John Burke and Kathi Burke, Tom Crean: The Brave Explorer

Tom Crean was one of ten children who grew up on a farm near Anascaul in County Kerry. He loved adventure and, at the age of 15, he ran away to join the British Navy and sail around the world.

While his ship was moored in New Zealand, Tom met Captain Robert Scott. Scott’s dream was to be the first person ever to reach the South Pole and he asked Tom to join his crew.

Get ready to discover epic tales of endurance, bravery and determination in this inspiring life story of Tom Crean.

Kathi ‘Fatti’ Burke is an Irish illustrator. She lives in Lisbon. John Burke is Fatti’s dad. He is a retired primary school teacher and principal. He lives in Waterford.

Their first book Irelandopedia won The Ryan Tubridy Show Listeners’ Choice Award at the Irish Book Awards 2015 and the Eilís Dillon Award for first children’s book and the Judges’ Special Award at the CBI Book of the Year Awards 2016. Their next books Historopedia and Foclóiropedia were nominated for the Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year (Junior) Award at the Irish Book Awards 2016 and 2017.