CBI Book of the Year Award Winners 2013!

A huge congratulations to Sheena Wilkinson, whose brilliant book Grounded has won the 23rd CBI Book of the Year Award! AND, not only has Sheena taken the overall book of the year award, but she is the second ever author to win this along with the Children's Choice Award. " Grounded is the sequel to Taking Flight, which on both the CBI Honour Award for fiction and the Children's Choice Award in 2011.
The judges said that the books' "‘this powerful first person narrative is an unsentimental account of a teenager trying to cope with a series of unexpected responsibilities, and explores the effects of caring too much and of caring too little.
Now.... on to the other award winners for 2013:
The Eilís Dillon Award is awarded to a first time author or illustrator. The award in this category went to The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan. Written in first-person narrative verse, this stunning coming-of-age novel deals with all the isolation, loneliness and confusion felt by many young immigrants and the strength and fortitude with which they face their circumstances.
The Judges Special Award was won by Anna Heussaff for her Irish language children's novel Hóng.
The Honour Award for Illustration went to none other than Oliver Jeffers for the wonderful, thought-provoking and entertaining picture book, This Moose Belongs To Me.
The Judges Honour Award for Fiction went to Dark Warning; a haunting, moving novel set in late 18th century Dublin by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick.
Congratulations to all of you!
http://www.childrensbooksireland.ie/blog/cbi-book-of-the-year-awards-winners/

CBI Book of the Year Awards...almost

We are all anxiously awaiting word.... who will win the CBI Book of the Year Awards 2013. Fortunately, we don't have much longer.... the announcement of the most prestigious book awards for excellence in children's literature will be announced tomorrow!
Before we go any further, here's a quick reminder of the shortlist:
OH NO GEORGE, by Chris Haughton
Publisher: Walker (London)
ISBN: 978-1406332254 (HBK)
THE WEIGHT OF WATER by Sarah Crossan
Publisher: Bloomsbury (London)
ISBN: 978-1408830239 (PBK)
HÓNG by Anna Heussaff
Publisher: Cló Iar-Chonnacht (Galway)
ISBN: 978-909367616 (PBK)
DARK WARNING by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Orion (London)
ISBN: 978-1842556788 (PBK)
GROUNDED by Sheena Wilkinson
Publisher: Little Island (Dublin)
ISBN: 978-1908195173 (PBK)
 NA LAOCHRA IS LÚ le Laoise Ní Chléirigh agus Steve Simpson (illus.)
Publisher: An Gum (Dublin)
ISBN: 978-1857910988 (PBK)
THE TERRIBLE THING THAT HAPPENED TO BARNABY BROCKET by John Boyne and Oliver Jeffers (illus).
Publisher: Random House (London)
ISBN: 978-0857531469 (HBK)
THIS MOOSE BELONGS TO ME by Oliver Jeffers
Publisher: Harper Collins (London)
ISBN: 978-0007263875 (PBK)
SPELLBOUND: TALES OF ENCHANTMENT FROM ANCIENT IRELAND by Siobhán Parkinson and Olwyn Whelan (illus).
Publisher: Frances Lincoln (London)
ISBN: 978-1847801401 (HBK)
These wonderful books are competing for The Book of the Year Award, The Eilís Dillon Award for a first time author or illustrator, Honour Awards for Fiction and Illustration as well as a Judge’s Special Award. And let's not forget my favourite... the Children's Choice Award; an innovative award is chosen by ten junior juries, specially selected throughout Ireland. All have been reading, debating and considering each book on the shortlist for selection of this award.
Personally, I will be on pins and needles until I hear! The very best of luck to all!

The Sleeping Baobab Tree

As I had posted a couple of days ago, a big and hearty congratulations to my dear friend Paula Leyden upon the book birthday of her new The Sleeping Baobab Tree. There was a wonderful launch party (which I missed due to being hard at work in the Galway branch of Dubray Books) held at Stonehouse Books in Kilkenny.





And I just wanted to share with you all this brilliant cake (!!!!!)

Now THAT'S how to have a launch party. (Sorry... I'm always excited about cake... especially when they look like this... gorgeous and totally fitting the occasion.) I hope no one minds my pinching the cake photo (from Paula's own website: http://thebutterflyheart.net/2013/05/06/the-sleeping-baobab-launched/) and just to keep everything clear; the cake was made by the obviously amazing Nicky Read of Nicky's Cakes (http://nickyscakes.wordpress.com/ ) Hopefully, that squares everything.
On to other matters about The Sleeping Baobab Tree... you'll find my review up on the Irish Books, Authors and Publishers page; and, of course I'll let you know as soon as it appears elsewhere.
A beautiful, funny, gentle and heart-warming book that takes us back to Zambia....
Congratulations, Paula! You've done it again!

