Ten on book of year shortlist

TWO-time winner Kate Thompson is among the short-listed authors in the 15th Bisto Book of the Year Awards.

Ten books challenge for the most prestigious award for children’s books in Ireland, with total prizes of €7,000.

As well as Ms Thompson’s Annan Water, the line-up features a number of illustrators, including Olwyn Whelan for her depiction of Oscar Wilde’s The Star Child and Alan Clarke, Corrina Askin and Emma Byrne for their illustrations in a book of new poems.

This year a shadowing scheme is being introduced where 14 classes from around the country choose their own overall winner from the shortlist. Two of the groups involved, drawn at random, will attend the awards ceremony on June 2 and meet the shortlisted authors and illustrators.

The awards aim to recognise excellence and promote high standards in children’s literature by Irish authors, illustrators and publishers. The awards are open to any children’s book by an author or illustrator born or resident in Ireland, written in Irish or English, and published between January 1 and December 31 each year.

The awards are presented in association with Children’s Books Ireland. Previous Bisto winners include Marilyn Taylor, Gerard Whelan and Siobhán Parkinson.