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Our Books of the Year 2023
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!
Halfway up the Stairs is named An Post Bookshop of the Year!
On Wednesday 22nd November, at the annual An Post Book Awards, we were named Bookshop of the Year! We are so happy and so proud of this achievement, especially considering how brilliant the other five bookshops on the shortlist are. Congratulations to Bridge Books, Bridge Street Books, Liber, Maynooth Bookshop and O’Mahony’s.
Here are some pictures from the night (taken by Ger Holland, for writing.ie)
Best Independent Bookshop in Ireland!
We are absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been named Best Independent Bookshop in Ireland, 2022, as well as being shortlisted for Children’s Bookseller of the Year!
We are so proud of this achievement! There are so many wonderful indie bookshops in Ireland, especially our fellow nominee, Little Acorn Books in Derry, and it is a real honour to receive this accolade, especially as a dedicated Children’s Bookshop.We have a wonderful team of dedicated children’s booksellers – Trish, Amanda, Meriel, Kathleen and our Events Manager, author Sarah Webb. We work hard to get the best books into children’s hands and we are lucky there are so many wonderful children’s books out there!
2022 Our Christmas Greeting
2022 Highlights in video Part 3
2022 Highlights in video Part 2
Our welcome to the new Urkrainian residents in Greystones
2022 Highlights in video Part 1
David O’Doherty’s visit to the shop February 2022
Books of the Year 2022
All five of us at Halfway up the Stairs cast our votes for our favourite books published in 2022. There were two books that were unanimously chosen as our Top Books of the Year and we chose a selection of our top 20 books across all categories that we loved! You can follow the links below to find out more about the books.
Picture Book and Novel of the Year
Be Wild Little One by Olivia Hope, illustrated by Daniel Egnéus – Picture Book of the Year
The Light in Everything by Katya Balen, cover art by Sydney Smith – Novel of the Year
Picture Books
A Dress with Pockets by Lily Murray, illustrated by Jenny Lovlie
Amuigh Faoin Spéir by Sadhbh Devlin, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald
Be Wild Little One by Olivia Hope, illustrated by Daniel Egnéus – Picture Book of the Year
Fox & Son Tailers by Paddy Donnelly
The Wilderness by Steve McCarthy
Well Done, Mummy Penguin by Chris Haughton
Six plus
Bumble & Snug and the Excited Unicorn by Mark Bradley
Loki by Louie Stowell
The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams by Shane Hegarty
Nine Plus
Frankie’s World by Aoife Dooley
The Chestnut Roaster by Eve McDonnell
The Light in Everything by Katya Balen – Novel of the Year
The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold
The Sackville Street Caper by Alan Nolan
While the Storm Rages by Phil Earle
Teen/ Young Adult
Big Bad Me by Aislinn O’Loughlin
My Heart and Other Breakables by Alex Barclay
Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber
Truth Be Told by Sue Divin
Reference/ Gift Books
Be Inspired by Sarah Webb, illustrated by Graham Corcoran
Girls Who Slay Monsters by Ellen Ryan, illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald
Some more of our favourites:
Click into the bottom of the image to see more information
https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9781529502671/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9781788493147/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9781844886258/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9780717195657/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9780571363933/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9781788493925/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9781913696405/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9781801310031/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9781788009218/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9781913322991/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9781444968392/ https://halfwayupthestairs.ie/product/9781529083606/
A picture of hope and friendship
You can download this picture of hope and friendship (designed by Alan Nolan) to show support for the children of Ukraine and children from all over the world who have been affected by war or had to leave their countries. (Or email us at info@halfwayupthestairs.ie and we will send it to you). You can decorate it with your own pictures and messages. Drop it back to us or email a photo to info@halfwayupthestairs.ie. We will display them in the window and online.