The KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards, previously known as the CBI Book of the Year Awards () and the Bisto Book of the Year Awards, are literary awards presented annually in the Republic of Ireland to writers and illustrators of books for children and young people. The Awards are run by Children's Books Ireland (CBI) and are open to authors and illustrators born or resident in Ireland; books may be written in English or Irish. Many bestselling, internationally renowned authors have won a "Bisto", including Eoin Colfer, John Boyne and several times winner Kate Thompson.
The awards were sponsored by Bisto (Premier Foods) from their inception."General Info: Bisto Book of the Year Awards – Leabhar-Ghradaim Bisto"]. October 2008. Children's Books Ireland. Archived 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
First awarded in 1990 (with the Book of the Decade Awards), there are currently seven prizes awarded: The KPMG Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year Award Honour Award for Fiction Honour Award for Illustration Eilís Dillon Award (for a first children's book) - named in honour of writer Eilís Dillon The Judges' Special Award The Junior Juries' Award (previously the Children’s Choice Award) The Reading Hero Award (awarded from 2020 onwards) - presented to a young reader, recognising their potential and celebrating their remarkable passion for books
Previously the winner of Book of the Year won a perpetual trophy and €10,000; the 3 winners of the Merit Awards (the Honour Award for Illustration, the Honour Award for Writing, the Judges' Special Recognition Award) shared a combined prize fund of €6,000; the Eilís Dillon Award winner for first time writers also won a trophy and €3,000.Children's Books Ireland - About The Awards Currently there is a €6,000 prize for the Children’s Book of the Year and a €2,000 prize each for the Honour Award for Fiction, the Honour Award for Illustration, the Eilís Dillon Award, The Judges' Special Award, and The Junior Juries' Award.
In 2010, the Children's Choice award was introduced to mark the 20th anniversary of the Bisto Book of the Year Awards. It was chosen by 10 Junior Juries from all around Ireland, and was awarded to Jane Mitchell's Chalkline. The Judges' Special Recognition Award was not awarded in 2010.
Past winners
Source: Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year Award
YearTitleAuthorPublisher2026Don't Trust Fish!Neil Sharpson and Dan SantatAndersen Press2025Fia and the Last Snow DeerEilish Fisher and Dermot FlynnPenguin2024Catfish RollingClara KumagaiBloomsbury2023 Girls Who Slay MonstersEllen Ryan and Shona Shirley MacdonaldHarperCollins Children's Books2022 Gut FeelingsC.G. MooreUCLan2021 Savage Her ReplyDeirdre Sullivan and Karen VaughanLittle Island Books2020 NóinínMáire ZepfCois Life2019 Flying Tips for Flightless BirdsKelly McCaughrainWalker Books2018 Tangleweed and BrineDeirdre Sullivan and Karen VaughanLittle Island Books2017 Goodnight EveryoneChris HaughtonWalker Books2016 OneSarah CrossanBloomsbury Publishing2015 Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the LettersOliver JeffersPhilomel2014 HagwitchMarie-Louise FitzpatrickOrion Children's Books2013 GroundedSheena WilkinsonLittle Island Books2012 Into the GreyCeline KiernanO'Brien Press2011 A Bit Lost Chris HaughtonWalker Books2010 ThereMarie-Louise FitzpatrickRoaring Book Press2009Bog ChildSiobhán DowdDavid Fickling2008The London Eye MysterySiobhán DowdDavid Fickling2007The Boy in the Striped PyjamasJohn BoyneDavid Fickling2006The New PolicemanKate ThompsonThe Bodley Head2005 Annan WaterKate ThompsonThe Bodley Head2004 Wings Over DelftAubrey FleggO'Brien Press2003 You, Me and the Big Blue SeaMarie-Louise FitzpatrickGullane The Alchemist's ApprenticeKate ThompsonThe Bodley Head2002 The BeguilersKate ThompsonThe Bodley Head2001 Izzy and