Shortlist Announced for the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2022
The titles competing for this year's KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards have been revealed today, Wednesday 9th March. The extraordinary diversity of topics explored in the ten shortlisted titles incudes monkeys and mangoes; a heist; a haunted house; a tale of the Titanic rescue; folk legend retellings from Ireland and from Russia; a coming of age verse novel dealing with chronic illness; a story of first love, and a witty yet hard hitting tale of a mother's alcoholism. The selection comprises a spread of books for young readers of all ages – from picturebooks to young adult novels.
Founded in 1990, the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards are the most prestigious awards for children's books in Ireland and celebrate Irish writing and illustration for young people. The ten shortlisted titles will compete for a total of six awards. The winners will be announced by book-loving broadcaster Rick O'Shea, at an online ceremony on 24th May as part of International Literature Festival Dublin.
The shortlisted titles are:
Cluasa Capaill ar an Rí written by Bridget Bhreathnach and illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald
Not My Problem written by Ciara Smyth
The Summer I Robbed a Bank written by David O'Doherty and illustrated by Chris Judge
There's a Ghost in this House written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North Atlantic written and illustrated by Flora Delargy
The Henna Wars written by Adiba Jaigirdar
Frindleswylde written by Natalia O'Hara and illustrated by Lauren O'Hara
Gut Feelings written by C.G. Moore and illustrated by Becky Chilcott
The Shadows of Rookhaven written by Pádraig Kenny and illustrated by Edward Bettison
Maybe … written and illustrated by Chris Haughton
For the youngest readers, Maybe … by Chris Haughton tells a humorous tale of three playful monkeys pushing boundaries in order to enjoy some delicious mangoes. There's a Ghost in this House, by picturebook creator Oliver Jeffers, takes readers age 4+ on a journey through a house that might be haunted … Cluasa Capaill ar an Rí written by Bridget Bhreathnach and illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald retells an ancient folk tale.
Frindleswylde by sisters Natalia O'Hara and Lauren O'Hara takes us on a wintry adventure.
Rescuing Titanic tells the story of the RMS Carpathia and its role in rescuing passengers from the ill-fated Titanic. The Summer I Robbed a Bank written by David O'Doherty and illustrated by Chris Judge is a fresh and fun heist story. The Shadows of Rookhaven is the second in the series from author Pádraig Kenny and illustrator Edward Bettison, last year's winner of the Honour Award for Fiction.
Three Young Adult novels are also included in this year's shortlist. Gut Feelings written by C.G. Moore and illustrated by Becky Chilcott is a coming-of-age story, dealing with chronic illness and sexuality. The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar follows Irish-Bangladeshi teenager Nishat as she navigates first love. Not My Problem is the second novel from Ciara Smyth who won the Junior Juries' Award in 2021.
As in previous years, Children's Books Ireland, the national charity and arts organisation that administers the awards, will be working closely with ‘Junior Juries’ – groups of children and young people who will read and judge the shortlisted titles. The Juries scores decide the winner of the Junior Juries' Award, giving children a meaningful way to participate in the awards and make their voices heard. The awards judging panel also included a ‘Young Judge’, Clíodhna Jackson, who read and adjudicated alongside her adult counterparts.
Judges Chair Pádraic Whyte said:
"These awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the excellence of recent Irish children's literature. In a market that can often seem over-crowded, particularly given the dominance of texts from the UK and the US, this is a chance to showcase the brilliant talents of Irish writers and illustrators and to highlight the world-class nature of these shortlisted books. Congratulations to all the amazing illustrators and writers who have been shortlisted today!"
In total, six awards will be made: The Book of the Year Award, The Honour Awards for Fiction and Illustration, the Judges’ Special Award, the Junior Juries' Award, and the Eilís Dillon Award for a first children's book, named in honour of the revered Irish children's author Eilís Dillon.
Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children's Books Ireland, said:
"Each year we take huge pride in announcing the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards shortlist and surveying the landscape of children's publishing in Ireland. This year is no exception, with such talent, humour, innovation and empathy shown across the age ranges and in both languages.
Children's writers and illustrators in Ireland are second to none and we have no doubt that our Junior Juries will thoroughly enjoy reading this year’s shortlisted titles."
Seamus Hand, Managing Partner, KPMG Ireland, said:
"We are really delighted to be associated with the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards. They reflect the great importance of literacy, the value in instilling a love of reading at an early age and the huge depth of talented writers and illustrators we are so fortunate to have in Ireland. This talent and the quality of our shortlist will clearly pose a real challenge for our judging panel. Best wishes to everyone on our shortlist."
Children's Books Ireland are supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Funding.
Paul McVeigh, Acting Head of Literature at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said:
"We are lucky to have a wealth of hugely talented writers and illustrators here on the island of Ireland. These awards recognise some of the most outstanding books of the last year – the picturebooks, stories and novels that have captured the hearts and imaginations of young readers. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, is delighted to be associated with these important awards and offer our congratulations to all those who have made this year's shortlist."
The KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards recognise excellence in writing and illustration in Irish or English and are open to books by authors and illustrators who were born in Ireland, are permanently resident in Ireland or are citizens of Ireland and which were published between 1st January and 31st December each year. Founded in 1990, the Awards are the leading children's book awards in Ireland. Each year a panel of judges read all of the books submitted by publishers, some one-hundred and thirty-nine titles in 2021, and a shortlist is announced in March at the Belfast Children's Festival. The final awards ceremony takes place in May in partnership with the International Literature Festival Dublin. Previous winners include Oein DeBhairduin and Leanne McDonagh for Why The Moon Travels, Máire Zepf for Nóinín, Deirdre Sullivan and Karen Vaughan for Tangleweed and Brine and for Savage Her Reply, Chris Haughton for Goodnight Everyone, and former Laureate na nÓg Sarah Crossan for One.
The KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards and Junior Juries programme are kindly supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Ecclesiastical Movement for Good Awards.
The Shadows of Rookhaven written by Pádraig Kenny and illustrated by Edward Bettison
Macmillan Children's Books
As monsters from all over the country descend on Rookhaven for the Great Configuration, an event that only takes place once every hundred years, Mirabelle senses that she is being treated as an outsider. Meanwhile Billy appears at the mansion, intending to bring chaos and destruction. Billy and Mirabelle soon realise that they must team up if they are to protect those they love. Kenny's brilliant second book about Rookhaven is wonderfully paced story – with truly excellent illustrations by Bettison – exploring ideas of loss, difference, forgiveness, family and friendship.
Not My Problem written by Ciara Smyth
Andersen Press
Teenager Aideen seems quite capable of solving other people's problems but struggles with her own life: her mother's alcoholism, issues with her best friend and falling grades. With humorous and witty dialogue, as well as complex portrayals that masterfully avoid cliché, this young adult novel weaves diversity seamlessly into its narrative. Smyth's excellent writing and characterisation ensure that the reader is drawn directly into an emotional and realistic tale of contemporary teen experience. This novel is hard-hitting at times while also brimming with empathy and sensitivity.
Cluasa Capaill ar an Rí written by Bridget Bhreathnach and illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald
Futa Fata
Text and illustration work together beautifully in this retelling of Labhraí Loingseach, the king who tries to hide the fact that he has horses ears by killing – and thereby silencing – each barber who cuts his hair. This lyrical version of the tale is wonderfully told, simplifying but not detracting from the richness of language, reducing but not losing the darker elements. The detailed illustrations and expert use of colour create vivid and engaging characters in this sensitive version of an age-old story well-pitched at its target readership.
Gut Feelings written by C.G. Moore and illustrated by Becky Chilcott
UCLan Publishing
Told through free verse, this is a powerful coming-of-age story about Chris who, at eleven years old, is diagnosed with a rare genetic illness that shapes his life in ways he never imagined. Moore draws upon his own experience to create an engaging narrative filled with darkness and light, despair and hope, fear and desire, and love and trust. Told with insight and honesty, this is a bold and complex portrayal of living with chronic illness, of sexuality, of body image, of health and wellbeing and of growing up.
The Henna Wars written by Adiba Jaigirdar
Hodder Children's Books
Irish-Bangladeshi teenager Nishat decides to tell her parents that she is a lesbian, but things don't really turn out as she'd hoped. When she begins to fall for her classmate and then (Transition Year) business rival Flávia, life becomes even more complicated, and she must figure out who she is and what she ultimately desires. Jaigirdar's wonderfully written and original text is an important story of first love that also explores issues of religion, race, sexuality, cultural appropriation and identity formation in contemporary Irish society.
The Summer I Robbed a Bank written by David O'Doherty and illustrated by Chris Judge
Puffin Books
Following his parents' separation, Rex isn't impressed when he is sent to a remote Irish island for his summer holidays. That is until he is roped into helping his strange and brilliant uncle Derm in a crazy plan (inspired by tales of pirate queen Grace O'Malley) to rob the island's mobile bank and redistribute the money. This fresh and original narrative from Doherty – supported with illustrations by Judge – is a funny and subversive tale filled with poignancy and beauty that captures the magic of one momentous summer.
Frindleswylde written by Natalia O'Hara and illustrated by Lauren O'Hara
Walker Books
This charming tale centres on Cora, who must follow the mysterious Frindleswylde into the enchanted kingdom of frozen summer to retrieve the light for her granny's lamp. This beautiful and original story contains echoes of Hans Christian Andersen as well as Russian folk tales and features whimsical illustrations reminiscent of the work of Ivy Wallace. The quality of the hand-drawn illustrations – something increasingly rare in contemporary books – is outstanding and the strength of the illustrator is apparent throughout.
Maybe … written and illustrated by Chris Haughton
Walker Books
This clever and engaging text from Haughton is bursting with fun and joy as we follow three misbehaving monkeys who cannot resist temptation. Despite the threat of tigers lurking in the grass, they convince themselves that it will be OK just to venture into the jungle and taste a mango – or two. Maybe … With the author–illustrator's brilliant use of saturated colours of purple, blue, deep pink, magenta and red, the mischievous monkeys and their jungle environment are skilfully brought to life in this page-turning tale that invites reader participation.
Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North Atlantic written and illustrated by Flora Delargy
Wide Eyed Editions
This début book, with stunning illustrations, provides a different perspective on one of the world’s most famous maritime disasters – the sinking of the Titanic. The focus this time is on the RMS Carpathia and its journey across the ice fields in an attempt to save passengers from drowning. Intertwining the stories of passengers and crews on both ships allows for a collective tale of heroism while also paying respect to the victims of the catastrophe. Illustratively, the detailed hand-drawn artwork is excellent and reveals the extraordinary research behind the project.
There's a Ghost in this House written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
HarperCollins Children's Books
This wonderfully playful picturebook from Jeffers provides a fun and enjoyable read through innovative use of form, as readers are guided by a young girl through a house that she believes is haunted – but she hasn't actually seen any ghosts. We soon realise that we can see more than she does if we just take time to turn the pages correctly. This beautifully produced and expertly crafted book is original and imaginative in its use of counterpoint, with words and (multiple) illustrations presenting the reader with differing perspectives.
