Bisto Book of the Year Award Winners 2009

Bisto Book of the Year Award 09| Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd

The story of Fergus’ journey of self-discovery as he struggles to make sense of his personal, familial, and societal situation, as well as the voice of a bog child that comes to him in his dreams. To journey through this layered narrative is to be confronted with not only the frailty of life but also the redemptive qualities of love: unsettling yet optimistic, this is radiant prose that sings of the pain and beauty of the human condition.

Published by David Fickling

ISBN: 9780385614269 (HBK) 9781862305915 (PBK)

Eilis Dillon Award for a first children's book | Anila's Journey by Mary Finn

A story of a half-Indian, half-Irish girl whose journey down the Ganges is also a journey into her past. Sensitively told in gracefully lyrical prose, this meticulously researched coming-of-age novel vividly creates a sense of place and history in order to detail the life and relationships of its central character

Published by Walker Books

ISBN: 9781406306590 (PBK)

Judges Special Recognition Award | Highway Robbery by Kate Thompson

Chosen for special recognition by the judges as an example of a exceptional stand alone novel for emerging readers.

A story told by a young beggar boy who is asked to look after a horse for a mysterious man. Atmospheric and evocative, this deceivingly slight tale is a well measured intertextual metanarrative built around a clever conceit. The creation of a natural storyteller, this aesthetically pleasing production will appeal – particularly – to newly confident readers.

Pubished by The Bodley Head

ISBN: 9780061730344 (HBK)

Bisto Honour Award for Illustration | Oliver Jeffers for The Great Paper Caper

The story of its animal characters’ investigation into the gradual disappearance of their forest home. Intelligently absurd, every part of this stylish literary work, from its peritextual elements to its deceptively simple verbal and visual texts, challenges and entertains the reader. This is the work of an author who is in complete command of the picturebook format.

Published by Harper Collins

ISBN: 9780007182299 (HBK) 9080007182336 (PBK)

Bisto Honour Award for Writing | Kate Thompson for Creature of the Night

The story of Bobby’s attempt to return to his old life in the city after moving to a cottage in the countryside, which is the scene of supernatural happenings. Distinguished by the lightness and integrity of its storytelling, this unsentimental tale depicts unpleasant yet redeemable characters and suggests that the inner struggle to understand oneself can be redemptive.

Published by The Bodley Head

ISBN: 9780370329307 (PBK)

Bisto Shadowing groups attend ceremony

The Bisto Shadowing Scheme a unique guided reading experience was established in 2004 in order to encourage young readers to actively engage with the awards. Using specially devised activities supplied by Children’s Books Ireland (CBI), shadowing groups are encouraged to work in a similar way to the official judges and at the end of this process each group is asked to collectively choose the book they think is the best.

This year over a hundred schools and libraries from around the country, took part in shadowing and both Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál N.S from Claremorris, Co Mayo and Bangor Grammar School from Bangor, Co Down were picked to attend the Bisto Awards ceremony and meet the shortlisted authors and illustrators. Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál chose Highway Robbery by Kate Thompson as their favourite, while Bangor Grammar School agreed with the judges and chose Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd. The awards were also attended by the Munster Street Reading Group – a group made up of friends Catherine Holmes (aged 12) and Leontien Friel-Darrell (aged 9) from Dublin 7 Educate Together N.S, together with Rebecca O’Flaherty (aged 13) from Loretto College, St. Stephen’s Green and Dearbhla Bourke-Boyle (aged 14) from Scoil Caitriona, Glasnevin. The shadowing group was set-up with the help of Catherine’s mum, Anne Gannon, a former judge of the awards. They also selected Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd as their favourite.

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