Late author wins top prize at children’s book awards

SIOBHÁN DOWD, winner of this year’s Bisto Children’s Book of the Year for her third children’s book, Bog Child, battled against time to get her latest prize- winning novel finished.

Siobhán died from cancer before yesterday’s award was announced, but had the satisfaction of knowing she had left something worthwhile for generations to come.

The 47-year-old began the novel in January 2007 but died seven months later following a long illness.