Mayo students help choose the winners at KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards

Students from nine schools in Mayo participated in the Junior Jurors’ Programme to choose the winners of this year’s KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards, which 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.

The students from Scoil Phadraig, Westport, Breaffy National School, Knock National School, St. Muredach's College, Scoil Naomh Pádraig, Ballina, Behy National School, Knockrooskey National School, Ardagh National School and Irishtown National School 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.

“Ireland has always been a nation of storytellers, and every one of these winners exemplifies the sheer excellence visible in contemporary Irish children’s books. As we celebrate another year of the KPMG Children’s Book Awards, we hope that the celebrations encourage them to keep creating stories that speak as powerfully to their readers as these.”

WINNERS

The KPMG Book of the Year Award is Girls Who Slay Monsters by debut author Ellen Ryan, illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald (HarperCollins Ireland).

The Honour Award for Fiction goes to The Boy Who Lost His Spark by Maggie O’Farrell, illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini (Walker Books).

The Honour Award for Illustration winner is The Wilderness, written and illustrated by Steve McCarthy (Walker Books).

The Book of Secrets by Alex Dunne (The O’Brien Press) wins the Eilís Dillon Award for best debut.

The Judge’s Special Award goes to An Slipéar Gloine, written by debut children’s author Fearghas Mac Lochlainn and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly (Futa Fata).

Finally, the KPMG Junior Juries’ Award winner is Girls Who Slay Monsters (author Ellen Ryan, illustrator Shona Shirley Macdonald, publisher HarperCollins Ireland).

A total prize fund of €16,000 has been awarded to this year’s winners.