As big fans of children's books we are always excited when the Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year Awards shortlist is announced. As usual they reflect the quality of Irish writing, illustration and publishing for children. Many of these are already firm favourites with Dublin City Public Libraries readers - young and old. Congratulations to the writers and illustrators whose ten books who will now compete for the prestigious awards. These awards include the Children's Choice Award, which is voted for by youth readers from all over the country.The CBI Book of the Year Awards celebrate excellent literature and illustration for children, and were established in 1990. CBI, which administers the awards, will again be working closely with reading groups from schools, libraries and bookshops across the island of Ireland. These young readers will choose the winner of the Children’s Choice Award. Reading groups nationwide are invited to sign up for the shadowing scheme via www.childrensbooksireland.ie.Why not read the ten shortlisted books and pick your favourites! Read more about these books at childrensbooksireland.ie/cbi-book-year-awards-shortlist-announcedHere's the full 2018 CBI Book of the Year Awards shortlist with links to our library catalogue:A Dangerous Crossing by Jane MitchellA Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea written by Sarah Webb and illustrated by Steve McCarthyChocolate Cake written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Kevin WaldronHere We Are by Oliver JeffersIllegal written by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin and illustrated by Giovanni RiganoMoonrise by Sarah CrossanRabbit and Bear: The Pest in the Nest written by Julian Gough and illustrated by Jim FieldStar by Star by Sheena WilkinsonTangleweed and Brine written by Deirdre Sullivan and illustrated by Karen VaughanThe Space Between by Meg GrehanJenny Murray, Acting Director at CBI said ‘Children’s Books Ireland’s goal is to make readers of every child by making books a part of their day-to-day lives. This year’s shortlist encompasses everything from the value of friendship, feminist fairytale retellings, the plight of refugees, the march of the suffragettes, the awe-inspiring universe, through to the never-to-be-underestimated lure of chocolate cake … All of the titles on this year’s shortlist highlight the very best of Irish writing, illustrating and publishing for children and young readers.’The winners will be announced on 23 May at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre, during the International Literature Festival Dublin.
The Children's Book of 2017 is...Goodnight Everyone
Goodnight Everyone by Chris Haughton was announced as the winning title of the 27th Children's Books Ireland (CBI) Book of the Year Award on Tuesday (23 May) at a ceremony held in Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin. Congratulations to Chris who also won the Honour Award for illustration for Goodnight Everyone. This is a fabulous bedtime read for little ones - just be careful if you are a tired parent reading it you may find yourself getting very sleepy too! zzzzzzThe award judges said ‘Chris Haughton’s vibrant illustrations combine perfectly with deceptively simple narrative in this mesmerising bedtime tale. Chronicling a series of animal yawns, the colour palette gradually darkens as the world of the forest is painted in sunset. Haughton’s use of cut-outs is particularly effective and the star maps in the endpapers add a mystic dimension to this captivating story.’Award winners were:Honour Award for Illustration: Chris Haughton for Goodnight Everyone. Honour Award for Fiction: Needlework by Deirdre SullivanDeirdre Sullivan continues to impress with this perceptive and profound look at some challenging emotions and experiences.The judges said, ‘Needlework by Deirdre Sullivan is a poetic and eloquent exploration of violation, abuse, neglect and advocacy of the transformative power of art. Starkly genuine and sincere, Sullivan’s powerful use of the metaphor of tattooing invites reflection about identity, difference, self-protection and self-invention. This searing yet delicate representation of adolescent experience will resonate deeply with teenagers and is a story that needs to be told and needs to be read.’ Judges’ Special Award: Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin, Jennifer Farley, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tarsila Krüse and Christina O’Donovan for Bliain na nAmhrán.Delighted to see this book getting recognised. Books published by Futa Fata are a great way to bring Irish into your home (and car - thanks to the accompanying CD) in a fun way. The songs and illustrations are thar bhar!The judges said, ‘This sumptuous illustrated collection of songs in Irish invites young and old audiences to celebrate the seasons and the natural world. Accompanied by a CD and beautifully illustrated by a team of accomplished illustrators, this multimedia collection offers a special aesthetic experience. Cabhraíonn na hamhráin Ghaeilge seo le daoine, idir óg agus aosta, ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar na séasúir agus ar an dúlra. Is eagrán maisithe é seo de na hamhráin agus tá léaráidí áille sa chnuasach seo a thugann eispéireas céadfach dúinn. Tá dlúthdhiosca ar fáil in éineacht leis an eagrán maisithe.’ Eilís Dillon Award for a first children’s book: Paul Gamble for The Ministry of Strange, Unusual and Impossible Things.This books has it all - humour, werewolves, pirates, unicorns, dinosaurs, the tooth-fairy! It will appeal to readers who relish the absurd and like things a bit crazy.The judges said, ‘Get ready for a rollercoaster of zaniness, adventure and hilarity! This debut novel by Paul Gamble skilfully juxtaposes the fantastical, thoughtful, comic and mundane. The relentlessly curious Jack, on a mission to find his missing friend, is recruited into the secret Ministry of Strange and Unusual and Impossible Things (Ministry of S.U.I.T.s) which deals with all the weird creatures and objects in the world. Enhanced by witty footnotes and explanatory subsections, this deliciously imaginative and immersive novel is a joy to read.’ Children's Choice Award: The Call by Peadar Ó GuilínVoted for by young readers from across the country, this award winner is chosen by shadowing groups who read and judged the ten shortlisted titles and voted for their favourite. The shadowing scheme is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and UNESCO Dublin City of Literature.Read our Blog post about the shortlist announcement...AboutThe CBI Awards are the only annual Children's Book Awards in Ireland. The Awards are made annually by Children's Books Ireland for books by an author or illustrator born or resident in Ireland. Visit Children's Book Ireland website.The 2016 Book of the Year was awarded to Once Upon an Alphabet - Oliver Jeffers
Congratulations to Sarah Crossan, Louise O'Neill, Lauren O'Neill, Fatti (Kathi) Burke and John Burke who have just been been named winners of the CBI Book of the Year Awards 2016. The awards celebrate the very best in Irish children's literature and are open to any children's book written in English or Irish by Irish born or resident authors and illustrators. The fantastic CBI Award winners, picked from a strong shortlist, were announced at Smock Alley on Monday 23 May at 1pm.Sarah Crossan is the first author to win both the book of the year and the children's choice. One is the original and sensitive story of 16 year old conjoined twins Grace and Tippi. The judges said ‘Crossan’s signature blend of lyricism and realism addresses complicated dynamics of family, identity, sisterhood and difference. Told in verse and in the first person, this elegant, sensitive story will stimulate reflections and conversations about discrimination, diversity, difficult choices and the bonds of love.’ (from CBI Blog) The children's choice award is decided by young readers across the country through a shadowing scheme.Here's the full list of winners:Book of the Year One: by Sarah CrossanChildren's Choice Award: One by Sarah CrossanHonour Award for Fiction: Louise O'Neill for Asking for ItHonour Award for illustration: Lauren O'Neill GulliverJudges' Special Award: Irelandopedia written by John Burke, illustrated by Fatti BurkeEilís Dillion Award for a first children's book: Irelandopedia written by John Burke, illustrated by Fatti Burke
Yasmeen Ismail makes Little Rebels Children's Book Award Shortlist
To have one is nice, to have two might be seen as just plain greedy, but we make no apologies for highlighting yet more success for Irish authors. Having just posted about John Boyne being shortlisted for the 2016 Little Rebels Children's Book Award, with great delight we want to highlight the shortlisting also of Yasmeen Ismail for the very same award! Yasmeen is nominated for her picture book 'I'm a Girl!', which coincidentally was also shortlisted for the 2015 Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards (category 'Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year – Junior').'Im a Girl!' is "an energetic picture book which takes on gender stereotypes and smashes them to smithereens. Meet a girl who is competitive, noisy, brainy, speedy, messy and, who is consequently… repeatedly mistaken for a boy. Puts paid to all of those tiresome ‘boys are…’ ‘girls are…’ opening lines." (extract, award site)"The girl in this book likes to win, she likes to be spontaneous, fast and strong, and because she also likes to dress in t-shirt and shorts, she is forever getting mistaken for a boy. I’m a Girl! is a wonderful celebration of being who we are and not being pigeon-holed or restricted by gender stereotypes." (Irish Book Awards website)This picture book is for those aged 4-7 years.Dublin-born Yasmeen's beautifully illustrated book 'Specs for Rex' was longlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, while 'Time for Bed, Fred!' was longlisted for the 2014 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. 'Time for Bed, Fred!' was also a winner of The New York Times' Best Illustrated Book Award 2014. Another of her picture books in our catalogue is 'Christmas for Greta and Gracie' (2015).Yasmeen currently lives in the UK. Well worth having a look too at How to be a girl by Yasmeen Ismail – in pictures (Guardian UK).Yasmeen Ismail's website.
