Students from eleven schools in Donegal participated in the Junior Jurors’ Programme to choose the winners of this year’s KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards.
The winners were announced at a ceremony in Merrion Square as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin.
Through the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards Junior Juries’ Programme young people in schools, libraries and book clubs shadowed adult judges on the judging panel in reading, discussing and assessing the shortlisted books.
Students from Urblereagh National School, Scoil Eoin Baiste, Creeslough National School, Scoil Phroinnseas Naofa, Magherabeg, Ballyraine National School, Glassan National School, St Baithin’s Primary School, Castletown National School, Ballymore National School and Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola selected their favourites, alongside an independent panel of expert judges including a Young Judge.
Speaking at the ceremony, Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, said: “Our congratulations to every one of the authors, illustrators and publishers celebrating their wins.
“Through our KPMG Junior Juries programme, we have seen the wonder and delight that these six books have inspired in young readers across Ireland, and it is a joy to recognise and reward the artists that created them at this level.”
The winners included:
- The KPMG Book of the Year Award – ‘Girls Who Slay Monsters’ by debut author Ellen Ryan, illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald (HarperCollins Ireland)
- The Honour Award for Fiction – ‘The Boy Who Lost His Spark’ by Maggie O’Farrell, illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini (Walker Books)
- The Honour Award for Illustration – ‘The Wilderness’ written and illustrated by Steve McCarthy (Walker Books)
- The Eilís Dillon Award for best debut – ‘The Book of Secrets’ by Alex Dunne (The O’Brien Press)
- The Judge’s Special Award – ‘An Slipéar Gloine’, written by debut children’s author Fearghas Mac Lochlainn and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly (Futa Fata)
- The KPMG Junior Juries’ Award – ‘Girls Who Slay Monsters’ by debut author Ellen Ryan, illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald (HarperCollins Ireland)
