Launching on 29th April 2025. Brimming with rhymes, fun facts, and laugh-out-loud moments, the book follows Sam, a curious young girl whose latest question sends her family and friends into a spiral of serpentine speculation: do snakes have whiskers? From imagining snakes on bicycles to pondering their musical abilities, Sam’s adventure is as hilarious as it is informative.
O’Riordan, who lives in Edinburgh with her husband, four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter, was inspired to write the book after her son posed the very question that now forms the title. “My children and I enjoy reading every single day,” she says. “I wanted to create a story of my own that gives factual information to young children about snakes, but in a playful and humorous way.”
A former journalist and now communications professional at the University of Edinburgh, O’Riordan has brought her professional storytelling skills to the world of children’s literature. Her book, published by Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, is already generating buzz for its colourful illustrations and child-friendly humour, all wrapped up in a warm and educational narrative. Parents may recognise themselves in the story’s adult characters, who fumble through Sam’s hilarious questioning before her dad finally helps her find the answers.
Do Snakes Have Whiskers? is available in paperback (£6.99) and Kindle format through Waterstones, Amazon, and from local Edinburgh bookshops, such as The Portobello Bookshop and Typewronger Books. Perfect for bedtime reading, classroom story time, or simply for curious little minds, this book is sure to become a family favourite.
