There were so many wonderful books published in 2023, it was very difficult to choose our Books of the Year!
Our team of children’s booksellers carefully selected their favourite books of the year in each category. We added together all these and came up with our overall selection. And from these books we chose our unanimous overall winner:
We are delighted to announce our overall Book of the Year is The Girl Who Fell to Earth by our Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde! A thought provoking, sci-fi adventure, perfect for age 11+.
Our Picture Books of the Year
The Mermaid Moon by Briony May Smith (age 4+). Order here
Kevin’s in a Mood by Sarah Bowie (age 3+). Order here
It’s Too Dark Puffling by Erika McGann & Gerry Daly (age 3+) . Order here
Little Wolf by Peter Donnelly (age 4+). Order here
Age Six Plus Books of the Year
The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice by Rachel Chivers Khoo (age 7+). Order here
Bear and Bird by Jarvis (age 6+). Order here
Adventuremice: Mice on the Ice by Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre (age 6+). Order here
Age Nine Plus Books of the Year
The Rescue of Ravenwood by Natasha Farrant (age 9+). Order here
Tyger by SF Said (age 11+). Order here
Milly McCarthy is a Complete Catastrophe by Leona Forde, illustrated by Karen Harte (age 8+). Order here
The Girl Who Fell to Earth by Patricia Forde (age 11+). Order here
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (age 11+). Order here
Teen Books of the Year
A Game of Life or Death by Triona Campbell (age 13+). Order here
Freya Harte is not a Puzzle by Méabh Collins (age 13+). Order here
Young Adult Books of the Year
Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai (age 15+). Order here
Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston (age 15+). Order here
Wise Creatures by Deirdre Sullivan (age 15+). Order here
Gift Books of the Year
Gods Don’t Cry by Ellen Ryan, illustrated by Conor Merriman (age 8+). Order here
I Am The Wind, edited by Lucinda Jacob & Sarah Webb, illustrated by Ashwin Chacko (age 8+). Order here
The Swing by Britta Teckentrup. Order here
Irish Language Books of the Year
Dogman Scaoilte Amach (Unleashed) by Dav Pilkey (age 8+). Order here
Gealach agus Grian by Muireann Ní Chíobháin, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald (age 2+). Order here
Graphic Novels of the Year
Bumble & Snug and the Shy Ghost by Mark Bradley (age 6+). Order here
Mexikid by Pedro Martín (age 11+). Order here
Some more favourites from 2023!
