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Irish Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Celebrating 35 years of the Children's Books Ireland Awards
Since 1990, the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards – formerly the Bisto Book of the Year Awards, then the Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year Awards – have charted the development of children's literature and the undeniable talent of Irish artists who create stories for young audiences. The awards allow us to track the appearance of writers and illustrators who would prove to be hugely influential over the course of their careers, to see the changing profile of shortlisted and winning artists and to celebrate a welcome increase in representation on the page. Books for children and young adults are everything that books for adults can be: political, entertaining, thought-provoking, controversial, meaningful and surprising. Hard as it is to single out individual titles from hundreds of shortlisted books and winners, here are a few of the most culturally significant moments of the last 35 years of the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards. 1992: Wildflower Girl by Marita Conlon-McKenna Some 33 years ago, the second book in the Children of the Famine Trilogy won the award for Best Book (Historical). The following year, Conlon-McKenna's The Blue Horse won the Book of the Year Award, and her career writing for children and adults has continued to flourish, with her latest book, Fairy Hill, published in 2023. It's clear, however, that the famine books have a hold on Irish readers and have withstood the test of time as just last year, the bestselling opener to this trilogy, Under the Hawthorn Tree, was the most borrowed children's book by an Irish author in Irish public libraries, a testament to its unwavering popularity. READ MORE A new signed limited edition of all three books together will be published this month by The O'Brien Press. Exclusive to Kenny's Bookshop, this edition includes a new foreword by Conlon-McKenna reflecting on the legacy of the whole trilogy. 2005: How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers The debut picturebook from author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers was published in 2004, having been plucked from the slush pile at HarperCollins Children's Books. In 2005, it won a Merit Award (now called Honour Awards) and in the following decade, 12 of Jeffers' books featured on the shortlist, winning 10 prestigious awards. Jeffers' impact on readers, and on the publishing industry, has been seismic. In 2020, Apple TV+ released a short film, voiced by Meryl Streep, Chris O'Dowd, Jacob Tremblay and Ruth Negga, based on Jeffers' New York Times bestselling and TIME Best Book of the Year, Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth. How to Catch a Star represents the start of Jeffers' journey with the character known as 'the boy', and predates the development of his distinctive handwritten type, used in later editions of the book and much imitated in picturebooks globally. 2016: Asking For It by Louise O'Neill In 2014, Louise O'Neill's debut dystopian novel, Only Ever Yours, was published and won a host of awards, including the 2015 Eilís Dillon Award. There was much discussion, including from the author herself , about whether the book should be categorised as young adult or adult fiction, and how dark a plot young readers can withstand – a discussion that resurfaces often with 'crossover' fiction of this type. O'Neill's sophomore novel, Asking For It, winner of the Honour Award for Fiction in 2016, caused shockwaves on a nationwide level and got Ireland talking about rape culture, consent and misogyny. O'Neill worked with RTÉ on a documentary, Asking For It?: Reality Bites, and in the aftermath of #WakingTheFeminists, the book was adapted for the stage appearing at the Everyman and the Abbey in 2018. 2021: Why the Moon Travels, written by Oein DeBhairduin, illustrated by Leanne McDonagh This groundbreaking book, published by Skein Press in 2020, is a haunting collection of twenty tales rooted in the oral tradition of the Irish Traveller community, written and illustrated by Mincéir artists. Why the Moon Travels won the Eilís Dillon Award and the Judges' Special Award in 2021; it was noted for its artistic excellence and as a book that 'celebrates and shares a rich tradition that may be unfamiliar to many readers'. Our judges said: 'in these stories, this world and the otherworld are intertwined, the personal is often used to explore the universal, and storytelling becomes a means of making sense of our surroundings'. In 2022, Children's Books Ireland gifted 1,900 copies of the book to sixth class students across Ireland thanks to Enterprise Mobility's ROAD Forward initiative, encouraging students to read for joy and celebrating diversity in children's books. Hall of Fame titles from this year's debut shortlisted artists Moira Buffini, author of Songlight. 'I am really grateful to Eoin Colfer and his Artemis Fowl books because my son loved them so much and he wasn't a very keen reader. I'm sure those books have got many boys reading. They are so much fun and such gripping adventures. More recently, I particularly enjoyed On Midnight Beach by Marie Louise Fitzpatrick. It beautifully evoked a coming-of-age summer on the coast of Donegal. There was so much in this book that reminded me of my own teenage years. She captured something really universal and I absolutely loved it.' Eilish Fisher, author of Fia and the Last Snow Deer. 'A book that I love and that is my 'hall of fame' children's book of the last 35 years is Girls Who Slay Monsters by Ellen Ryan. The stories of Ireland's goddesses, long forgotten over the centuries, are brought back to life through Ryan's beautiful storytelling in a way that enables readers of all ages to relate to these unsung heroes of Irish mythology. It reminds us all how timeless these stories are and how all literature can be enriched when we are brave enough to challenge traditional interpretations and embrace inclusivity and diverse perspectives.' David Hare, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Irish Lighthouses: 'I loved reading as a child, but never really enjoyed children's fiction, or the classics. Willard Price's Adventure series were enjoyable, but books with facts and encyclopedias appealed to me, and a book I read over and over again was The Readers Digest Book of Strange Stories and Amazing Facts. I realise that this won't give me any literary credibility. As a parent, the books I most enjoyed reading to our children were by Oliver Jeffers, whose magical stories and beautiful illustrations remained with me long after my children became adults.' Elaina Ryan is Chief Executive Officer, Children's Books Ireland
Irish Examiner
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Children's book reviews: Showing what determination mixed with imagination can achieve
