Children’s Book of the Year Awards 2018

The Children’s Books Ireland shortlist for the Book of the Year 2018 has been announced. These ten titles will compete for the most prestigious award for children’s books in Ireland.
A Dangerous Crossing by Jane Mitchell
A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea written by Sarah Webb and illustrated by Steve McCarthy
Chocolate Cake written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Kevin Waldron
Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers
Illegal written by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin and illustrated by Giovanni Rigano
Moonrise by Sarah Crossan
Rabbit and Bear: The Pest in the Nest written by Julian Gough and illustrated by Jim Field
Star by Star by Sheena Wilkinson
Tangleweed and Brine written by Deirdre Sullivan and illustrated by Karen Vaughan
The Space Between by Meg Grehan

The shortlisted books appeal to a range of ages and are written in English or Irish by authors and illustrators born or resident in Ireland and published between 1st January and 31st December each year.

Dr Patricia Kennon, chair of the judging panel that read over eighty titles, said: ‘It is a pleasure to present the ten shortlisted books which all exemplify excellence in their aesthetic distinction and immersive story worlds. The 2018 shortlist spans a rich variety of genres and formats including rhymes, chapter books, poetry, non-fiction, retellings of fairy tales, verse novels, graphic novels, fiction and picture books. The groups participating in the CBI Shadowing Scheme and readers, young and old, have many rich, imaginative adventures to look forward to!’

Jenny Murray, Acting Director at CBI said ‘Children’s Books Ireland’s goal is to make readers of every child by making books a part of their day-to-day lives. This year’s shortlist encompasses everything from the value of friendship, feminist fairytale retellings, the plight of refugees, the march of the suffragettes, the awe-inspiring universe, through to the never-to-be-underestimated lure of chocolate cake … All of the titles on this year’s shortlist highlight the very best of Irish writing, illustrating and publishing for children and young readers.’

Former winners of the CBI Book of the Year Award – Sheena Wilkinson, Oliver Jeffers and Sarah Crossan return to the shortlist with Star by Star, Here We Are and Moonrise, respectively. Little Island Publishers have a total of four titles shortlisted; Tangleweed and Brine, Star by Star, A Dangerous Crossing and The Space Between. Also on the list is former Laureate na nÓg Eoin Colfer with Illegal. Jane Mitchell, who won the inaugural Children’s Choice Award in 2010, also features on the shortlist with A Dangerous Crossing.