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)
Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October
Jumping Off the Page Children’s Comic Book Festival
Welcome to Jumping off the Page. We are delighted to bring you talented and award-winning comic book authors and illustrators from all over Ireland, plus a very special guest from the UK, Neill Cameron (creator of the Mega Robo Bros series).
At Halfway up the Stairs we LOVE comic books, and we are so excited to bring this new festival to Greystones. We’d like to thank our main funder, the Arts Council and also Creative Ireland Wicklow, plus all the publishers who helped us bring this festival to you, and our partner venue, The Whale Theatre, Greystones, especially Brian O’Regan. And special thanks to our designer and host with the most, Alan Nolan, and Vita Coleman from Bray Library.
We hope you enjoy all the festival events, and we can’t wait to meet you all in Halfway up the Stairs for Jumping off the Page.
– Trish Hennessy, Owner, Halfway up the Stairs, and Co-Producer of Jumping off the Page
– Sarah Webb, Events Manager, Halfway up the Stairs, and Programmer and Co-Producer of Jumping off the Page
SCHOOLS’ EVENT – PLEASE NOTE ALL THE SCHOOLS’ EVENTS ARE NOW BOOKED OUT!
Creating a Comic Book and the World of Nina Peanut with Sarah Bowie – BOOKED OUT!
Date and Time: Friday 4th October 10.00am to 11.00am + signing after the event
Venue: The Whale Theatre, Greystones
Age: 5th and 6th class
Booking: info@halfwayupthestairs.ie
Ticket Cost: €5 per child, or €11 including a copy of Sarah Bowie’s latest book, Nina Peanut: Mega Mystery Solver
2 adults free per class Only 1 class per school may be booked in
Meet the amazing Nina Peanut and her award-winning creator, Sarah Bowie. Expect lots of laughs and a draw along too. Want to find out how to create a comic book? This event is for you!
Please bring a pencil/pen and a notebook for each child.
Pop-up bookshop on site – Sarah Bowie will sign her books after the event
SCHOOLS’ EVENT
Meet Milly McCarthy and Friends with Leona Forde and Karen Harte – BOOKED OUT!
Date and Time: Friday 4th October 12.15pm to 1.15pm + signing after the event
Venue: The Whale Theatre, Greystones
Age: 3rd and 4th class
Booking: info@halfwayupthestairs.ie
Ticket Cost: €5 per child, or €10 including a copy of Leona and Karen’s new book, Milly McCarthy and the Christmas Calamity
2 adults free per class Only 1 class per school may be booked in
If you haven’t met Milly yet, you are in for a treat! Leona and Karen will talk about their brand-new Milly adventure, Milly McCarthy and the Christmas Calamity, where Milly takes part in a festive concert, which brings the house down, literally! If you like a good giggle, this event is for you! Includes a special comic book draw along with Karen.
Please bring a pencil/pen and a notebook for each child.
Pop-up bookshop on site – Leona and Karen will sign their books after their event
IRISH LANGUAGE SCHOOLS’ EVENT WITH BRAY LIBRARY
We are also delighted to support an Irish language comic book event for secondary schools in Bray Library – Ceardlann Coimicí with Sadhbh Devlin.
FAMILY EVENT
Jumping off the Page – Comic Book and Zine Fair for Young Comic Book Fans and Creators, Plus Giant Window Painting and Signing Bonanza
With special guest artists: Neill Cameron, Sarah Bowie, Alan Nolan and Karen Harte (who will be signing their books, along with author, Leona Forde)
Date and Time: Friday 4th October 4pm to 6pm
Venue: Halfway up the Stairs, Greystones
Age: 9 to 14
Booking: Two slots available: 4pm and 5pm.
Book your tickets for 4-5pm here
Book your tickets for 5-6pm here
Please book one ticket for each person attending. All children must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult.
Refreshments will be available from A Brew with a View beside the bookshop
Join us for this very special drop in afternoon of comic book fun! Browse the comics in the bookshop, including those made by young author/illustrators, and get a book signed by Sarah, Neill, Alan, Karen and Leona.
And watch Sarah, Neill, Alan and Karen create an amazing comic book window together!
How to Book a Space to Sell Your Comics or Zines:
If you are a young person aged 9 to 14 who is passionate about comic books and you’d like a space to sell your zines or comic books or hand-made merch, we’d love to have you. Spaces are limited so please book by 20th September (first come, first served): info@halfwayupthestairs.ie
RELAXED FAMILY EVENT – NEARLY BOOKED OUT!
Frankie’s World with Aoife Dooley
Date and Time: Saturday 5th October 10.30am to 11.15pm + signing after the event
Venue: The Whale Theatre, Greystones
Age: 9+
Booking: The Whale Theatre, Greystones here
Ticket Cost: €6 per child, €8 per adult, €25 for family ticket – (group of 4 including 1 adult)
All children must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult
This is a relaxed family event with smaller numbers, designed for autistic children, and children (or parents/guardians) with extra sensory needs who need a quieter event.
Aoife’s comic books, Frankie’s World and the follow up, Finding My Voice are hugely popular at Halfway up the Stairs and it’s easy to see why. They are warm and funny and tell the story of autistic schoolgirl Frankie and her adventures.
Join Aoife for this special event all about Frankie and her world, and Aoife and her world!
