KPMG to renew sponsorship of Children’s Books Ireland Awards
With the cancellation of high profile book prizes like The Costa Book Awards, and The Blue Peter Awards in 2022, it’s welcome news and a real vote of confidence in Irish children’s literature that KPMG is renewing its title sponsorship of the Children’s Books Ireland Awards for a further two years.
Sponsored since 2020 by KPMG Ireland, the Awards have been running for over thirty years and are the leading children’s book awards in Ireland.
They recognise exceptional writing and illustration for young audiences by authors and illustrators who were born in Ireland, are permanently resident in Ireland or are citizens of Ireland.
A total prize fund of €16,000 is available for the winners across six award categories, providing a valuable boost in income at a time of considerable economic uncertainty across the arts sector and wider society.
The awards include: The Book of the Year Award, The Honour Award for Fiction, The Honour Award for Illustration, The Eilís Dillon Award (for a first children’s book), The Judges’ Special Award and the KPMG Junior Juries’ Award, the winner of which is chosen by hundreds of Junior Juries composed of young readers all over the island of Ireland.
Previous winners include C.G. Moore for Gut Feelings, Oein DeBhairduin and Leanne McDonagh for Why the Moon Travels, Máire Zepf for Nóinín, Chris Haughton for Goodnight Everyone, and former Laureate na nÓg Sarah Crossan for One.
Seamus Hand, Managing Partner of KPMG Ireland, said that KPMG was delighted to renew their partnership with Children’s Books Ireland.
“Investing and supporting education is a priority for KPMG and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to developing and encouraging young readers. We look forward to another two years of captivating stories and exceptional illustration from across Ireland.”
Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland said that the ongoing support and partnership with KPMG is a very welcome investment in Irish children’s literature.
“The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards celebrates and rewards authors and illustrators at all career stages, providing a significant platform as well as financial prizes. And crucially, the awards encourage readers all over the island to pick up an excellent book, the first step towards a lifelong love of reading.”
Children’s Books Ireland is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through National Lottery funds. Damian Smyth, Head of Literature and Drama, Arts Council Northern Ireland, said that the books we first encounter in childhood often create the deepest impressions in our minds.
“They are the thing that connect us, to people, places and an unlimited life of adventures through the page. We welcome today’s news that the future of the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards has been secured for another two years, providing a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and support some of our most impressive contemporary writers.”
Winner of the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Book of the Year Award 2022, C.G. Moore, said that winning the award has been an incredible privilege.
“I am reminded of how lucky I am to come from a nation that champions reading for children and young people. The award meant so much to me having published both of my books in the pandemic and now, with the support of KPMG and Children’s Books Ireland, I have been lucky enough to meet readers from across Ireland, see my books in libraries and bookshops and to re-ignite that inspiration to tackle important themes for young people.”
