Louth author wins at KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards

^{Louth author Clara Kumagai is one of the six winners at this year’s KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards which were announced at a ceremony in Dublin this week in partnership with International Literature Festival Dublin.}

Winners were selected by an independent panel of expert judges, including two Young Judges, and a network of Junior Juries island-wide. The judging panel read a record 158 titles from Irish-born or Ireland-based writers and illustrators, the biggest year so far in the history of the awards. 

Louth author Clara Kumagai received the KPMG Book of the Year Award for her début novel, ‘Catfish Rolling’, which explores Japanese legend alongside modern-day predicaments. The story was inspired by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan in 2011. Kumagai dedicated her award to those who had been impacted by that disaster and to the children living through disaster today in Palestine. 

Kumagai touches on themes of identity, relationships and grief along with the ethics of scientific study, exploitation and capitalism. Born in Canada to Irish and Japanese parents, Kumagai moved to Ireland aged five and is now based in Dundalk. She writes fiction and non-fiction for children and adults. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, said: “This year’s award winners showcase the outstanding quality and variety of contemporary Irish children’s literature. The fact that so many of the winners and shortlistees are débuts is remarkable – the Awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate both emerging and established creators and to connect them with their audiences. 

“Through our Junior Juries programme, we have seen the joy and excitement these shortlisted books have sparked in over 12,700 young readers across Ireland. Today, in front of an audience of 600 excited readers, we’re proud to recognise the talent and hard work of these extraordinary writers and illustrators whose work will no doubt be such a formative part of so many young readers’ childhoods.” 

Other Award-Winning Titles

• The Honour Award for Fiction – ‘Treacle Town’ by Brian Conaghan (Andersen Press).
• The Honour Award for Illustration – ‘Three Tasks for a Dragon’ illustrated by PJ Lynch (Walker Books).
• The Eilís Dillon Award for début children’s book– ‘Wider Than the Sea’ by Serena Molloy. (Hodder Children’s Books)
• The Judges’ Special Award – ‘The Hare-Shaped Hole,’ written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty. (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
• The KPMG Junior Juries’ Award – ‘The Hare-Shaped Hole,’ written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty. (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books) 

A total prize-fund of €16,000 has been awarded to this year’s winners. 

Damian Smyth, Joint Head of Literature and Drama for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented: “These awards pay tribute to some of the most fantastically talented writers and illustrators producing new work on the island of Ireland today. The stories they create cross lands and seas, to shape and ignite the minds and hearts of young audiences across the globe. We send our congratulations to all of this year’s worthy winners!”   

Maria Flannery, Partner KPMG Ireland presented the annual Reading Hero Award at the ceremony. She said: “Well done to all our winners, and a special congratulations to our Reading Hero Alannah O’Donoghue who was nominated by her teacher, Clare Farrell. Alannah has displayed an unwavering determination and commitment to reading, and to learning through reading, whilst also finding magic in the turning of each page. She is a perfect example of what the Reading Hero Award is all about.” 

Through the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards Junior Juries programme young people in schools, libraries and book clubs shadowed adult judges on the judging panel in reading, discussing and assessing the shortlisted books. Students from six schools in Louth participated in the Junior Juries programme. These schools included:

• Aston Village Educate Together National School, Drogheda
• Dundalk Creche, Dundalk
• Tots & Co Playgroup, Afterschool Section, Drogheda
• St. Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda
• Scoil Bhríde, Lannleire                            
• St. Peter’s National School, Dundalk 

The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards and Junior Juries programme are supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Funding.