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)
We Are the Wibbly by Sarah Tagholm and Jane McGuinness Order here
The Mermaid Moon by Briony May Smith Order here
The Golden Hare by Paddy Donnelly (Irish author) Order here
Dexter Lost his Boo-Woo by Shane Hegarty and Ben Mantle (Irish author) Order here
Waiting for Froggo by Alice Courtley Order here
Little Lion Girl by Olivia Hope and Fiona Woodcock (Irish author) Order here
The Ballad of Cactus Joe by Lily Murray and Clive McFarland (Irish illustrator) Order here
There’s a Tiger on the Train – Mariesa Dulak and Rebecca Cobb Order here
The Girl and the Mermaid by Hollie Hughes and Sarah Massini Order here
Global by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano (Irish author) Order here
An award-winning graphic novel about Sami and Yuki, two different young people who are trying to survive.
The Traitor in the Game by Triona Campbell (Irish author) Order here
The second book in this teen thriller series set in the world of gaming. Age 13+
Burning Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber (Irish author) Order here
The third book in this funny, fast-paced romantasy series. Age 13+
Me and Aaron Ramsey by Manon Steffan Ros Order here
A powerful and moving book about football fan, Sam, and his relationship with his dad.
Movies Showing Nowhere by Yorick Goldewijk and Laura Watkinson (Translator) Order here
A super clever time-travel novel, something a bit different.
The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees Order here
Outstanding fantasy adventure with brilliant world building.
A Drop of Golden Sun by Kate Saunders Order here
Charming, funny historical fiction about family and friendship, set around a Hollywood movie during 1973.
The Tower Ghost by Natasha Mac a’Bháird (Irish author) Order here
A twisty, gripping murder mystery story set in a boarding school.
Into the Witchwood by Méabh McDonnell (Irish author) Order here
Terrific fantasy adventure set in an enchanted wood.
The Fights that Make Us by Sarah Hagger-Holt Order here
Jesse is non-binary and is looking for her place in the world. Then she finds her cousin’s teenage diaries, which spotlight LGBTQ+ history.
Age 6/7+
Pablo and Splash by Sheena Dempsey (Irish author/illustrator) Order here
The Magician Next Door by Rachel Chivers Khoo, Illustrated by Alice McKinley (Irish author) Order here
This Lake is Fake by Julian Gough, illustrated by Jim Field (Irish author) Order here
Lola and Larch Fix a Fairy Forest by Sinéad O’Hart, illustrated by Rachel Seago (Irish author) Order here
Evil Duck and the Feather of Fortune by Chris Judge (Irish author/illustrator) Order here
Dinosaur Pie by Jen Wallace, illustrated by Alan O’Rourke (Irish author and illustrator) Order here
Bertha and Blink: Rumble in the Jungle by Nicola Colton (Irish author/illustrator) Order here (to come)
Adventure Mice: Mice on the Moon by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre Order here
Bear and Bird: The Adventure and Other Stories by Jarvis Order here
Happy Hills: Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens by Sophy Henn Order here
Age 9+
Milly McCarthy and the Sports Day Shambles by Leona Forde and Karen Harte (Irish author/Irish illustrator) Order here
Movies Showing Nowhere by Yorick Goldewijk and Laura Watkinson (Translator) Order here
The Weather Girls by Sarah Webb (Irish author) Order here
Pirates of Darksea by Catherine Doyle (Irish author) Order here
The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees Order here
A Drop of Golden Sun by Kate Saunders Order here
Artezans: The Forgotten Magic by L. D. Lapinski Order here
The Tower Ghost by Natasha Mac a’Bháird (Irish author) Order here
Into the Witchwood by Méabh McDonnell (Irish author) Order here
Mega Robo Bros: Nemesis by Neill Cameron Order here
Nina Peanut is Amazing by Sarah Bowie (Irish author/illustrator) Order here
The Fights that Make Us by Sarah Hagger-Holt Order here
The Houdini Inheritance by Emma Carroll (out 2nd July) Order here
Fallout by Lesley Parr (out 4th July) Order here
Teen Books
King of Nothing Nathanael Lessore Order here
The Traitor in the Game by Triona Campbell (Irish author) Order here
(Start with book 1 A Game of Life and Death if you haven’t read it yet) Order here
Burning Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber (Irish author) Order here
(Start with book 1 Twin Crowns if you haven’t read the series yet)
Me and Aaron Ramsey by Manon Steffan Ros Order here
I Am Wolf by Alastair Chisholm Order here
Island by David Almond, illustrated by David Litchfield Order here
The Things We Leave Behind by Clare Furniss Order here
On Silver Tides by Sylvia Bishop Order here
YA (Age 15+)
Something’s About to Blow Up by Sam Blake (Irish author) Order here
Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain (Irish author) Order here
The Boy Next Door by Jenny Ireland (Irish author) Order here
Iris Green, Unseen by Louise Finch Order here
Who Watches This Place by Amy Clarkin (Irish author) Order here
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson Order here
Murder on a Summer Break by Kate Weston Order here
Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai (Irish author) Order here
Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald Order here
Apocalypse Cow by O.R. Sorrel Order here
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+.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Bumble & Snug and the Shy Ghost by Mark Bradley (age 6+). Order here
Mexikid by Pedro Martín (age 11+). Order here
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!
Our welcome to the new Urkrainian residents in Greystones
David O’Doherty’s visit to the shop February 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.
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
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
Bumble & Snug and the Excited Unicorn by Mark Bradley
Loki by Louie Stowell
The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams by Shane Hegarty
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
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
Be Inspired by Sarah Webb, illustrated by Graham Corcoran
Girls Who Slay Monsters by Ellen Ryan, illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald
Click into the bottom of the image to see more information
