The shortlist for the 2026 KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards has been announced, marking 36 years of the awards celebrating excellence in children’s and young adult publishing across the island of Ireland.
The ten shortlisted titles, from picturebooks to young adult novels, explore a wide range of themes, including neurodiversity, grief following the loss of a parent, life after a terrorist attack, Irish mythology, and the trustworthiness of fish!
The ten shortlisted titles are: Letters to a Monster, written by Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde and illustrated by Sarah Warburton (Bloomsbury Children's Books); The Doomsday Club, written by Kevin Moran (The O’Brien Press); Solo, written by Gráinne O’Brien (Little Island Books); Puisín na mBróg, written by Fearghas Mac Lochlainn and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly (Futa Fata); My Name is Jodie Jones, written by Emma Shevah (David Fickling Books); The Waters and the Wild, written by Eilish Fisher and illustrated by David Rooney (Puffin); This That What, written by Katy Ashworth and illustrated by Colleen Larmour (Puffin); Stealing Happy, written by Brian Conaghan (Bloomsbury YA); Don’t Trust Fish!, written by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat (Andersen Press); and Skipshock, written by Caroline O’Donoghue (Walker Books).
The announcement was made by RTÉ's Rick O’Shea at a special event in the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast.
and Kitty Rooney (9) from Catherine McCauley National School, Dublin
Speaking at the announcement, Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland said: "This year's shortlist has something to delight every kind of reader. There are stories steeped in Irish mythology, tales of bravery and resilience and books that will move you to tears – or make you cry laughing. It’s wonderful to see how children’s literature and publishing in Ireland is evolving through this diverse, excellent shortlist. Our warm congratulations go to the authors, illustrators and publishers whose wonderful work we are so proud to champion."
The shortlisted titles will compete for six awards at the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards ceremony, which will take place on 18th May as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin. Awards include the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Book of the Year, awards recognising fiction and illustration, and the Junior Juries’ Award, selected by young readers from across the island of Ireland - find out more here.
