# KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards

The KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards, previously known as the CBI Book of the Year Awards (Irish: Duaiseanna Leabhair na Bliana CBI) and the Bisto Book of the Year Awards, are literary awards presented annually in the Republic of Ireland to writers and illustrators of books for children and young people. The Awards are run by Children's Books Ireland (CBI) and are open to authors and illustrators born or resident in Ireland; books may be written in English or Irish. Many bestselling, internationally renowned authors have won a "Bisto", including Eoin Colfer, John Boyne and several times winner Kate Thompson.
The awards were sponsored by Bisto (Premier Foods) from their inception.
First awarded in 1990 (with the Book of the Decade Awards), there are currently seven prizes awarded:
* The KPMG Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year Award
* Honour Award for Fiction
* Honour Award for Illustration
* Eilís Dillon Award (for a first children's book) - named in honour of writer Eilís Dillon
* The Judges' Special Award
* The Junior Juries' Award (previously the Children’s Choice Award)
* The Reading Hero Award (awarded from 2020 onwards) - presented to a young reader, recognising their potential and celebrating their remarkable passion for books
Previously the winner of Book of the Year won a perpetual trophy and €10,000; the 3 winners of the Merit Awards (the Honour Award for Illustration, the Honour Award for Writing, the Judges' Special Recognition Award) shared a combined prize fund of €6,000; the Eilís Dillon Award winner for first time writers also won a trophy and €3,000. Currently there is a €6,000 prize for the Children’s Book of the Year and a €2,000 prize each for the Honour Award for Fiction, the Honour Award for Illustration, the Eilís Dillon Award, The Judges' Special Award, and The Junior Juries' Award.
In 2010, the Children's Choice award was introduced to mark the 20th anniversary of the Bisto Book of the Year Awards. It was chosen by 10 Junior Juries from all around Ireland, and was awarded to Jane Mitchell's Chalkline. The Judges' Special Recognition Award was not awarded in 2010.

## Past winners

Source: Children's Books Ireland

### Book of the Year Award

| Year | Title | Author | Publisher |
| 2023 | Girls Who Slay Monsters | Ellen Ryan and Shona Shirley Macdonald | HarperCollins Children's Books |
| 2022 | Gut Feelings | C.G. Moore | UCLan |
| 2021 | Savage Her Reply | Deirdre Sullivan and Karen Vaughan | Little Island Books |
| 2020 | Nóinín | Máire Zepf | Cois Life |
| 2019 | Flying Tips for Flightless Birds | Kelly McCaughrain | Walker Books |
| 2018 | Tangleweed and Brine | Deirdre Sullivan and Karen Vaughan | Little Island Books |
| 2017 | Goodnight Everyone | Chris Haughton | Walker Books |
| 2016 | One | Sarah Crossan | Bloomsbury Publishing |
| 2015 | Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters | Oliver Jeffers | Philomel |
| 2014 | Hagwitch | Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick | Orion Children's Books |
| 2013 | Grounded | Sheena Wilkinson | Fitzhenry & Whiteside |
| 2012 | Into the Grey | Celine Kiernan | O'Brien Press |
| 2011 | A Bit Lost | Chris Haughton | Walker Books |
| 2010 | There | Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick | Roaring Book Press |
| 2009 | Bog Child | Siobhán Dowd | David Fickling |
| 2008 | The London Eye Mystery | Siobhán Dowd | David Fickling |
| 2007 | The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas | John Boyne | David Fickling |
| 2006 | The New Policeman | Kate Thompson | The Bodley Head |
| 2005 | Annan Water | Kate Thompson | The Bodley Head |
| 2004 | Wings Over Delft | Aubrey Flegg | O'Brien Press |
| 2003 | You, Me and the Big Blue Sea | Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick | Gullane |
| 2003 | The Alchemist's Apprentice | Kate Thompson | The Bodley Head |
| 2002 | The Beguilers | Kate Thompson | The Bodley Head |
| 2001 | Izzy and Skunk | Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick | Blackwater Press |
| 2000 | Faraway Home | Marilyn Taylor | O'Brien Press |
| 1999 | Tales of Wisdom and Wonder | Niamh Sharkey | Barefoot Books |
| 1998 | Dream Invader | Gerard Whelan | O'Brien Press |
| 1997 | Sisters ... No Way! | Siobhán Parkinson | O'Brien Press |
| 1996 | The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey | P. J. Lynch | Poolbeg Press |
| 1995 | Blaeberry Sunday | Elizabeth O'Hara (Éilís Ní Dhuibhne) | Poolbeg Press |
| 1994 | When Stars Stop Spinning | Jane Mitchell | Poolbeg Press |
| 1993 | The Blue Horse | Marita Conlon-McKenna | O'Brien Press |
| 1992 | The Summer of Lily and Esme | John Quinn | Poolbeg Press |
| 1991 | The Island of Ghosts | Eilís Dillon | Faber and Faber |

