Dermot Flynn, Eilish Fisher, Steve McCarthy, Gráinne Clear (on behalf of Oliver Jeffers) & Kelly McCaughrain
Image: Julien Behan Photography

Winners of the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards have been announced


Début author Eilish Fisher and illustrator Dermot Flynn have picked up the KPMG Book of the Year for Fia and the Last Snow Deer (Penguin) at the 35th KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards, one of six prizes presented to Irish authors and illustrators.

Announced by host Rick O’Shea at a ceremony held in Merrion Square in partnership with the International Literature Festival Dublin, the winners will receive a total prize-fund of €16,000.

‘Thirty-five years on, these awards continue to recognise the incredible and enduring talent we have on this island,’ said Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland. ‘It’s such an honour to come together each year and celebrate the many Irish artists creating quality books and unforgettable stories for children and young people.

‘Choosing from a shortlist of just ten books that represent the rich diversity of titles published by Irish authors and illustrators was an enormous challenge and I want to extend a huge thanks to our committed judges whose passion for contemporary Irish children’s literature is instrumental in bringing this event to life. These shortlisted books have been enjoyed across Ireland by 11,645 young people involved in this year’s Junior Juries’ programme and will undoubtedly bring so much joy for years to come to readers of every age.’


Ned McCarthy, winner of the Reading Hero Award. Image Julien Behal Photography

Ryan McCarthy, Managing Partner at KPMG in Ireland congratulated all the winners, especially nine-year-old Ned McCarthy from St. Patrick’s De La Salle Boys National School in Kilkenny, winner of this year’s Reading Hero Award, which recognises remarkable passion and achievements in reading by a young person.

Ned has been awarded a trophy, a €200 book voucher and his school will receive a collection of books worth more than €1,000. Five runners-up for the award also received €100 book tokens. Ned was nominated by his teacher Lucy Schneider. ‘I am very happy to get this award because I love to read,’ said Ned, ‘reading makes you smarter and makes me feel calm and I’m never bored when I’m reading.’

The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards and Junior Juries’ programme are supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Funding. Damian Smyth, joint Head of Literature and Drama at ACNI, said that the awards pay tribute to some of the most talented writers and illustrators on the island of Ireland today. ‘The stories they create cross lands and seas, to shape and ignite the minds and hearts of young audiences across the globe. We send our congratulations to all of this year’s worthy winners.’

WINNERS

The Honour Award for Illustration

Beanie the Bansheenie, by Eoin Colfer, illustrated by Steve McCarthy (Walker Books)

The Honour Award for Fiction

Little Bang, by Kelly McCaughrain (Walker Books)

The Junior Juries’ Award

Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain also received the children’s choice award as voted for by thousands of young readers island-wide.                

The Judges’ Special Award

The Dictionary Story by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston (Walker Books)

The KPMG Book of the Year Award

Fia and the Last Snow Deer, by Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot Flynn (Penguin)

The Eilís Dillon Award

Fia and the Last Snow Deer, by Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot Flynn. 

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