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.

Summary
Four 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.

Summary
Buachaill 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!

Summary
Gheobhaidh 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 Yours

Summary
The 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...

About

The 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.