#BookReview | #BreakTheMould How to Take Your Place in the World by Sinéad Burke | @wrenandrookbook

“There are SO MANY PEOPLE in this world. 7.53 BILLION to be exact.
But there is only one of me and one of you.
You are enough JUST AS YOU ARE….”
– Break the Mould, Sinéad Burke

‘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

[ About the Book ]

Sinéad Burke is an advocate, teacher and a British Vogue Contributing Editor. She also happens to be a little person at three and a half feet tall.

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.

[ My Review ]

Break the Mould by Sinéad Burke was just published October 15th with Wren & Rook (Hachette Children’s Group Imprint). Wonderfully illustrated by Natalie Byrne, this gem of a book is brilliantly described by Chris O’ Dowd as ‘a lovely lesson in humanity for eager young humans’

It is no surprise that Break the Mould has been shortlisted for the ‘2020 AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS – CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR’. This is a very important book, one that should be in every school and every home allowing children the opportunity to read about a very positive and inclusive future, one in which they can be a major player teaching us all how to be better people.

Break the Mould is divided into ten very inspiring chapters, each with a compelling and motivating message. Sinéad writes in a very authentic style that is open and approachable for all ages. I was quite emotional reading sections as I remembered myself growing up the youngest of four with my hands permanently on my hips trying to be heard. A book like Break the Mould gives every child the confidence to use their voice to help make our world, our society a better place.

” I want to ENCOURAGE you to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF,
to have pride in who you are and to find COMFORT in your own skin,
to be CURIOUS about the world around you,
to DISCOVER your voice, and to DREAM as big as you can”
– Sinéad Burke

I feel very passionately about this book. We are never too old to change, to make change happen and to listen. There is a current movement across the world of young people voicing their concerns for our planet and striving to change attitudes towards difference. Sinéad Burke’s book brings this movement into the classroom in a very open, friendly and effective manner.

Using personal anecdotes from her own life, Sinéad Burke gives the reader an insight into a few of the many challenges she encountered growing up in a world that wasn’t built for her. With encouragement from her family, she was never led to believe that anything was unachievable. Break the Mould is Sinéad Burke’s way of giving back to the world and giving all our children the words and the methods to express themselves and to be who they want to be.

Break the Mould is a VERY IMPORTANT and POWERFUL book, packing a very serious and effective punch. I cannot state enough the relevance of this book for the self-esteem of a generation that is constantly bombarded with perfection through social media platforms and other media. We all need to look at ourselves and re-evaluate our attitude to society and where we can be of benefit. No child should be made to feel that they are unusually different because we are all different, we are all unique.

Uplifting and encouraging, Break the Mould is a book for now, a book for all. Please pick up a copy and give it to a child that you feel needs a boost of confidence. Reading this book could be just the encouragement they need to smile. Wouldn’t that be something magical?

“This is YOUR STORY. No one can tell this story like you, because this is your story. You are interesting. You are important. You are enough just as YOU are…”
– Sinéad Burke

[ Bio ]

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. 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.

Twitter ~ @TheSineadBurke