Boyne's WWII novel tops children's book poll

People across Ireland have voted celebrated author John Boyne’s 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' as their all-time favourite of the 21 books which have won the annual Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Award since the awards began in 1990.

Sun, 05 Feb, 2012 - 12:27

The Bisto Ballot was launched in March 2011 to mark the 21st anniversary of Ireland’s most prestigious awards which celebrate excellence in children’s literature and illustration.

A 21st anniversary exhibition documenting the history of the Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Awards and each of the winning titles has been on tour for the past 10 months allowing people an opportunity to cast their vote.

Winner of the 2007 – or 18th - Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Award, 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' has sold more than five million copies worldwide since it was published in 2006.

It is a #1 New York Times Bestseller and was the best selling book of the year in Spain in 2007 and 2008.

It has also been a top bestseller in a number of other countries including the UK and Australia as well as here in Ireland.

In September 2008, a highly acclaimed film adaptation of the novel was released staring David Thewliss and Vera Farmiga.

John Boyne said: "Considering the number of extraordinary books which have won the Bisto Children's Book of the Year since 1991, I feel humbled and honoured that my novel has been selected by voters as their favourite winner.

"It's a novel that I hoped would touch young readers and thanks in no small part to those people who are evangelical about the promotion of children's literature – librarians, teachers, Children's Books Ireland, and the advocates in the media – it reached a far wider audience than I ever imagined possible. I hope it proves that serious and complex subjects can and should be explored in children's literature."

The Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Awards are open to books written in English or Irish by authors and illustrators born or resident in Ireland and published between January 1 and December 31 each year.

The winners of the prestigious Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Award to date are as follows:

• 1991: The Island of Ghosts, Eilís Dillon

• 1992: The Summer of Lily & Esme, John Quinn

• 1993: The Blue Horse, Marita Conlon-McKenna

• 1994: When Stars Stop Spinning, Jane Mitchell

• 1995: Blaeberry Sunday, Elizabeth O’Hara

• 1996: Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, P J Lynch

• 1997: Sisters...No Way!, Siobhán Parkinson

• 1998: Dream Invader, Gerard Whelan

• 1999: Tales of Wonder & Wisdom, Niamh Sharkey

• 2000: Faraway Home, Marilyn Taylor

• 2001: Izzy and Skunk, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick