The KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards, previously known as the CBI Book of the Year Awards (Irish: Duaiseanna Leabhair na Bliana CBI) and the Bisto Book of the Year Awards, are literary awards presented annually in the Republic of Ireland to writers and illustrators of books for children and young people. The Awards are run by Children's Books Ireland (CBI) and are open to authors and illustrators born or resident in Ireland; books may be written in English or Irish. Many bestselling, internationally renowned authors have won a "Bisto", including Eoin Colfer, John Boyne and several times winner Kate Thompson.
| KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards | |
|---|---|
| Sponsored by | KPMG |
| Country | Ireland |
| Formerly called |
|
| Website | childrensbooksireland |
The awards were sponsored by Bisto (Premier Foods) from their inception.[1]
First awarded in 1990 (with the Book of the Decade Awards), there are currently seven prizes awarded:
- The KPMG Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year Award
- Honour Award for Fiction
- Honour Award for Illustration
- Eilís Dillon Award (for a first children's book) - named in honour of writer Eilís Dillon
- The Judges' Special Award
- The Junior Juries' Award (previously the Children’s Choice Award)
- The Reading Hero Award (awarded from 2020 onwards) - presented to a young reader, recognising their potential and celebrating their remarkable passion for books
Previously the winner of Book of the Year won a perpetual trophy and €10,000; the 3 winners of the Merit Awards (the Honour Award for Illustration, the Honour Award for Writing, the Judges' Special Recognition Award) shared a combined prize fund of €6,000; the Eilís Dillon Award winner for first time writers also won a trophy and €3,000.[2] Currently there is a €6,000 prize for the Children’s Book of the Year and a €2,000 prize each for the Honour Award for Fiction, the Honour Award for Illustration, the Eilís Dillon Award, The Judges' Special Award, and The Junior Juries' Award.[3][4]
In 2010, the Children's Choice award was introduced to mark the 20th anniversary of the Bisto Book of the Year Awards. It was chosen by 10 Junior Juries from all around Ireland, and was awarded to Jane Mitchell's Chalkline. The Judges' Special Recognition Award was not awarded in 2010.
Past winners
editSource: Children's Books Ireland[5]
Book of the Year Award
editMerit Awards
editÉilís Dillon Award for a First Children's Book
edit| Year | Title | Author | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Book of Secrets | Alex Dunne | O'Brien Press |
| 2022 | Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North Atlantic | Flora Delargy | Wide Eyed Editions |
| 2021 | Why the Moon Travels | Oein DeBhairduin and Leanne McDonagh | Skein Press |
| 2020 | Mór agus Muilc | Kim Sharkey | Éabhlóid |
| 2019 | Flying Tips for Flightless Birds | Kelly McCaughrain | Walker Books |
| 2018 | The Space Between | Meg Grehan | Little Island Books |
| 2017 | The Ministry of Strange, Unusual and Impossible Things | Paul Gamble | Little Island Books |
| 2016 | Irelandopedia | Fatti Burke & John Burke | Gill |
| 2015 | Only Ever Yours | Louise O'Neill | Quercus |
| 2014 | Not awarded | ||
| 2013 | The Weight of Water | Sarah Crossan | Bloomsbury |
| 2012 | The Butterfly Heart | Paula Leyden | Walker |
| 2011 | A Bit Lost | Chris Haughton | Walker |
| 2010 | The Third Pig Detective Agency | Bob Burke | HarperCollins |
| 2009 | Anila's Journey | Mary Finn | Walker Books |
| 2008 | The Thing With Finn | Tom Kelly | Macmillan |
| 2007 | A Swift Pure Cry | Siobhán Dowd | David Fickling |
| 2006 | Snakes' Elbows | Deirdre Madden | Orchard Books |
| 2005 | An Bhó Riabhach | Siobhán Ní Shíthigh | An Gúm |
| 2004 | Amach | Alan Titley | An Gúm |
| 2003 | Gyrfalcon | Grace Wells | O'Brien Press |
| 2002 | Adam's Starling | Gillian Perdue | O'Brien Press |
| 2001 | The Lost Orchard | Patrick Deeley | O'Brien Press |
| 2000 | Fierce Milly | Marilyn McLaughlin | Egmont |
| 1999 | Dea-Scéala | Caitríona Hastings | Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| 1998 | It's a Jungle Out There | Ed Miliano | Wolfhound Press |
| 1997 | The Guns of Easter | Gerard Whelan | O'Brien Press |
| 1996 | Lockie and Dadge | Frank Murphy | O'Brien Press |
| 1995 | Melody for Nora | Mark O'Sullivan | Wolfhound Press |
Awards in discontinued categories
edit- Best Emerging Author (1991) – Brian Boru by Morgan Llywelyn, O'Brien Press
- Book for Young Readers (1991) – Grandma's Bill by Martin Waddell, Simon & Schuster
- Illustration (1991) – Fairy Tales of Ireland by P. J. Lynch, Collins
- Historical Fiction (1992) – Wildflower Girl by Marita Conlon-McKenna, O'Brien Press
- Picture Book (1992) – The Sleeping Giant by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Brandon Books
- First Children's Novel (1992) – The Secret of the Ruby Ring by Yvonne MacGrory, Children's Press
- Information Book (1993) – Tamall sa Chistin by Mairin Uí Chomain, An Gúm
- Teenage Fiction (1993) – Put a Saddle on the Pig by Sam McBratney, Methuen
- Historical Fiction (1993) – Strongbow by Morgan Llywelyn, O'Brien Press
Bisto Children's Book of the Decade (1980–1990)
editFiction: Run with the Wind; Run to Earth; Run Swift; Run Free by Tom McCaughren, Jeanette Dunne (Wolfhound Press)
Information Books: Exploring the Book of Kells: Brendan the Navigator by George Otto Simms, David Rooney (O'Brien Press)
Books for Young Readers: Grandma's Bill by Martin Waddell, illus. Jane Johnson (Simon & Schuster)
Irish Language: An Chanáil by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, transl. Bernadine Nic Ghiolla Phádraig An Gúm
Winners of multiple awards
edit- Most Bisto Book of the Year Awards: Kate Thompson (4), Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (4), Siobhán Dowd (2), Chris Haughton (2)
- Most Merit Awards: Oliver Jeffers (9), Kate Thompson (3), P. J. Lynch (3)
- Most Bisto Awards (total): Oliver Jeffers (10), Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (10), Kate Thompson (7), P. J. Lynch (5), Gerard Whelan (4), Siobhán Dowd (4), Chris Haughton (4), Siobhán Parkinson (3), Éilis Ni Dhuibhne/Elizabeth O'Hara (3)
References
edit- ^ "General Info: Bisto Book of the Year Awards – Leabhar-Ghradaim Bisto"]. October 2008. Children's Books Ireland. Archived 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
- ^ Children's Books Ireland - About The Awards Archived 12 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards". 27 January 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "KPMG renew title sponsorship of KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards". November 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Award archive". Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year revealed".
- ^ "27th Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year Awards". 23 May 2017.