About The Award
The Children’s Awards were created in the first Irish Book Awards expansion of 2006. The children’s awards are split into three categories: junior, senior, and Teen & Young Adult. The senior category is aimed at readers aged 8-12 years.
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The 2021 Shortlist
Specsavers Children's Book of the Year - Senior 2020
Break The Mould
By Sinéad Burke, Illustrated by Natalie Byrne
Break the Mould with Sinéad Burke – teacher, activist, author and little person.
Sometimes we can feel like we are not good enough. That we don’t belong. Or that we want to be more like our friends. In this empowering guide, Sinéad Burke draws on her own experiences and encourages young readers to believe in themselves, have pride in who they are and use their voice to make the world a fairer, more inclusive place.
From the power of being different, to celebrating the things you love about yourself and helping others do the same, this is a brilliantly inspirational handbook for breaking the mould and finding your place in the world.
Previous Winners
2020 – Break the Mould by Sinéad Burke, illustrated by Natalie Byrne
2019 – Shooting for the Stars by Norah Patten, illustrated by Jennifer Farley
2018 – Blazing a Trail by Sarah Webb and Lauren O’Neill
2017 – Stand by Me by Judi Curtin
2016 – Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden
2015 – Asking For It by by Louise O’Neill
2014 – Moone Boy by Chris O’Dowd & Nick V. Murphy
2013 – Skulduggery Pleasant: Last Stand of Dead Men by Derek Landy
2012 – Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer
2011 – The Real Rebecca by Anna Carey
2010 – Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil by Derek Landy
2009 – Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire by Derek Landy
2008 – Wilderness by Roddy Doyle
2007 – The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
2006 – The New Policeman by Kate Thompson