu llygru ac mae’n rhaid i’r Dewin a’i gyfaill, y Coblyn, adael y tŵr gwydr i fynd i chwilio am yr unig obaith i achub y byd – y pedwerydd trysor ar ddeg! Fe synnwch pan welwch beth yw’r trysor. (clyfar iawn) Mi fydd rhaid i’r Dewin a’i ffrind deithio’n bell iawn iawn i nôl y wobr, drwy ofod ac amser, dim llai. Digon o antur!
Bethan Gwanas sydd wedi ymgymryd â’r gwaith addasu, fel y gwnaeth ar gyfer y llyfrau blaenorol, felly ’da chi’n gwybod eich bod chi mewn dwylo saff. Mae hi wedi gwneud joban dda iawn o drosi’r stori i’r Gymraeg.
Dwi’n falch nad fi oedd yn gorfod cyfieithu’r stori yma – mae’r gwreiddiol yn llawn geiriau anghyfarwydd sy’n ymwneud â hud a lledrith ac yn defnyddio iaith grand a blodeuog. Dwi’n meddwl fod Bethan wedi llwyddo i wneud y stori’n fwy dealladwy yn y Gymraeg, ond mae ’na dal le i fynd dwi’n meddwl. Efallai fod yr iaith yn rhy flodeuog ar brydiau a gall hynny amharu ar lif y naratif. Tydw i ddim yn dallt rhyw lawer am addasu cofiwch, felly does gen i ddim syniad faint mae rhywun yn cael ei newid ar y gwreiddiol.
Dim ond rhywbeth i’w ystyried – mi all y lluniau wneud i’r llyfr ymddangos fel cyfrol i blant ifanc, ond mae’r iaith yn fwy heriol nag y mae rhywun yn ei ddisgwyl – yn reit anos i blant 7-9 oed; yn fwy addas i ddarllenwyr da 9-11 oed yn fy marn i. Wrth gwrs, os oes oedolyn wrth law i helpu, yna mae cynnwys y stori’n hen ddigon addas.
Gallwch fwynhau’r stori yma ar ei phen ei hun, neu fel rhan o’r drioleg. Os ydach chi’n mwynhau hud a ffantasi gyda sbin Gymraeg, ewch i chwilio am lyfrau eraill y gyfres – chewch chi mo’ch siomi.
Oeddech chi’n gwybod?
Yn ôl y chwedl, mae Bwbachod yn greaduriaid digon cyfeillgar a chlên, Unwaith maen nhw’n setlo mewn tŷ, maen nhw’n bethau bach hynod o ffyddlon sy’n gofalu am y cartref ac yn gwneud troeon da am ddim byd mwy na phowlen o hufen! Oes ’na Fwbach yn trigo’n eich tŷ chi? Mae’n bechod mawr nad oes ’na un yn byw yma achos mae ’na bentwr o lestri tebyg iawn i dŵr Pisa angen eu golchi ac fedra i ddim cofio’r tro diwethaf i mi ddystio...
The publication of the Midwinter Wizard by Graham Howells is a rather bittersweet affair. On the one hand, it’s great to once again delve into the magical world of the Bwbach (a type of hobgoblin) for the final part of the trilogy. But, on the other hand, this is one of Gomer Press's last Welsh-language publications before they stop publishing and move to becoming a print-only company, which brings an end to decades of publishing expertise in Wales. Losing a publisher such as Gomer sent shockwaves through the industry. Diolch Gomer for everything and best of luck to staff who are moving on.
Right, the book... Wow! – just look at Graham Howells's artwork – isn’t it awesome?! The cover gives a taste of the incredible pictures scattered throughout the book. Like Huw Aaron, he just ‘gets it’ when it comes to creating wonderous monsters, Bwbachs, goblins, you name it…. I’d just love to have a huge poster of all the characters from his books to put on the wall in the Man Cave...
The Midwinter Wizard is the third book (and the last I think) in a series that revolves around a small and mischievous creature – Y Bwbach. The author came up with the idea for the world of the Bwbach after visiting St Fagan’s Museum in Cardiff. Although he appears once again, I would say he has more of a supporting role as this book focuses on a mysterious wizard and his Goblin assistant.
Without revealing too much, the world’s in trouble as the land and air have been poisoned and it’s up to the Wizard and his friend, the Coblyn to go in search of the fourteenth treasure to save the day. It all makes a lot of sense when you realize what the treasure actually is! (very clever) The Wizard and his accomplice will have to travel far and wide to fetch the prize, through space and time, no less.
Bethan Gwanas has undertaken the translating work, as she did on the previous books, so you know you’re in safe hands. She has done a good job of adapting the story for the Welsh language.
I'm glad that it wasn’t my job to do this – the original is full of unfamiliar words related to magic, myths and legends with sometimes grandiose and ‘flowery’ language. I think Bethan has managed to make the story as understandable as possible in Welsh, but there’s still a way to go, probably. Perhaps the language is too complicated at times which could disrupt the flow of the narrative. Mind you, I don’t know a thing about adapting books, so I have no idea how much one can change the original.
I think what I’m trying to say is, just be aware that the pictures and overall look of the book can make it seem like it’s for younger children, but the language is more challenging than first meets the eye. It's better suited to able readers aged 9-11 – just my opinion. Of course, if there’s an adult on hand to help, then the content is quite suitable.
You can enjoy this story on its own, or as part of the trilogy – if you enjoyed this, go and look for the other books in the series – you won’t be disappointed if you like magic and fantasy with a Welsh twist.
Did you know?
According to legend, Bwbachs are quite friendly creatures and once they settle in a house, they are extremely loyal little things that look after the home and do good deeds for nothing more than a bowl of cream! Have you got one in your house? It is a shame that we haven’t got one living here because there’s a pile of dishes like the tower of Pisa here, just waiting to be cleaned…
Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Gomer
Cyhoeddwyd / released: 2020
Pris: £5.99
ISBN: 9781785623226
Am wybod mwy?
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Os am wybod mwy am yr awdur, mae gwefan blogio arall o Gymru, Family Book Worms, wedi holi’r awdur yn barod...
Family Book Worms, another great website blogging about Welsh books have done a Q&A with the author. Click to find out more..
