Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration

The Kate Greenaway Medal is one of the most prestigious awards in the world of children’s books and is presented annually for the most distinguished work in illustration in the U.K. The winner is awarded a golden medal and £500 worth of books to donate to a library of their choice by CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.

Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears by Emily Gravett is the 2008 winner. The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon by Mini Grey was the 2007 winner and Emily Gravett was once again the recipient of this esteemed prize in 2006 for her page turner Wolves.

Clare County Library has compiled its own guide to choosing books for young children. Picture This: A Guide to Choosing Books for Young Children was published in 2002 with the assistance of The National Reading Initiative. Writing in the foreword to the guide, acclaimed Irish children’s author, Siobhan Parkinson had the following to say; “In every library and bookshop there is such an array of picture books that it’s sometimes difficult to know where to start. That’s where a guide like this is so valuable. You can be sure that all the books recommended are excellent of their type, and the thematic arrangement will help you to find the books that will appeal to your child and suit his or her interests or needs.”