Every year I try to predict the shortlist for the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Books of the Year shortlist. The 2024 Awards are given to books published in 2023 by Irish writers or illustrators, or those living and working in Ireland. These are based on my reading over the year and are my own personal view. I have read all the titles below and greatly enjoyed them all.
It was an outstanding year for middle grade (age 9+), teen and YA. Here are my predictions:
1/ Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai
Also my prediction for the first novel award – Eilís Dillon Award
2/ Standing on One Leg is Hard by Erika McGann and Clive McFarland
3/ The Slug and the Snail by Oein DeBhairduin, illustrated by Olya Anima
4/ Wider Than the Sea by Serena Molloy
5/ The Silver Road by Sinéad O’Hart
6/ The Girl Who Fell to Earth by Patricia Forde
7/ Global by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano
8/ Freya Harte is Not a Puzzle by Méabh Collins
9/ Grapefruit Moon by Shirley McMillan
10/ Wise Creatures by Deirdre Sullivan
11/ What Walks These Halls by Amy Clarkin
12/ The First Move by Jenny Ireland
13/ Three Tasks for a Dragon by Eoin Colfer, illustrated by P J Lynch
14/ Gods Don’t Cry: Unsung Stories of Ireland’s Forgotten Immortals by Ellen Ryan, illustrated by Conor Merriman
15/ Black and Irish: Legends, Trailblazers and Everyday Heroes by Leon Diop and Briana Fitzsimons, illustrated by Jessica Louis
Books I’d also love to see on the shortlist:
Kevin’s in a Mood by Sarah Bowie
Milly McCarthy is a Complete Catastrophe by Leona Forde, illustrated by Karen Harte
The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice by Rachel Chivers Khoo, illustrated by Rachel Sanson
Sally in the City of Dreams by Judi Curtin
A Game of Life and Death by Triona Campbell
There will also be some Irish language books on the list but my Irish isn’t strong enough to review the merits of those titles (yet!).
Best of luck to all those who published books in 2023!
The shortlist will be announced by CBI on 7th Feb at 11am - watch the shortlisting ceremony here.
