A Mayo teacher has won an award for his debut children’s book.
Castlebar author Kevin Moran received the award at this year’s KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards.
His book, , took the Eilis Dolan Prize, which is awarded annually to the author of an outstanding first children’s book.
blends adventure, fantasy and humour as school students Jack, Conan and Yash make a strange discovery in the school yard.
Announced by host Rick O’Shea at a ceremony held in Merrion Square in Dublin, in partnership with International Literature Festival Dublin, a total of six awards were presented to Irish authors and illustrators, who will also receive a total prize fund of €16,000.
Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, said: “Children’s literature in Ireland is ever-evolving and this year’s winners undoubtedly reflect that. The winning titles are deeply imaginative and original, and by turns side-splittingly funny and incredibly moving. It’s a joy to see neurodivergent characters so strongly represented in this inclusive selection of excellent books.
“We’re proud to celebrate the authors, illustrators and publishers behind the books, and offer them our warmest congratulations. Our judges read 151 titles in total, and whittled these first to a shortlist of ten, and then to today’s winners – a mammoth task, undertaken with great skill and care.”
