The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards shortlist will be announced next week - Tues 9th March. For more on the awards see here.
Here are the titles I think will be shortlisted. I do this some years, just for fun! Let’s see how many I get right.
My tip for book of the year - The Monsters of Rookhaven by Pádaig Kenny or On Midnight Beach by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick - both remarkable books.
My predictions for the shortlist:
1/ Would You Like a Banana? by Yasmeen Ismail - for it’s vibrant artwork and clever story for young readers.
2/ Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree by Mary Murphy - Murphy’s book is deceptively simple and her illustrations are joyful and and full of wonder.
3/ What We’ll Build by Oliver Jeffers - Jeffers is a world class picturebook writer/illustrator and this one is another winner.
4/ Elsetime by Eve McDonnell (Eilis Dillon Award?)
5/ The Monsters of Rookhaven by Pádraig Kenny, illustrated by Edward Bettison - this is my book of the year - it MUST be shortlisted or there is no justice!
6/ The Gone Book by Helena Close - really strong YA novel.
7/ Why the Moon Travels by Oein DeBharduin, illustrated by Leanne McDonagh - beautifully written Traveller tales - one of my favourite books of the year.
8/ On Midnight Beach by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick - one of the best YA novels of 2020 - another MUST!
9/ Savage Her Reply by Deirdre Sullivan, illustrated by Karen Vaughan - simply stunning.
10/ Míp by Máire Zept and Paddy Donnelly - a terrific picturebook with strong text and wonderful illustrations.
Others that might be shortlisted:
Chasing Ghosts by Nicola Pierce - a really story historical novel with some great writing.
Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran (Eilis Dillon Award)
Songs for Our Sons by Ruth Doyle and Alison Lindsay
Geansaí Ottó by Sadhbh Devlin and Róisín Hahessy
To the Island by Patricia Forde and Nicola Bernadelli
The Great Irish Farm Book by Darrah McCoullough, illustrated by Saly Caulwell
The Boldness of Betty by Anna Carey
While We Can’t Hug by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar
Have You Seen the Dublin Vampire? by Úna Woods (Eilis Dillon Award?)
The Dead Zoo by Peter Donnelly
The Haunted Lake by P J Lynch
Irish Fairy Tales by Kieran Fanning
Break the Mould by Sinéad Burke, illustrated by Natalie Byrne