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Sinéad Burke, Author
Natalie Byrne, Illustrator
*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS – CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR*
‘A lovely lesson in humanity for eager young humans’ – Chris O’Dowd.
‘This book made me feel proud to be different’ – Rosie Jones.
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.
‘A very important book encouraging us all to celebrate the uniqueness and gift of our own and others’ differences, while recognising all of that which we share in common.‘ – Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland
Sinéad Burke is an educator, writer and advocate. Born in Dublin, Sinéad is interested in making the world a more equitable place. Her career began in the classroom, teaching children from ages to four to twelve. Sinéad received the Vere Foster Medal for Teaching by Trinity College, Dublin but this desire to create equality and access couldn’t be contained to the classroom. With a Masters in Broadcast Production, Sinéad understood the power of storytelling and as a disabled woman, became aware of the lack of representation in television, museums, dolls, books… and fashion.
Sinéad is a Contributing Editor of British Vogue, and in September 2019, she was the first little person to ever feature on the cover of Vogue magazine. Selected by HRH the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, Sinéad is considered a ‘Force for Change’ and one of the most influential women working in the UK and Ireland.
Sinéad is responsible for the introduction of the word ‘duine beag’, meaning little person, into the Irish language. She has collaborated with Lottie Dolls to create the first little person doll, and with the National Museums of Scotland to create the first little person mannequin.
Natalie Byrne is a Latina illustrator based in London. She studied Graphic Design at Sheffield Hallam University, and found her illustrative voice combining colour and important topics. Natalie’s work promotes intersectional feminism and tackles social issues such as sexual assault, mental health and equality.
website: nat-b.com
Topic: Disability, Growing up, Mental Health, Neurodiversity, Non-Fiction, PSHE & Citizenship
Related Book: Break the Mould
Book Creator: Sinéad Burke, Natalie Byrne
Break the Mould is a heartfelt and inspiring guide to celebrating differences and finding your place in the world, for readers aged 8 and up.
Themes: Celebrating differences | Inclusivity | Empathy | Disability