John Boyne makes Little Rebels Children's Book Award Shortlist
John Boyne's is likely a familiar name to most of you, he having gained worldwide recognition for his fourth novel, 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas', published in 2006 and adapted for cinema in 2008. That book won the Irish Children's Book Award in 2007 as well as the Bisto Children's Book of the Year Award. Well, his name popped up again recently in the context of another award, this time the 2016 Little Rebels Children's Book Award for which he has been shortlisted for 'The Boy at the Top of the Mountain', alongside Dublin-born children's illustrator Yasmeen Ismail.The shortlist (for books published in 2015), which include three picture books, is as follows:The Boy at the Top of the Mountain (ages 11+) by John BoyneGorilla Dawn (ages 11+) by Gill LewisI'm A Girl! (age 4-7) by Yasmeen IsmailI Am Henry Finch (age 6-11) by Alexis Deacon; illustrated by Viviane SchwarzThe Little Bookshop and the Origami Army! (age 4-7) by Michael Foreman (not yet in stock, sorry)Uncle Gobb and the Dread Shed (age 7-10) by Michael Rosen; illustrated by Neal LaytonRead more about the individual books on the award site. The Little Rebels Children’s Book Award recognises fiction which celebrates social justice and equality for children aged 0-12. it is run by specialist children’s booksellers Letterbox Library. The winner will be announced on Saturday 7 May 2016.This is not the first nomination for John Boyne's latest book. It was a nominee in the 2015 Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards (category 'Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year – Senior), plus it is on the current CBI Book of Year Award shortlist, the winner of which will be announced on the 23 May. The book is aimed at readers aged 11+.His nomination for the Little Rebels Children's Book Award makes it a hat trick of nominations for him on this award, following on from the shortlistings of 'The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocke't in 2013 and 'Stay Where You Are and Then Leave' in 2014.We'll keep you posted on who wins in due course, so do check back!
We are delighted to see Irish literary talent featuring on award shortlists once again! This time congratulations are due to Oliver Jeffers and Sarah Crossan, as their fabulous books have made it onto the prestigious Carnegie and Greenaway Medal Shortlists. Oliver Jeffers' beautiful picture book Once upon an Alphabet is a book to buy and treasure. Sarah Crossan's remarkable young adult novel One has already been named on the CBI Book Awards and YA Book Prize shortlists.The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded by children's librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. While the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded by children's librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people. The winners will be announced on 20 June 2016.The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2016 shortlist:One by Sarah CrossanThe Lie Tree by Frances HardingeThere Will Be Lies by Nick LakeThe Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick NessFive Children on the Western Front by Kate SaundersThe Ghosts of Heaven by Marcus SedgwickLies We Tell Ourselves by Robin TalleyFire Colour One by Jenny ValentineThe CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2016 shortlist:Willy’s Stories illustrated and written by Anthony BrowneThere’s a Bear on My Chair illustrated and written by Ross CollinsOnce Upon an Alphabet illustrated and written by Oliver JeffersSam & Dave Dig a Hole illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac BarnettSomething About a Bear illustrated and written by Jackie MorrisCaptain Jack and the Pirates illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, written by Peter BentlyThe Sleeper and the Spindle illustrated by Chris Riddell, written by Neil GaimanFootpath Flowers illustrated by Sydney Smith, written by JonArno Lawson
Children's Books Ireland has announced the shortlist for their 2016 Book of the Year Awards. The awards celebrate the very best in Irish children's literature. They are open to any children's book written in English or Irish by Irish born or resident authors and illustrators.The 2016 shortlist covers titles for all ages, from charming picture books for the youngest book lovers, to young adult fiction with dark and difficult themes. It features previous CBI Book of the Year winners Oliver Jeffers (Once Upon an Alphabet, 2015) and John Boyne (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, 2007). Louise O'Neill's Asking For It has already gathered praise and generated much discussion since it was published last year and in December it was chosen by public vote as the Bord Gáis Energy Book of the Year 2015. The shortlisted titles are:Imaginary Fred written by Eoin Colfer, illustrated by Oliver JeffersThe Day the Crayons Came Home illustrated by Oliver JeffersThe Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John BoyneGulliver illustrated by Lauren O’NeillAsking for It written by Louise O’NeillNá Gabh ar Scoil written by Máire Zepf, illustrated by Tarsila KrüseIrelandopedia written by John Burke, illustrated by Fatti BurkeThe Wordsmith by Patricia FordeOne by Sarah CrossanWe're looking forward to the winner announcement at Smock Alley Theatre on 23 May. Best of luck to all shortlisted!
