Harry Potter casts reading spell on children

WIZARD Harry Potter has boosted the popularity of reading among children so much that Irish authors are producing books on everything from ancient legends to asylum seekers to meet the demand.

In a bid to honour the best books aimed at children, nine books were short-listed yesterday for the Bisto Book of the Year.

The judging panel said the nine entries were of excellent quality, but described recent funding cuts for children’s literature as worrying. “We pay lip service to children, their physical and imaginative needs, but in times of financial cuts they become a first and relatively easy target,” said the panel chair, Celia Keenan.

She also said it was a concern that most of the short-listed books came from British rather than Irish publishers.

Also short-listed for the Bisto Book award is last year’s winner, Kate Thompson. Her new book, the Alchemist’s Apprentice, tells the story of a 14-year-old orphan who must learn how to turn metal into gold.

Another Irish author, Eoin Colfer has enjoyed huge international success with Artemis Fowl, about a 12-year old criminal mastermind who steals gold from fairies. The sequel, Artemis Fowl, the Arctic Incident, has made this year’s short-list.

“My books are a blend of fantasy and comedy. You’re always onto a winner if you can make children laugh,” said Mr Colfer, who launched his third Artemis Fowl book in Wexford yesterday.

Colmán Ó Raghallaigh has been nominated for his book, An Tóraíocht. Through graphic illustrations it tells the story of two famous Irish lovers, Diarmuid and Gráinne. According to the Dublin City Council Library, the state of children’s reading has never been healthier. Its libraries lent more than three million books last year, many of them to children.

“Harry Potter has been the greatest thing that’s happened to children’s reading. It has catapulted the level of readers and there are other authors like Phillip Pullman and Jacqueline Wilson who are very popular as well,” head of children’s books Liz Turley said.

The Bisto book awards are open to any Irish author or illustrator born in Ireland. The winner will be announced on June 5 in the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre.