Dublin Bus Launches Adorable Children's Book to Teach Bus Safety

If you've ever tried to keep a small person still on a bus whilst simultaneously juggling bags, explaining why we don't shout about every single dog we pass, and reminding them for the forty-seventh time to please stop swinging on the pole, you'll understand the challenge of teaching little ones about public transport etiquette. It's exhausting, isn't it? We're all out here doing our best, often with a toddler who thinks the emergency exit button is the most thrilling toy they've ever encountered.

Which is why Dublin Bus's new children's book might just be the helping hand we've all been waiting for. Meet Daithí the Dublin Bus, a friendly yellow character who's about to become your new favourite teaching assistant when it comes to safe and kind travel habits.

A Bus with a Mission

Dublin Bus has just launched Daithí the Dublin Bus Goes to the Zoo, their very first children's book, and honestly, the timing couldn't be better with Christmas around the corner. Designed for children aged three to six (though let's be real, any age that still thinks buses are magical will love it), the book follows Daithí on a lively adventure to the zoo, teaching essential travel tips along the way.

Little ones can enjoy a brand new adventure with Daithí The Dublin Bus in this adorable zoo-themed children's book from Dublin Bus.

From holding the handrail (because we all know how quickly those little legs can lose balance when the bus brakes) to being considerate to fellow passengers (a skill some adults could brush up on, if we're being honest), Daithí makes learning about safety and respect actually fun. It's the kind of book that might actually get your child excited about being helpful on public transport, rather than viewing the journey as an opportunity to test exactly how loud their voice can go.

David Boyd, Director of Risk Management at Dublin Bus, explained the thinking behind the book: "At Dublin Bus, safety is central to everything we do. With Daithí the Dublin Bus Goes to the Zoo, children can learn important travel habits in a fun and engaging way, while every purchase also supports vital children's charities. It's a small story with a big impact, helping young passengers stay safe, be kind, and give back to their community."

More Than Just a Story

Here's the bit that makes this book even lovelier: it's not just about teaching our kids to be better bus passengers. Dublin Bus is donating all commissions and royalties from every sale equally to three brilliant children's charities: Barnardos, Barretstown, and Childline by ISPCC. So when you're picking up a copy as a stocking filler (or let's face it, an emergency distraction for the next bus journey), you're also funding vital programmes for children across Ireland.

Little ones had a wonderful time at the launch of 'Daithí The Dublin Bus goes to the Zoo', Dublin Bus's new children's book adventure!

It's one of those rare wins where everyone benefits: your child gets an engaging story, you get a bit of peace knowing they understand bus safety, and vulnerable children across the country get support through three fantastic organisations. Not bad for a tenner, is it?

Where to Get Your Copy

Priced at €9.99, Daithí the Dublin Bus Goes to the Zoo is available now on Amazon.ie, which means you can order it from the comfort of your sofa (probably whilst simultaneously supervising homework, stirring dinner, and answering seventeen questions about why the sky is blue). Even better, you can have it shipped directly to friends and family, making it a brilliant little gift for nieces, nephews, or your best mate's toddler who's obsessed with anything on wheels.

This adorable little one got to play bus driver for the day thanks to Dublin Bus's fun new children's initiative!

Whether you're raising a future Dublin Bus driver (the peaked caps at the launch event were absolutely adorable, by the way) or just trying to make the school run a bit less chaotic, Daithí might be exactly what you need. Because if a friendly yellow bus can convince our little ones to stop treating the handrail like gymnastics equipment, that's nothing short of a Christmas miracle.

And if nothing else, it's a book that celebrates something very Irish: our trusty yellow buses, the zoo trips we all remember from childhood, and the importance of being sound to each other, even when we're squashed onto the 46A during rush hour with a buggy and three bags of shopping.

Now if only someone could write a book teaching adults not to block the buggy space with their giant rucksacks, we'd really be sorted.