### Merit Awards

| Year | Title | Winner | Publisher |
| 2018 | Chocolate Cake | Kevin Waldron, illustrator | Puffin Books |
| 2018 | Star by Star | Sheena Wilkinson | Little Island Books |
| 2018 | Illegal | Eoin Colfer | Hodder |
| 2017 | Goodnight Everyone | Chris Haughton, illustrator | Walker Books |
| 2017 | Needlework | Deirdre Sullivan | Little Island Books |
| 2017 | Bliain na nAmhrán | Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin, Jennifer Farley, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tarsila Krüse, Christina O'Donovan | Futa Futa |
| 2016 | Gulliver | Lauren O'Neill, illustrator | The O'Brien Press |
| 2016 | Asking For It | Louise O'Neill | Quercus |
| 2016 | Irelandopedia | Fatti Burke & John Burke | Gill |
| 2015 | Shh! We Have a Plan | Chris Haughton, illustrator | Candlewick Press |
| 2015 | Daideo | Áine Ní Ghlinn | Cois Life |
| 2015 | Haiku más é do thoil é! | Gabriel Rosenstock & Brian Fitzgerald | An Gúm |
| 2014 | The Mysterious Traveller | P. J. Lynch | Walker Books |
| 2014 | The Sleeping Baobab Tree | Paula Leyden | Walker Books |
| 2014 | The Day the Crayons Quit | Oliver Jeffers, illustrator | HarperCollins |
| 2013 | This Moose Belongs to Me | Oliver Jeffers | HarperCollins |
| 2013 | Dark Warning | Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick | Orion |
| 2013 | Hóng | Anna Heussaff | Cló lar-Chonnacht |
| 2012 | Stuck | Oliver Jeffers | HarperCollins |
| 2012 | The Butterfly Heart | Paula Leyden | Walker Books |
| 2012 | Maitríóisce | Siobhán Parkinson | Cois Life |
| 2011 | The Heart and the Bottle | Oliver Jeffers | Philomel |
| 2011 | Mac Rí Eireann | Andrew Whitson | New Island Books |
| 2011 | Taking Flight | Sheena Wilkinson | Walker Books |
| 2010 | Solace of the Road | Siobhán Dowd | David Fickling |
| 2010 | There | Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick | Roaring Book Press |
| 2010 | Chalkline | Jane Mitchell | Walker Books |
| 2009 | Highway Robbery | Kate Thompson | The Bodley Head |
| 2009 | The Great Paper Caper | Oliver Jeffers | HarperCollins |
| 2009 | Creature of the Night | Kate Thompson | The Bodley Head |
| 2008 | The Black Book of Secrets | F. E. Higgins | Macmillan |
| 2008 | The Way Back Home | Oliver Jeffers | HarperCollins |
| 2008 | Wilderness | Roddy Doyle | Scholastic |
| 2007 | The Incredible Book-Eating Boy | Oliver Jeffers | HarperCollins |
| 2007 | Hurlamaboc | Éilís Ní Dhuibhne | Cois Life |
| 2007 | Something Invisible | Siobhán Parkinson | Penguin |
| 2006 | Lost and Found | Oliver Jeffers | HarperCollins |
