Ten titles shortlisted for 2025 KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards
From unexpected twists and turns with fairies and banshees to heartwarming stories of a lamb that needs a haircut and pigs trying to stay safe in their houses, to the dilemma of an unexpected pregnancy in a teen relationship – the shortlisted publications for this year’s KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards invite readers to look at enduring themes in new ways.
The ten shortlisted titles for the 35th annual awards was announced today by RTÉ broadcaster Rick O’Shea at a special event in the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast. Speaking at the announcement, Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland said: “This is the 35th year of the only Irish awards dedicated to celebrating books created for children and the calibre of writing and illustration just keeps getting better! Our dedicated panel of judges outdid last year’s record, reading a total of 169 titles from Irish or Ireland-based writers and illustrators. After whittling those down to an initial longlist of 19 books, today’s shortlist represents the best books for children and young people and showcases the rich diversity of titles published in Ireland or by Irish artists.”
The shortlisted books include three début titles, two Irish language titles, and two titles from former Laureate na nÓg. These will compete for six awards at the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards ceremony, held on 19th May as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin. These include the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Book of the Year Award, as well as honours for fiction, illustration and the Junior Juries’ Award which will be decided by young readers across the island of Ireland.
Beanie the Bansheenie, a quirky and original take on the story of a young banshee who builds a friendship with her ‘human’, a little girl called Rose, written by former Laureate na nÓg written by Eoin Colfer and illustrated by Steve McCarthy (Walker Books)
Bearradh Gruaige d'Eoinín, a reassuring tale for children of Eoinín the apprehensive little lamb who badly needs a haircut, written by Muireann Ní Chiobháin and illustrated by Róisín Hahessy (Futa Fata)
Fia and the Last Snow Deer, a début-authored novel about thirteen-year-old Fia and her beloved snow deer Solas, set in pre-historic, snow-covered Ireland, written by Eilish Fisher and illustrated by Dermot Flynn (Puffin Books)
Little Bang, a young adult fiction set in Northern Ireland, where are a teenage couple from different backgrounds face an unexpected pregnancy, written by Kelly McCaughrain (Walker Books)
Na Trí Mhuicín , a charming picturebook, retelling of the classic fairy tale The Three Little Pigs in Irish verse. Written by former Laureate na nÓg Áine Ní Ghlinn and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly (Futa Fata)
Songlight, a début young adult dystopian novel where those with the gift of songlight – the power to communicate telepathically – are deemed Unhuman, written by Moira Buffini (Faber & Faber)
Stitch, a story inspired by Mary Shelley’s gothic classic Frankenstein, this is a compelling, compassionate and adventurous tale about Stitch and his friend Henry Oaf written by Pádraig Kenny and illustrated by Steve McCarthy (Walker Books)
The Dictionary Story, a wonderfully inventive picturebook about words which encourages creativity, problem-solving and attention to detail, a collaboration between Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston (Walker Books)
The Faerie Isle, a beautifully crafted hardback picturebook brings sixteen fascinating examples from Irish folk and faerie lore to a new generation of readers, written by Síne Quinn and illustrated by Dermot Flynn (Walker Books)
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Irish Lighthouses, an engaging and informative book, telling its young readers everything they ever wanted to know about lighthouses, a début-authored text by David Hare and illustrated by Linda Fahrlin (Gill Books)
The 2025 Awards mark the sixth year of KPMG’s sponsorship. Johnny Hanna, Partner in Charge KPMG Belfast said, "This incredible shortlist shows off the talent and creativity of the writers and illustrators of children’s books. KPMG is delighted to be sponsoring the awards for the sixth time - reflecting our support for helping promote the enjoyment of reading in children."
The volume and quality of submissions to this year's KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards was extraordinary, with a record 169 books reviewed by our panel of judges.
In recognition of this fierce competition for the 2025 shortlist and awards, the judges have released their longlist, below.
The Rattlin' Bog by Jessica Law, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald, published by Barefoot Books
Pirates of Darksea by Catherine Doyle published by Bloomsbury
Your Sense-Ational Human Body by Emma Young, illustrated by John Devolle, published by Bloomsbury
The Great Irish Biodiversity Book by Éanna Ní Lamhna, illustrated by Barry Falls, published by Gill Books
Starminster, by Megan Hopkins, published by HarperCollins Children's Books
Dialann Emily Porter: Caillte agus Aimsithe, written by Richie Conroy, illustrated by Don Conroy, published by LeabhairCOMHAR.
Éanna Corr by Antain Mac Lochlainn, published by Leabhar Breac
Zooming the Zoo by John Dougherty, illustrated by Tom Morgan-Jones, published by Otter-Barry Books
The Ballad of Cactus Joe by Lily Murray, illustrated by Clive McFarland, published by Oxford University Press
