The shortlist for the 34th annual awards was announced today on Wednesday 7 February by RTÉ broadcaster Rick O’Shea at a special event in the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast.
The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards are recognised as the most prestigious awards for children's books in Ireland, north and south and celebrate the best of Irish writing and illustration for young people. The Awards have been running for over thirty years and offer a total prize fund of €16,000 across six categories.
We are very proud to support the KPMG Childrens Books Ireland Awards. Ireland has a wealth of great writers and illustrators for readers of all ages. This year’s Junior Jurors will have their work cut out for them but what an enjoyable task it will be trying to decide from such an array of talent.
2024 shortlist
April’s Garden written by Isla McGuckin and illustrated by Catalina Echeverri.
Catfish Rolling written by Clara Kumagai.
Global written by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin and illustrated by Giovanni Regano.
My Life as a Chameleon written by Diana Anyakwo.
The First Move written by Jenny Ireland.
The Girl Who Fell to Earth written by Patricia Forde.
The Hare-Shaped Hole written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty.
Three Tasks for a Dragon written by Eoin Colfer and illustrated by P.J. Lynch.
Treacle Town written by Brian Conaghan.
Wider Than the Sea written by Serena Molloy and illustrated by George Ermos.
KPMG Reading Hero Award
The KPMG Reading Hero Award recognises a young person’s reading potential. They may be voracious readers or have just finished their first book, overcoming learning or language difficulties to do so. They may not be the fastest reader in their class, but they’ll probably be the most passionate. We’re inviting teachers, parents, guardians, relatives, friends and librarians from across the island of Ireland to nominate their KPMG Reading Hero so that we can recognise and reward their efforts.
The winner will receive a trophy and a €200 book voucher as well a collection of books worth €1,000 for their school. The winner and their class will attend the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland awards ceremony in Merrion Square as part of International Literature Festival Dublin on 22nd May 2024. There will also be five runner up prizes of €100 book tokens.
Last year's winner was Shi Lei Chen who is 13 years of age and attends Presentation Secondary School, Waterford. The award was presented Shi Lei Chen's sister in her absence by KPMG Partner, Maria Flannery. Congratulations Shi Lei!
Shi Lei Chen's sister with Maria Flannery, Partner, KPMG in Ireland