| 2006 | A Horse Called El Dorado | Kevin Kiely | O'Brien Press |
| 2006 | Penny the Pencil | Eileen O'Hely | Mercier Press |
| 2005 | Something Beginning with P | Corrina Askin, Alan Clarke and Emma Byrne | O'Brien Press |
| 2005 | How to Catch a Star | Oliver Jeffers | HarperCollins |
| 2005 | The Gods and their Machines | Oisín McGann | O'Brien Press |
| 2004 | Origins | Kate Thompson | The Bodley Head |
| 2004 | You Can Do It Sam | Anita Jeram | Walker Books |
| 2004 | The Ravenous Beast | Niamh Sharkey | Walker Books |
| 2003 | Fox | Matthew Sweeney and Colmán Ó Raghallaigh | Bloomsbury |
| 2003 | An Tóraíocht | The Cartoon Saloon | Cló Mhaigh Eo |
| 2003 | War Children | Gerard Whelan | O'Brien Press |
| 2002 | Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | Puffin |
| 2002 | Caught on a Train | Carlo Gébler | Egmont |
| 2002 | An Sclábhaí | Colmán Ó Raghallaigh | Cló Mhaigh Eo |
| 2001 | The Wish List | Eoin Colfer | O'Brien Press |
| 2001 | Dirt Tracks | Martina Murphy | Poolbeg Press |
| 2001 | The Orchard Book of Ghostly Stories | Martin Waddell | Orchard Press |
| 2000 | Siúloid Bhreá | Mary Arrigan | An Gúm |
| 2000 | Fierce Milly | Marilyn McLaughlin | Egmont |
| 2000 | Silent Stones | Mark O'Sullivan | Wolfhound Press |
| 1999 | The Long March | Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick | Wolfhound Press |
| 1999 | The Moon King | Siobhán Parkinson | O'Brien Press |
| 1999 | An Rógaire agus a Scáil | Gabriel Rosenstock | An Gúm |
| 1998 | The Hungry Wind | Soinbhe Lally | Poolbeg Press |
| 1998 | When Jessie Came Across the Sea | P. J. Lynch | Poolbeg Press |
| 1998 | Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (maybe) | Siobhán Parkinson | O'Brien Press |
| 1997 | An Eala Dubh | Cliodhna Cussen and Cormac Ó Snodaigh | Coiscéim |
| 1997 | The Lantern Moon | Maeve Friel | Poolbeg Press |
| 1997 | The Guns of Easter | Gerard Whelan | O'Brien Press |
| 1996 | Hannah or Pink Balloons | Mary Beckett | Marino Books |
| 1996 | Sceoin sa Bhoireann | Ré Ó Laighléis | Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| 1996 | Lockie and Dadge | Frank Murphy | O'Brien Press |
| 1995 | Goodbye Summer, Goodbye | Rose Doyle | Attic Press |
| 1995 | Catkin | P. J. Lynch | Poolbeg Press |
| 1995 | Ecstasy agus Scéalta Eile | Ré Ó Laighléis | Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| 1994 | The Chieftain's Daughter | Sam McBratney | O'Brien Press |
| 1994 | The Hiring Fair | Elizabeth O'Hara (Éilís Ní Dhuibhne) | Poolbeg Press |
| 1994 | The Pony Express | Máirín Johnston | Attic Press |