Pop-up bookshop on site – Aoife will sign her books after her event
Buy Aoife’s books before the event here
Event Notes
Detailed notes about the event and venue and what children can expect will be sent to all ticket holders a week before the event
FAMILY EVENT
The World of Milly McCarthy and Friends with Leona Forde and Karen Harte
Date and Time: Saturday 5th October 12.30pm to 1.15pm + signing after the event
Venue: The Whale Theatre, Greystones
Age: 8+
Booking: The Whale Theatre, Greystones here
Ticket Cost: €6 per child, €8 per adult, €25 for family ticket – 2 adults, 2 children
All children must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult
Leona and Karen will talk about their brand-new Milly adventure, Milly McCarthy and the Christmas Calamity, where Milly takes part in a festive concert, which brings the house down, literally! If you like a good giggle, this event is for you!
Pop-up bookshop on site – Leona and Karen will sign their books after their event
Buy the Milly McCarthy books before the event here
FAMILY EVENT: LUNCHTIME COMIC BOOK SIGNINGS AT HALFWAY UP THE STAIRS
Meet our comic book creators, ask them questions and get your books signed!
Free of charge, no booking necessary
12.00pm to 1.00pm
Neill Cameron, author/illustrator of Mega Robo Bros AND Sarah Bowie, author/illustrator of the Nina Peanut books
1.30pm to 2.15pm
Aoife Dooley, author/illustrator of Frankie’s World and Finding My Voice
Free of charge, no booking necessary
COMIC BOOK BONANZA! WITH SARAH BOWIE, NEILL CAMERON, AOIFE DOOLEY, KAREN HARTE AND ALAN NOLAN – NEARLY BOOKED OUT!
Date and Time: Saturday 5th October 2.30pm to 4.00pm
(Please leave extra time for the signing after the event at the Halfway up the Stairs pop-up bookshop)
Venue: The Whale Theatre, Greystones
Age: 9+
Booking: The Whale Theatre, Greystones here
Ticket Cost: €10 per child, €12 per adult or €40 for family ticket – (group of 4 including 1 adult)
All children must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult
To close our festival, we have not one but two amazing events for you, back-to-back. A must for any comic book fan!
How to Create a Brilliant Comic Book Characters with Neill Cameron and Sarah Bowie, in conversation with Alan Nolan
We are delighted to have UK comic book sensation, Neill Cameron, creator of the Mega Robo Bros with us for a very special comic book event! He will join Nina Peanut’s creator, Sarah Bowie and host with the most, Alan Nolan for a lively, illustrated chat about comic book characters they love and how they came up with their very own characters.
Our SPECTACULAR Closing Event:
Ready, Steady, Draw – a Crazy Comic Book Event Where Anything Could Happen! with Aoife Dooley, Sarah Bowie, Neill Cameron and Karen Harte Hosted by Alan Nolan
Join our comic book artists as they battle it out to be the best comic drawing team in the world (well, in Wicklow!) with help from the audience (yes, parents too!).
Mega signing with all our speakers – Sarah Bowie, Neill Cameron, Aoife Dooley, Alan Nolan and Karen Harte – after the event at the Halfway up the Stairs pop-up bookshop on site
Buy Sarah Bowie’s books before the event here
Buy Neill Cameron’s books before the event here
Buy Aoife Dooley’s books before the event here
Buy Alan Nolan’s books before the event here
Buy Leona Forde and Karen Harte’s books before the event here
Jumping off the Page Speaker Biographies
Sarah Bowie
Sarah Bowie is an author and illustrator based in Waterford. Her first comic book for children, Nina Peanut is Amazing was published to great acclaim and her second, Nina Peanut: Mega Mystery Solver has just been published.
She is co-founder of The Comics Lab and of Ireland’s first Graphic Short Story Prize in partnership with The Irish Times.
Neill Cameron
Neill Cameron is a cartoonist and writer, creator of the graphic novel series Mega Robo Bros, the Freddy VS School illustrated novels, and frequent contributor to weekly children’s comic, The Phoenix. In 2018 Mega Robo Bros was chosen as one of the best children’s comics of the year by both the New York Public Library and the Schools Library Journal.
Neill holds degrees in Philosophy and Information Technology, although what they have to do with drawing comics about robot brothers and pirate dinosaurs is frankly anyone’s guess.
Aoife Dooley
Aoife Dooley is an award-winning illustrator, writer and comedian. She is best known for her graphic novels for children, Frankie’s World and Finding My Voice. The stories are loosely based on her young self and feeling different from others. Aoife shares her own experiences around autism after getting a diagnosis in her late 20’s. She credits this discovery to helping her to finally understand herself for the first time.
Leona Forde
Leona Forde is a teacher from Bandon, County Cork. As part of the new Junior Cycle Course, teachers were offered workshops in a variety of arts disciplines and Leona used the opportunity to do a creative writing course. The Milly books are the result! Much loved by readers, with four books and more to come in 2025, Milly is here to stay!
Karen Harte
Karen Harte is an illustrator, comic creator and visual designer from Dublin. She has worked with a variety of clients such as Positive Period Ireland, Girls Rock Dublin, Fighting Words, the Dublin Feminist Film Festival and more. Her illustrations focus on playful visual storytelling and are informed by finding joy in the everyday. She is the illustrator of the Milly McCarthy books.
Alan Nolan
Alan Nolan is a comic creator and is the author and illustrator of children’s books such as Fintan’s Fifteen, Conor’s Caveman and the Sam Hannigan series. He is the illustrator of the popular Gordon’s Game books written by Gordon D’Arcy and Paul Howard, as well as Animal Crackers by Sarah Webb. His new book, Molly Malone & Bram Stoker in the Riddle of the Disappearing Dickens, the latest in his Molly & Bram series is out in September.
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