SkunkMarie-Louise FitzpatrickBlackwater Press2000 Faraway Home Marilyn TaylorO'Brien Press1999 Tales of Wisdom and WonderNiamh SharkeyBarefoot Books1998 Dream InvaderGerard WhelanO'Brien Press1997 Sisters ... No Way!Siobhán ParkinsonO'Brien Press1996The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan ToomeyP. J. LynchPoolbeg Press1995 Blaeberry Sunday Elizabeth O'Hara (Éilís Ní Dhuibhne)Poolbeg Press1994 When Stars Stop SpinningJane MitchellPoolbeg Press1993 The Blue HorseMarita Conlon-McKennaO'Brien Press1992 The Summer of Lily and EsmeJohn QuinnPoolbeg Press1991 The Island of GhostsEilís DillonFaber and Faber
Merit Awards
YearTitleWinnerPublisher2018 Chocolate CakeKevin Waldron, illustratorPuffin Books Star by Star Sheena WilkinsonLittle Island Books Illegal Eoin ColferHodder2017 Goodnight EveryoneChris Haughton, illustratorWalker Books Needlework Deirdre SullivanLittle Island Books Bliain na nAmhrán Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin, Jennifer Farley, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tarsila Krüse, Christina O'DonovanFuta Futa2016 GulliverLauren O'Neill, illustratorThe O'Brien Press Asking For It Louise O'NeillQuercus Irelandopedia Fatti Burke & John BurkeGill2015 Shh! We Have a PlanChris Haughton, illustratorCandlewick Press Daideo Áine Ní GhlinnCois Life Haiku más é do thoil é! Gabriel Rosenstock & Brian FitzgeraldAn Gúm2014 The Mysterious TravellerP. J. Lynch Walker Books The Sleeping Baobab Tree Paula LeydenWalker Books The Day the Crayons Quit Oliver Jeffers, illustrator HarperCollins2013 This Moose Belongs to Me Oliver JeffersHarperCollins Dark Warning Marie-Louise FitzpatrickOrion Hóng Anna HeussaffCló lar-Chonnacht2012 Stuck Oliver JeffersHarperCollins The Butterfly Heart Paula LeydenWalker Books Maitríóisce Siobhán ParkinsonCois Life2011 The Heart and the Bottle Oliver JeffersPhilomel Mac Rí Eireann Andrew WhitsonNew Island Books Taking Flight Sheena WilkinsonWalker Books2010 Solace of the Road Siobhán DowdDavid Fickling There Marie-Louise FitzpatrickRoaring Book Press Chalkline Jane MitchellWalker Books2009 Highway Robbery Kate ThompsonThe Bodley Head The Great Paper Caper Oliver JeffersHarperCollinsCreature of the Night Kate ThompsonThe Bodley Head2008 The Black Book of Secrets F. E. Higgins Macmillan The Way Back Home Oliver Jeffers HarperCollins Wilderness Roddy Doyle Scholastic2007 The Incredible Book-Eating Boy Oliver Jeffers HarperCollins Hurlamaboc Éilís Ní Dhuibhne Cois Life Something Invisible Siobhán Parkinson Penguin2006Lost and Found Oliver Jeffers HarperCollins A Horse Called El Dorado Kevin Kiely O'Brien Press Penny the Pencil Eileen O'Hely Mercier Press2005 Something Beginning with P Corrina Askin, Alan Clarke and Emma ByrneO'Brien Press How to Catch a Star Oliver JeffersHarperCollins The Gods and their Machines Oisín McGann O'Brien Press2004 Origins Kate ThompsonThe Bodley Head You Can Do It Sam Anita JeramWalker Books The Ravenous Beast Niamh Sharkey Walker Books2003 Fox Matthew Sweeney and Colmán Ó RaghallaighBloomsbury An Tóraíocht The Cartoon Saloon Cló Mhaigh Eo War Children Gerard WhelanO'Brien Press2002Artemis Fowl Eoin Colfer Puffin Caught on a Train Carlo Gébler Egmont An Sclábhaí Colmán Ó Raghallaigh Cló Mhaigh Eo2001The Wish ListEoin ColferO'Brien Press Dirt Tracks Martina Murphy Poolbeg Press The Orchard Book of Ghostly Stories Martin Waddell Orchard Press2000 Siúloid Bhreá Mary Arrigan An Gúm Fierce Milly Marilyn McLaughlinEgmont Silent Stones Mark O'Sullivan Wolfhound Press1999 The Long March Marie-Louise FitzpatrickWolfhound Press The Moon King Siobhán Parkinson O'Brien Press An Rógaire agus a Scáil Gabriel Rosenstock An Gúm1998 The Hungry Wind Soinbhe Lally Poolbeg Press When Jessie Came Across the Sea P. J. Lynch Poolbeg Press Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (maybe) Siobhán ParkinsonO'Brien Press1997 An Eala Dubh Cliodhna