### Éilís Dillon Award for a First Children's Book

| Year | Title | Author | Publisher |
| 2023 | The Book of Secrets | Alex Dunne | O'Brien Press |
| 2022 | Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North Atlantic | Flora Delargy | Wide Eyed Editions |
| 2021 | Why the Moon Travels | Oein DeBhairduin and Leanne McDonagh | Skein Press |
| 2020 | Mór agus Muilc | Kim Sharkey | Éabhlóid |
| 2019 | Flying Tips for Flightless Birds | Kelly McCaughrain | Walker Books |
| 2018 | The Space Between | Meg Grehan | Little Island Books |
| 2017 | The Ministry of Strange, Unusual and Impossible Things | Paul Gamble | Little Island Books |
| 2016 | Irelandopedia | Fatti Burke & John Burke | Gill |
| 2015 | Only Ever Yours | Louise O'Neill | Quercus |
| 2014 | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded |
| 2013 | The Weight of Water | Sarah Crossan | Bloomsbury |
| 2012 | The Butterfly Heart | Paula Leyden | Walker |
| 2011 | A Bit Lost | Chris Haughton | Walker |
| 2010 | The Third Pig Detective Agency | Bob Burke | HarperCollins |
| 2009 | Anila's Journey | Mary Finn | Walker Books |
| 2008 | The Thing With Finn | Tom Kelly | Macmillan |
| 2007 | A Swift Pure Cry | Siobhán Dowd | David Fickling |
| 2006 | Snakes' Elbows | Deirdre Madden | Orchard Books |
| 2005 | An Bhó Riabhach | Siobhán Ní Shíthigh | An Gúm |
| 2004 | Amach | Alan Titley | An Gúm |
| 2003 | Gyrfalcon | Grace Wells | O'Brien Press |
| 2002 | Adam's Starling | Gillian Perdue | O'Brien Press |
| 2001 | The Lost Orchard | Patrick Deeley | O'Brien Press |
| 2000 | Fierce Milly | Marilyn McLaughlin | Egmont |
| 1999 | Dea-Scéala | Caitríona Hastings | Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| 1998 | It's a Jungle Out There | Ed Miliano | Wolfhound Press |
| 1997 | The Guns of Easter | Gerard Whelan | O'Brien Press |
| 1996 | Lockie and Dadge | Frank Murphy | O'Brien Press |
| 1995 | Melody for Nora | Mark O'Sullivan | Wolfhound Press |

### Awards in discontinued categories

* Best Emerging Author (1991) – Brian Boru by Morgan Llywelyn, O'Brien Press
* Book for Young Readers (1991) – Grandma's Bill by Martin Waddell, Simon & Schuster
* Illustration (1991) – Fairy Tales of Ireland by P. J. Lynch, Collins
* Historical Fiction (1992) – Wildflower Girl by Marita Conlon-McKenna, O'Brien Press
* Picture Book (1992) – The Sleeping Giant by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Brandon Books
* First Children's Novel (1992) – The Secret of the Ruby Ring by Yvonne MacGrory, Children's Press
* Information Book (1993) – Tamall sa Chistin by Mairin Uí Chomain, An Gúm
* Teenage Fiction (1993) – Put a Saddle on the Pig by Sam McBratney, Methuen
* Historical Fiction (1993) – Strongbow by Morgan Llywelyn, O'Brien Press

## Bisto Children's Book of the Decade (1980–1990)

Fiction: Run with the Wind; Run to Earth; Run Swift; Run Free by Tom McCaughren, Jeanette Dunne (Wolfhound Press)
Information Books: Exploring the Book of Kells: Brendan the Navigator by George Otto Simms, David Rooney (O'Brien Press)
Books for Young Readers: Grandma's Bill by Martin Waddell, illus. Jane Johnson (Simon & Schuster)
Irish Language: An Chanáil by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, transl. Bernadine Nic Ghiolla Phádraig An Gúm

## Winners of multiple awards

* Most Bisto Book of the Year Awards: Kate Thompson (4), Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (4), Siobhán Dowd (2), Chris Haughton (2)
* Most Merit Awards: Oliver Jeffers (9), Kate Thompson (3), P. J. Lynch (3)
* Most Bisto Awards (total): Oliver Jeffers (10), Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (10), Kate Thompson (7), P. J. Lynch (5), Gerard Whelan (4), Siobhán Dowd (4), Chris Haughton (4), Siobhán Parkinson (3), Éilis Ni Dhuibhne/Elizabeth O'Hara (3)