Happy Book Birthday to 2 Great Books!

I just wanted to wish a very, very Happy Book Birthday to two wonderful new books and a hearty congratulations to their authors!
First of all, Happy Book Birthday to Wendy Quill is a Crocodile's Bottom; written by Wendy Meddour (A Hen in the Wardrobe... now nominated for the Branford Boase Award 2013, and The Black Cat Detectives) with illustrations by Mina May, Wendy's 12 year-old daughter who proves herself to be just as professional and talented as the grown-ups! I should also mention that Wendy Quill is a Crocodile's Bottom has been selected by Dubray Books for their Children's Book of the Month for May!
http://wendymeddour.wordpress.com/




And for a big Happy Book Birthday number two, one of my other very favourite authors, Paula Leyden has released her new book, The Sleeping Baobab Tree, today. In this book, we return to Zambia and meet up again with twins Bul-Boo and Madillo and next-door neighbor Fred as they travel to Ng'ombe Ilede - the place of death. Filled with mystery, magic and heart, this is a truly outstanding children's novel. (More on this coming soon!) Paula is also the author of the wonderful, The Butterfly Heart, winner of the Eilsh Dillon Award 2012.
http://thebutterflyheart.net/

A very Happy Book Birthday to you all!

Welcome to May! (and book memories....)

Welcome May! For the first time in a very long time, it almost felt like summer in Galway... absolutely beautiful, sun shining and warm! So many thoughts were turning to outside activities; gardening, cycling or just lying around soaking up the sun. (Well, in fairness, it's so seldom bright, sunny and warm....) And me.... well, my thoughts were turning towards.... books. I had a sudden childhood memory come back to me that I'd like to share that says something about me, children's books and being a children's bookseller... and the affect putting the right book at the right time into the hands of the right child can have throughout their life. I think so, anyway.
It was the first of May. I was just a small child; I think about 4 or 5 years old and had gone shopping with my mother. We were in 'People's Drug Store, which had a wonderful 2 aisle treasure trove for children.... cheap plastic toys, jars of 'bubbles' in various collurs and sizes, packets of balloons (which I always hated for some strange reason) and a flat shelf filled with Little Golden Books. My eyes and hands gravitated towards one particular book that I had never seen before; I Am A Bunny by a Olé Rissom; illustrated by a rather new artist called Richard Scarry. I just had to have that book, and I was very lucky, because neither of my parents ever said no to books. To this day, I still remember the story.... "I am a bunny. My name is Nicholas. I live in a hollow tree....'; and all I can say is something in there had a profound, yet subtle affect on me. It coloured my world view forever..... something about the smallness of Nicholas, his life through the seasons, noticing the details of the natural world and the simplicity of text... say who you are and be that.
This is what I think books do for children. It's not so much about learning to read and progressing in your literacy. That is almost secondary to the impact that even the simplest picturebook will have on a child. Because of the effect, because of the love of the book, because of the joy or the fascination of the book, the child learns to read; learns to be literate in a natural, unhurried and relaxed way. Nothing is forced.... and for the rest of their lives, these memories come back and foster something tangible. Even when you're old!
What was your first book memory? I hope it's a wonderful one!
Happy May!

Get Ready for Cuirt 2013!

Cuirt Labs

On Tuesday 23rd April, the Cuirt International Festival of Literature 2013 will kick off (with the official festival opening on Wednesday the 24th.... oh good! I'm off work for the day.) This year, those clever folks in charge of the programme development have initiated an innovative project for young people called the 'Cuirt Labs'. This will follow a conference-style format, with young people taking part in a series of sessions guided by children's authors, illustrators, graphic designers.... all manner of people involved in creative disciplines. The aim will be to :

"challenge, educate and inspire in a unique environment that is both comfortable and fun."

So do check out what the marvellous talents of Oisin McGann, Alan Nolan, Anna Carey, Will Sliney, Kate Walshe, Patricia Forde and many more have on offer.

It's fantastic to have the Cuirt Literary Festival bringing an even stronger emphasis to children's literature this year. These labs are just the ticket!

http://www.cuirt.ie/ga/event/133-cuirt-labs.html

BOOK LAUNCH!

So, I'm off to Dublin for the launch of two great new books published by my favourite Irish publishers; Little Island. Tonight, we are celebrating Wormwood Gate by Katherine Farmar and Improper Order by Deirdre Sullivan Both of these books are stunning novels for young adult readers... it all depends on whether you prefer a 'true to life' type story or something more along the fantasy line. Or maybe, you're like me and you just love a little of both.
If you're around the Gutter Bookshop this evening at about 6:30, you might want to pop in. The books will be there; the authors will be there; Little Island will be there; most of your favourite children's books people will be there..... we'll all be there!
http://www.littleisland.ie/content/welcome-little-island