Halfway’s Books Of The Year 2024

They’ve got the whole world…

atest press release from Trish and the Halfway Up The Stairs gang, issued on Thursday, but, blah, blah, blah…

On Wednesday night, award-winning Greystones children’s bookshop, Halfway up the Stairs, announced their Books of the Year 2024.

It’s been another stellar season for the bookshop as their bookseller, Kathleen Macadam won the An Post Book Awards Short Story Category for her story, Valentine’s Day. Well done, Kathleen!

The overall winner – Halfway up the Stairs’ Favourite Book of the Year – is Fia And the Last Snow Deer by Wicklow-woman Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot Flynn. It was also the winner of the An Post Book Awards, Children’s Senior. It’s a brilliant book about friendship, family and adventure, set in snowy prehistoric Ireland. Perfect for young readers of age 9+.

Young children love picture books and Trish Hennessy and her team have chosen the following picture books as their Books of the Year 2004. They carefully read each book and recommend only the very best books for young readers.

The Golden Hare by Paddy Donnelly (Age 4+), a stunning book about nature; We Are The Wibbly by Sarah Tagholm, illustrated by Jane McGuinness (Age 3+), Little Lion Girl by Olivia Hope, Illustrated by Fiona Woodcock (Age 3+), Mr Santa by Jarvis (Age 3+); Santa’s First Christmas by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Sydney Smith (Age 4+).

Also recommended and a Book of the Year is The Great Discovery by Peter Donnelly (Age 3+), another great Wicklow-based author and illustrator.

In the 6+ age category their Books of the Year are: Rabbit and Bear: This Lake is Fake by Julian Gough and Jim Field (Age 6+); Lola and Larch: Fix a Fairy Forest by Sinéad O’Hart, illustrated by Rachel Seago (Age 7+); Watts and Whiskerton: Buried Bones and Troublesome Treasure by Meg McLaren (Age 7+); Dinosaur Pie by Jen Wallace and illustrated by Alan O’Rourke (Age 7/8+); Beanie the Bansheenie by Eoin Colfer and illustrated by Steve McCarthy (Age 6+).

Readers of age 9+ are well catered for with some amazing titles this year and Trish and her team were delighted to select the following as their Books of the Year for this age group: The Secret of Golden Island by Natasha Farrant (Age 9+); Fallout by Lesley Parr (Age 10+); The Last Boy by Eve McDonnell (Age 10+); The Weather Girls by Sarah Webb (Age 9+) who works in the bookshop as Events Manager.

Wicklow-man Alan Nolan’s book, The Riddle of the Disappearing Dickens (Age 9+) is also included as a 9+ Book of the Year.

There are some brilliant Books of the Year for Teens: King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore (Age 12+) – Amanda, Sarah and Trish met Nathanael at the Children’s Books Ireland Conference this year – and also highly recommend Steady for This; Sisters of the Moon by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (Age 13+); Me and Aaron Ramsey by Manon Steffan Ros (Age 11+); Braids Take a Day by Zainab Boladale (Age 13+).

And for older teens: Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain (Age 15+): When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson Age 15+. And another Wicklow writer, Sam Blake – winner of the An Post Book Awards, Teen and YA section: Something’s About to Blow Up (Age 15+).

And finally there are some stunning gift books and reference books: The History of Information by Chris Haughton (Age 9+ and all ages); The Faerie Isle: Tales and Traditions of Ireland’s Forgotten Folklore by Síne Quinn, illustrated by Dermot Flynn (age 9+); Letters from the North Pole by Annie Atkins, illustrated by Fia Tobing (Age 4+); At Home In A Book by Lauren O’Hara (Age 6+); and finally, I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me by Sarah Webb and Paul Delaney (Age 3+).

More Books of the Year and Recommended Reads, including comic books and books in Irish here. We also have a new Signed Books section in the shop, full of signed goodies from Oliver Jeffers, Chris Haughton, Hannah Gold and lots more! The perfect Christmas gift!

We love finding the right book for young readers, so do drop into the shop at La Touche Place or contact them by email or phone and they’d be delighted to help you!

You can find out more about Halfway Up The Stairs here, and about other upcoming events here.