Determination and a little touch of imagination link the stories featured in this month's round-up. Whether you are a chicken aiming to be a world-record breaker, squaring up to an ancient mind-controlling zombie, or simply trying to get through secondary school and make a few friends, there's lots you can achieve when you think creatively. A great mix for all ages, with loads of new stories from Irish artists, there's something for every reader, but if you are seeking more tales of imagination and determination, you can always check out our website for more brilliant book recommendations. A Little Birdie Told Me … by Tarsila Krüse (The O'Brien Press) A flock of birds have gathered to prepare for a very special surprise birthday bash — but who could the party be for? As suspense builds towards the celebration, there are plenty of details for keen-eyed little ones to spot in the illustrations. An enjoyable read for anyone with an upcoming birthday to celebrate. (3+) Taking the Long Way Home by Jake Hope, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald (Scallywag Press) It's amazing how short a journey can become with a little bit of imagination and a pterodactyl or two! Zarah and her brother learn about the magic of taking the long way home when Uncle Jerome collects them from school. A gorgeous story about how joyful life can be if we take a moment or two to appreciate it. (4+) Spring Chicken by Paul Nugent (The O'Brien Press) Amelia Eggheart's record-breaking ambitions hinge on flying for longer than any other chicken. She has trained hard and has some tricks up her sleeve — but will she be a soaring success, or chicken out in the end? Light as a feather and with plenty of puns, this is a tale of perseverance with plenty of humour speckled throughout. (4+) Nell agus Joe i dTeach Mhamó by Sadhbh Rosenstock, illustrated by Ciara Ní Dhuinn (Picnic Press) With Mamaí away for the night, Mamó and Auntie Tess have pulled out all the stops to make Nell and Joe welcome for their first sleepover; but can they master Mamaí's special bedtime song? A delight from start to finish, Ní Dhuinn's cosy illustrations make this an excellent story for reassuring little ones about to embark on their first night away from home. A QR code also provides an interactive listening experience for less-experienced Irish language readers. (4+) Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat (Andersen Press) What could fish be plotting under the waves? What do schools of fish learn about? Could they be concealing hidden legs they will one day use?! Fish don't play by the rules, and you shouldn't trust them — or so the narrator of this story would lead you to believe … Jumping from one hilarious conclusion to the next, this story is guaranteed to make you laugh and wonder if your goldfish is secretly plotting your demise … (5+) Arabella Pepper: The Wild Detective by ER Murray, illustrated by Monika Pollak (Natural World Publishing) Arabella and her pet crow Blue are out of sorts following a move to Greytown, but an unsolved mystery of vanishing pets soon has Arabella dusting off her Wild Detective badge to solve the riddle of pet poaching. Themes of family, fitting in and friendship centre around an intriguing mystery led by a tenacious main character that young readers will love. A delight. (9+) Tales of Darkisle: Conn of the Dead by Dave Rudden, illustrated by Ali Al Amine (Gill Books) After the school talent show goes awry Conn finds himself exploring his aunt's workplace at the National Folklore Collection in UCD. There's lots to be discovered, but unfortunately for Conn, that includes the skull of a mind-controlling zombie from Ireland's ancient past AND he has accidentally managed to set it free. A true wordsmith, Rudden's craftsmanship makes this action-filled horror story an appealing and accessible story for reluctant readers. (9+) Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed by Eve Wersocki-Morris, illustrated by Honie Beam (Little Tiger) This isn't an adventure story, it's business! When Clem's father Jimmy is betrayed in pursuit of stealing the rare fool's canary, tough-girl Clem is determined to crack the case dragging posh-boy Gilbert along as her unwitting sidekick. With a tightly packed plot this unique tale sets itself apart as a high-energy gangster story set in 1950s London filled with larger-than-life characters. Tremendously fun reading! (10+) Owning It: Our Disabled Childhoods in Our Own Words edited by Jen Campbell and James and Lucy Catchpole, illustrated by Sophie Kamlish (Faber & Faber) Shared from first-hand experiences, Owning It is a non-fiction collection on navigating growing up with a disability. Compiled by authors from the disabled community, this collection normalises disabled coming-of-age experiences making young disabled readers feel seen and understood and encouraging awareness among abled readers. A true breath of fresh air, this is essential reading for all. (11+) What Happens Online by Nathanael Lessore (Hot Key) Fred is basically invisible at school, but online his alter ego Existor commands respect in the gaming world. With his dad away for work and his real-life becoming increasingly complicated, Fred uses Existor to try to gain some social cache at school — it can't do any harm, after all what happens online stays online, right? Relatable and with light-touch humour Lessore achieves the impossible of creating books that speak to the heart of teenage boyhood without being preachy — beg borrow or buy a copy for the teen boy in your life. (14+) Solo by Gráinne O'Brien (Little Island Books) Following a bad break up with her boyfriend and a fall out with her best friend, Daisy is left disconnected from her true love of music and learning to navigate her final year of school solo. O'Brien's first book for older teens is a real page-turner, capturing the bitter sting of first heartbreak along with the pressures associated with Leaving Cert year in an eloquent verse novel that will have readers hoping for more. (15+) Matched Up by Jenny Ireland (Penguin) Lexi eats, sleeps and breathes football, and she really needs to focus if she hopes to make the first team at her club Westfield this year. But with her twin brother dating her best friend and a new player on the boys' team proving to be a distraction, it's hard to keep your head in the game. A solid voice in Irish YA, Jenny Ireland brings her usual flare and appealing teen drama to this winner of a story. (16+) Ruth Concannon is the publications officer for Children's Books Ireland, the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child's right to develop a love of reading; Their mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people in Ireland, to share their expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence them, to champion every child's right to excellent books and live literature events and support the artists who make that goal possible across the island of Ireland; See for more. Read More Tots to Teens: Choose sustainability with these plantable pencils that grow into herbs
