January is filled with optimism for the year that lies ahead with many of us eager to set goals or resolutions. So, what's in store for your 2026? Ruth Concannon from Children's Books Ireland has some ideas...
Last year, we brought you 5 reasons to get reading in 2025 and so many of you happily picked up a book, joined your local library and got to know some fantastic Irish authors and illustrators.
This year, you may be hoping to keep up the good reading work, but why not take things further? Could 2026 be the year you become a children’s book champion?
At Children’s Books Ireland, we’re all about reading, especially reading for joy – and lucky for you, we’ve got lots of brilliant ways to make books a bigger part of your life in 2026. Take a look at the exciting programmes and events coming up this year, that are sure to not only draw you back to the bookshelf over and over again but also help you to get others involved in reading too!
Remember, we have loads of recommendations, resources and reading guides over on www.childrensbooksireland.ie and don't forget the RTÉ KIDS Book Club every month. Happy reading!
1. Design-A-Cover competition in partnership with The O’Brien Press
Are you prone to judging a book by the cover? Then this competition might be the one for you! On Friday, 16 January we are launching the national ‘Design-A-Cover’ competition in partnership with our friends at The O’Brien Press. This year, Children’s Books Ireland are enlisting the help of Ireland’s talented young artists in re-jacketing Alan Nolan’s Conor's Caveman: The Amazing Adventures of Ogg.
Open to artists aged 15 and under, the winning design will be used as the basis for the cover of a new edition of the book to be published in Autumn 2026. The overall winner will also receive a class set of the book for their school and a special selection of titles courtesy of The O’Brien Press along with seeing their winning design on the cover of Conor’s Caveman: The Amazing Adventures of Ogg in bookshops across Ireland. Feeling inspired? Time to pick up your pencils and get drawing!
Sick of not knowing what to read? Read all the Wimpy Kids? Eager to try something new? That calls for a visit to the Book Doctor!
Throughout the year, Children’s Books Ireland bring free Book Clinics in English and as Gaeilge to locations across the country. Aimed at readers from 0–18 years, during your appointment the Book Doctor will listen to your reading likes and dislikes before writing you a prescription of books to read next that you can take to your local library or book shop. That sounds far more appealing than a regular doctor visit! Are you ready to book your appointment? Take a look to see when the Book Doctors are on call at a Book Clinic near you!
3. Book-gifting applications opening
Our vision at Children's Books Ireland is an Ireland in which every child is a reader! If you are a primary or secondary school teacher who feels the same, you may be interested in our book-gifting initiatives that aim to get books into the hands of as many young readers as possible. On Tuesday, 27 January Children’s Books Ireland will open applications for our school book-gifting programmes, if you have a school library that needs a replenish these programmes provide equal reading opportunities to classrooms around the country,
Applications are open to primary and secondary schools across the whole Island of Ireland and with these projects, we gift libraries of brand-new, diverse books to schools and help to make reading, especially reading for joy, part of the fabric of school life and the wider community. A whole host of supports are available to schools though these initiatives, including visits from Champions of Reading, who are authors and illustrators creating books for young people. Ahead of applications opening, you can read all about our junior and senior book-gifting programmes on our website.
4. Become a Junior Juror with the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2026
Do you work with a class of eager readers? Run a book club in your local library? Or know a group of young readers who are keen to share their thoughts on books? Then becoming a Junior Juror just might make their year! On Wednesday 4th February Children’s Books Ireland will release the shortlist for the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2026, and we’ve got a unique activity to ensure that young readers are involved in the whole process.
The Junior Juries’ Programme is a brilliant way to encourage children and young adults to read for fun. Junior Jurors, read selected titles from the shortlist and take part in a range of activities connected to each book AND even vote for their favourite book to win a very special award too! The KPMG Junior Juries’ Award is a very important honour that gives children a say in who gets to scoop the coveted trophy!
If you’d like to be a part of the Junior Juries’ Programme, you can register your interest today – there’s even a chance to win a bundle of the shortlisted titles for your group to kickstart your reading!
World Book Day is so much more than just cool costumes, and Children’s Books Ireland is hosting some exciting events to mark this annual celebration of reading and children’s books on Thursday, 5 March. What better way to get involved than joining Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde and friends for a free event at the National Library of Ireland in Dublin.
World Book Day artists Kevin Moran, Máire Zepf, Mr Ando, Leona Forde and Karen Harte will be engaging with 1st–6th class students on the day, encouraging everybody to read, for the fun of it! From Monday, 19 January, schools can register to attend this event in person or, if you are outside of Dublin, you can livestream the event into your classroom on the day!
And there's more...
Don’t forget you can sign up to the Children’s Books Ireland newsletter to get all the latest and greatest updates on children’s books, straight to your mailbox.
Children’s Books Ireland is the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading. Our mission at Children’s Books Ireland is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people on the island of Ireland, and to champion equitable access for all to excellent books.
We share our expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence young readers and encourage schools and early childhood settings to build a positive culture of reading and reading aloud. We support and promote authors and illustrators and connect them with their audiences through our work.
The first RTÉ KIDS Book Club of 2026 drops on Monday, 5 January. Make sure to check it out for some great reading recommendations from Ruth - click here for more!