Cussen and Cormac Ó SnodaighCoiscéim The Lantern Moon Maeve FrielPoolbeg Press The Guns of Easter Gerard Whelan O'Brien Press1996 Hannah or Pink Balloons Mary Beckett Marino Books Sceoin sa Bhoireann Ré Ó Laighléis Cló Iar-Chonnachta Lockie and Dadge Frank Murphy O'Brien Press1995 Goodbye Summer, Goodbye Rose Doyle Attic Press Catkin P. J. Lynch Poolbeg Press Ecstasy agus Scéalta Eile Ré Ó Laighléis Cló Iar-Chonnachta1994 The Chieftain's Daughter Sam McBratneyO'Brien Press The Hiring Fair Elizabeth O'Hara (Éilís Ní Dhuibhne) Poolbeg Press The Pony Express Máirín Johnston Attic Press
Éilís Dillon Award for a First Children's Book
YearTitleAuthorPublisher2023 The Book of SecretsAlex DunneO'Brien Press2022 Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North AtlanticFlora DelargyWide Eyed Editions2021 Why the Moon TravelsOein DeBhairduin and Leanne McDonaghSkein Press2020 Mór agus MuilcKim SharkeyÉabhlóid2019 Flying Tips for Flightless BirdsKelly McCaughrainWalker Books2018 The Space Between Meg GrehanLittle Island Books2017 The Ministry of Strange, Unusual and Impossible Things Paul GambleLittle Island Books2016 Irelandopedia Fatti Burke & John BurkeGill2015 Only Ever YoursLouise O'NeillQuercus2014Not awarded2013 The Weight of WaterSarah CrossanBloomsbury2012 The Butterfly Heart Paula LeydenWalker2011 A Bit LostChris HaughtonWalker2010 The Third Pig Detective AgencyBob BurkeHarperCollins2009 Anila's JourneyMary FinnWalker Books2008The Thing With FinnTom KellyMacmillan2007A Swift Pure CrySiobhán DowdDavid Fickling2006Snakes' ElbowsDeirdre MaddenOrchard Books2005An Bhó RiabhachSiobhán Ní ShíthighAn Gúm2004AmachAlan TitleyAn Gúm2003GyrfalconGrace WellsO'Brien Press2002Adam's StarlingGillian PerdueO'Brien Press2001The Lost OrchardPatrick DeeleyO'Brien Press2000Fierce MillyMarilyn McLaughlinEgmont1999Dea-ScéalaCaitríona HastingsCló Iar-Chonnachta1998It's a Jungle Out ThereEd MilianoWolfhound Press1997 The Guns of EasterGerard WhelanO'Brien Press1996Lockie and Dadge Frank MurphyO'Brien Press1995 Melody for Nora Mark O'SullivanWolfhound Press
Awards in discontinued categories
Best Emerging Author (1991) – Brian Boru by Morgan Llywelyn, O'Brien Press Book for Young Readers (1991) – Grandma's Bill by Martin Waddell, Simon & Schuster Illustration (1991) – Fairy Tales of Ireland by P. J. Lynch, Collins Historical Fiction (1992) – Wildflower Girl by Marita Conlon-McKenna, O'Brien Press Picture Book (1992) – The Sleeping Giant by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Brandon Books First Children's Novel (1992) – The Secret of the Ruby Ring by Yvonne MacGrory, Children's Press Information Book (1993) – Tamall sa Chistin by Mairin Uí Chomain, An Gúm Teenage Fiction (1993) – Put a Saddle on the Pig by Sam McBratney, Methuen Historical Fiction (1993) – Strongbow by Morgan Llywelyn, O'Brien Press
Bisto Children's Book of the Decade (1980–1990) Fiction: Run with the Wind; Run to Earth; Run Swift; Run Free by Tom McCaughren, Jeanette Dunne (Wolfhound Press)
Information Books: Exploring the Book of Kells: Brendan the Navigator by George Otto Simms, David Rooney (O'Brien Press)
Books for Young Readers: Grandma's Bill by Martin Waddell, illus. Jane Johnson (Simon & Schuster)
Irish Language: An Chanáil by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, transl. Bernadine Nic Ghiolla Phádraig An Gúm
Winners of multiple awards
Most Bisto Book of the Year Awards: Kate Thompson (4), Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (4), Siobhán Dowd (2), Chris Haughton (2) Most Merit Awards: Oliver Jeffers (9), Kate Thompson (3), P. J. Lynch (3) Most Bisto Awards (total): Oliver Jeffers (10), Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (10), Kate Thompson (7), P. J. Lynch (5), Gerard Whelan (4), Siobhán Dowd (4), Chris Haughton (4), Siobhán Parkinson (3), Éilis Ni Dhuibhne/Elizabeth O'Hara (3)
References
External links