KPMG Children's Books Ireland Books of the Year 2024 Predictions

 Every year I try to predict the shortlist for the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Books of the Year shortlist. The 2024 Awards are given to books published in 2023 by Irish writers or illustrators, or those living and working in Ireland. These are based on my reading over the year and are my own personal view. I have read all the titles below and greatly enjoyed them all.

It was an outstanding year for middle grade (age 9+), teen and YA. Here are my predictions:

1/ Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai

Also my prediction for the first novel award – Eilís Dillon Award

2/ Standing on One Leg is Hard by Erika McGann and Clive McFarland

3/ The Slug and the Snail by Oein DeBhairduin, illustrated by Olya Anima 

4/ Wider Than the Sea by Serena Molloy

5/ The Silver Road by Sinéad O’Hart

6/ The Girl Who Fell to Earth by Patricia Forde

7/ Global by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano

8/ Freya Harte is Not a Puzzle by Méabh Collins

9/ Grapefruit Moon by Shirley McMillan

10/ Wise Creatures by Deirdre Sullivan

11/ What Walks These Halls by Amy Clarkin

12/ The First Move by Jenny Ireland

13/ Three Tasks for a Dragon by Eoin Colfer, illustrated by P J Lynch

14/ Gods Don’t Cry: Unsung Stories of Ireland’s Forgotten Immortals by Ellen Ryan, illustrated by Conor Merriman

15/ Black and Irish: Legends, Trailblazers and Everyday Heroes by Leon Diop and Briana Fitzsimons, illustrated by Jessica Louis

 Books I’d also love to see on the shortlist:

Kevin’s in a Mood by Sarah Bowie

Milly McCarthy is a Complete Catastrophe by Leona Forde, illustrated by Karen Harte

The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice by Rachel Chivers Khoo, illustrated by Rachel Sanson

Sally in the City of Dreams by Judi Curtin

A Game of Life and Death by Triona Campbell

 There will also be some Irish language books on the list but my Irish isn’t strong enough to review the merits of those titles (yet!).

 Best of luck to all those who published books in 2023!

The shortlist will be announced by CBI on 7th Feb at 11am - watch the shortlisting ceremony here.

The KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards 2021 (books from 2020)

The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards shortlist will be announced next week - Tues 9th March. For more on the awards see here.

Here are the titles I think will be shortlisted. I do this some years, just for fun! Let’s see how many I get right.

My tip for book of the year - The Monsters of Rookhaven by Pádaig Kenny or On Midnight Beach by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick - both remarkable books.

My predictions for the shortlist:

1/ Would You Like a Banana? by Yasmeen Ismail - for it’s vibrant artwork and clever story for young readers.

2/ Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree by Mary Murphy - Murphy’s book is deceptively simple and her illustrations are joyful and and full of wonder.

3/ What We’ll Build by Oliver Jeffers - Jeffers is a world class picturebook writer/illustrator and this one is another winner.

4/ Elsetime by Eve McDonnell (Eilis Dillon Award?)

5/ The Monsters of Rookhaven by Pádraig Kenny, illustrated by Edward Bettison - this is my book of the year - it MUST be shortlisted or there is no justice!

6/ The Gone Book by Helena Close - really strong YA novel.

7/ Why the Moon Travels by Oein DeBharduin, illustrated by Leanne McDonagh - beautifully written Traveller tales - one of my favourite books of the year.

8/ On Midnight Beach by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick - one of the best YA novels of 2020 - another MUST!

9/ Savage Her Reply by Deirdre Sullivan, illustrated by Karen Vaughan - simply stunning.

10/ Míp by Máire Zept and Paddy Donnelly - a terrific picturebook with strong text and wonderful illustrations.

Others that might be shortlisted:

Chasing Ghosts by Nicola Pierce - a really story historical novel with some great writing.

Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran (Eilis Dillon Award)

Songs for Our Sons by Ruth Doyle and Alison Lindsay

Geansaí Ottó by Sadhbh Devlin and Róisín Hahessy

To the Island by Patricia Forde and Nicola Bernadelli

The Great Irish Farm Book by Darrah McCoullough, illustrated by Saly Caulwell

The Boldness of Betty by Anna Carey

While We Can’t Hug by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar

Have You Seen the Dublin Vampire? by Úna Woods (Eilis Dillon Award?)

The Dead Zoo by Peter Donnelly

The Haunted Lake by P J Lynch

Irish Fairy Tales by Kieran Fanning

Break the Mould by Sinéad Burke, illustrated by Natalie Byrne

My Predictions for the 2012 CBI/'Bisto' Award Shortlist

My Predictions for the 2012 Children's Books Ireland ('Bisto') Award Shortlist

SallyGoRoundTheStars

Last year was a good year for children’s books written and illustrated by Irish authors and illustrators (the award is given to books published in 2011), with some exciting new names joining established ones. There were less 'Irish' picture books published last year (after a stellar year in 2010 – culminating in Chris Haughton’s win for A Bit Lost), but it was a strong year for teen novels, with Ger Meade’s Flick a notable debut. Ger has six young children, so the fact that she’s writing at all astounds me!

This list is my own personal opinion, and it’s just for fun. Let’s see how many I get ‘right’! The actual shortlist will be announced on 20th March.

1/ A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle – my prediction for overall winner One of my favourite books of the year – lyrical and touching, with fantastic characters.

2/ Spirit of the Titanic by Nicola Pierce – my prediction for the Eilís Dillon Award (or Ger Meade’s Flick – depending on the judges’ tastes) – a very strong historical novel about a young boy and the Titanic. May also get the Children’s Choice Award.

3/ Marshall Armstrong is New to This School by David Mackintosh – Honour Award for Illustration – my favourite picture book of the year – it deserves the overall award and I’d love to see it win. The dark horse of the awards!

4/ Bruised by Siobhan Parkinson – Honour Award for Fiction – a beautifully written teen novel.

5/ Flick by Ger Meade – possible Eilís Dillon Award or Special Judges' Award – full of drama and emotion, it’s impossible not to be impressed by this debut novel.

6/ My Dad is Ten by Mark O’Sullivan – another strong, gritty teen novel.

7/ Stuck by Oliver Jeffers – it’s Oliver, what more can I say?

8/ No One But You Illustrated by P J Lynch – stunning illustrations from one of Ireland’s finest artists.

9/ Maitriosce by Siobhan Parkinson – I haven’t read this one but I believe it’s great and there tends to be at least one book in Irish on the shortlist. Or Dordán, which my friend, Liz says is the best book she's read all year in any language!

10/ The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge (another possible contender for the Eilís Dillon) – another new talent on the Irish picture book scene. Winner of the Irish Book Awards (Junior Section) last year.

Also might be shortlisted:

The Horse Girl by Mary Finn – Beautifully written historical fiction. Into the Grey by Celine Kiernan – A ghost story so unnerving I have to admit I didn’t finish it! Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent by Alan Early -  A good action adventure story, with 1 or 2 cracking scenes towards the end. The Butterfly Heart by Paula Leyden – Beautifully written story set in Africa. Sally Go Round the Stars Illustrated by Steve McCarthy – A book of Irish and international nursery rhymes that I compiled it with Claire Ranson. The illustrations are mighty! Steve deserves a nomination but he’s up against some tough competition.

Deserve to be shortlisted but will probably not be shortlisted: Palace of the Damned by Darren Shan – one of his best yet – wonderful sense of place and vivid, muscular writing. I would love to see Darren on the shortlist one day. Skulduggery Pleasant Death Bringer by Derek Landy – funny, smart and BIG. Eva’s Holiday by Judi Curtin – again, one of her best yet – warm and engaging. 

For more on the Award see here.