Cavan students choose KPMG Children’s Book winners

Seven schools in Cavan participated in the Junior Juries programme

Students from seven schools and libraries in Cavan participated in a national Junior Juries programme for this year’s KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards.

The winners were announced at a ceremony in Dublin this week in partnership with International Literature Festival Dublin.

Through the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards Junior Juries programme young people in schools, libraries and book clubs shadowed adult judges in reading, discussing and assessing the shortlisted books.

The judging panel read a record 158 titles from Irish-born or Ireland-based writers and illustrators, the biggest year so far in the history of the awards.

The schools in Cavan that participated in the Junior Juries programme were Saint Clare's College, Ballyjamesduff; Lisboduff National School, Cootehill; St Patricks National School, Shercock; St. Felim's National School, Cavan; Mini Me's Creche, Butlersbridge; Curravagh National School, Glangevlin; and Gaelscoil Bhréifne, Aghnaskerry.

The KPMG Junior Juries Award chose ‘The Hare Shaped Hole,’ written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty (Frances Lincoln Children's Books), as their winner.

‘Catfish Rolling’ by Clara Kumagai (Zephyr) won the KPMG Book of the Year Award, and the Honour Award for Fiction went to ‘Treacle Town’ by Brian Conaghan (Andersen Press).

The Honour Award for Illustration was won by ‘Three Tasks for a Dragon’ illustrated by PJ Lynch (Walker Books); and The Eilís Dillon Award for best début children’s book went to ‘Wider Than the Sea’ by Serena Molloy (Hodder Children’s Books).

Finally, the Judges’ Special Award was scooped by ‘The Hare Shaped Hole,’ written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty (Frances Lincoln Children's Books).

Speaking at the ceremony, Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, said this year’s award winners showcase the outstanding quality and variety of contemporary Irish children’s literature.

“The fact that so many of the winners and shortlistees are débuts is remarkable – the Awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate both emerging and established creators and to connect them with their audiences.

“Through our Junior Juries programme, we have seen the joy and excitement these shortlisted books have sparked in over 12,700 young readers across Ireland.”

A total prize-fund of €16,000 has been awarded to this year’s winners.