Today say the announcement of the shortlist for The Children’s Book Award 2016! This UK award is the only literary award chosen and voted for entirely by children. Previous winners include JK Rowling, Patrick Ness, Anthony Horowitz and Michael Morpurgo, the latter having already won the Award three times and in line to add to that total!The awards has three categories: books for younger children, books for younger readers and books for older readers. The books on the shortlists were chosen by children who read and voted for the books at events across the UK. The full shortlist in each category is as follows (with links to our catalogue):-Books for Younger Children Is There a Dog in this Book? by Viviane SchwarzRead, Steady, Jump by Jeanne Willis and Adrian ReynoldsThis Book Just Ate My Dog by Richard ByrneFabulous Pie by Gareth Edwards and Guy Parker-Rees Books for Younger ReadersBoy in the Tower by Polly Ho-YenHorrid Henry’s Krazy Ketchup by Francesca Simon, illustrated by Tony RossMy Headteacher is a Vampire Rat by Pamela Butchart, illustrated by Thomas Flintham Books for Older ReadersListen to the Moon by Michael MorpurgoApple and Rain by Sarah CrossanSmart by Kim Slater Voting takes place on 28th May 2016, so children, maybe yours included, will have plenty of time to read the books and make their own judgement! An overall winner as well a a winner in each category will be chosen.The Children’s Book Award, formerly known as the Red House Children’s Book Award, is run by the Federation of Children’s Books Groups and is now in its 36th year.
The Children's Book of 2015 is... Once Upon an Alphabet
'Once Upon an Alphabet' by Oliver Jeffers was announced as the winning title of the 25th Children's Books Ireland (CBI) Book of the Year Award on Tuesday (19th May) at a ceremony held in the Light House Cinema in Dublin.(From Press Release) "Picturebook creator Oliver Jeffers has won the 25th CBI Book of the Year Award and is the third author ever to win both the Book of the Year Award and the Children’s Choice award for his title 'Once Upon an Alphabet'. Presenting twenty-six original and innovative stories about the letters of the alphabet, the book combines clever text and engaging line drawings. The judges said, ‘Every school, every home, every person should have at least one copy, as this is a book that bears repeated readings. Each letter of the alphabet is introduced with its own story, each one weaving in and out of one another, asking the reader to make connections and cross-references. Although this is an alphabet book, the cleverly constructed stories and quirky line drawings make this the perfect read for children of all ages.'"Other Award winners were:Honour Award for Illustration: Chris Haughton for Shh! We Have a Plan.SummaryFour friends, three big and one little, are out for a walk. Suddenly, they spot it – a beautiful bird perched high in a tree! They simply MUST have it and – SHH! – they have a PLAN. So they tip-toe, tip-toe very slowly, nets poised – "Ready one ... ready two ... ready three ... GO!" But, at the turn of the page, we find a ridiculous bunch of very tangled characters and a blissfully oblivious bird, flying away. One hilarious foiled plan after another and it's clear that this goofy trio CANNOT catch that elusive birdie! But the littlest of this group, a quiet spectator up until now, knows that a bit of kindness and sweetness can go a lot further than any elaborate scam. Will his three friends follow his gentle lead or will they get themselves into even more trouble?Honour Award for Fiction: Áine Ní Ghlinn for Daideo.SummaryBuachaill ar a theitheadh óna thuismitheoirí. Seanduine ar a theitheadh óna pháistí. Castar ar a chéile iad ar an traein go Baile Átha Cliath. Éisteann siad le scéalta a cheile. Tuigeann siad a chéile. Cén toradh a bheidh ar an gcairdeas nua seo?Judges’ Special Award: Gabriel Rosenstock and Brian Fitzgerald for Haiku Más é do thoil é!SummaryGheobhaidh tú freagra na ceiste sin, chomh maith le mórán ceisteanna eile faoin haiku, sa saothar spraíúil seo le Gabriel Rosenstock. Ar an aos óg atá an saothar seo dírithe ach bainfidh idir óg agus aosta sult as an léargas a thugtar ann ar dhomhan iontach an haiku.Eilís Dillon Award for a first children’s book: Louise O’Neill for Only Ever YoursSummaryThe Handmaid’s Tale meets Mean Girls in this bold and original debut. In a world in which baby girls are no longer born naturally, women are bred in schools, trained in the arts of pleasing men until they are ready for the outside world. At graduation, the most highly rated girls become “companions”, permitted to live with their husbands and breed sons until they are no longer useful. For the girls left behind, the future – as a concubine or a teacher – is grim. Best friends Freida and Isabel are sure they’ll be chosen as companions – they are among the most highly rated girls in their year. But as the intensity of final year takes hold, Isabel does the unthinkable and starts to put on weight. And then, into this sealed female environment, the boys arrive, eager to choose a bride. Freida must fight for her future – even if it means betraying the only friend, the only love, she has ever known...Read our Blog post about the shortlist announcement...AboutThe CBI Awards are the only annual Children's Book Awards in Ireland. The Awards are made annually by Children's Books Ireland for books by an author or illustrator born or resident in Ireland. Visit Children's Book Ireland website.The 2014 Book of the Year was awarded to'Hagwitch' by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick.
