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Past Winners

The Bisto Awards began in 1990 when Bisto Book of the Decade Awards were given to authors Tom McCaughren, George Otto Simms and illustrators Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Jeanette Dunne and David Rooney. This led to the establishment of an annual award made by The Irish Children's Book Trust, later to become Children's Books Ireland.

In the early years of The Bisto Awards, prizes were also given for certain categories, however in 1993 the categories were replaced by The Bisto Merit (Honour) Awards.

CBI Bisto Book of the Year Awards Winners and Shortlist 2006/2007

Bisto Book of the Year Award 2007

the-boy-in-striped.jpg

John Boyne
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
David Fickling Books

Eilís Dillon Award

Siobhan Dowd
A Swift Pure Cry David Fickling Books

Honour Awards

Oliver Jeffers
The Incredible Book Eating Boy Harper Collins
Éilís Ní Dhuibhne
Hurlamaboc Cois Life
Siobhán Parkinson
Something Invisible Penguin

Also Shortlisted

Jon Berkeley
The Palace of Laughter  
Eoin Colfer
Artemis Fowl & the Lost Colony  
Illustrator P.J.Lynch
A Christmas  
Carol Colmán Ó Raghallaigh agus The Cartoon Saloon An Táin  
Kate Thompson The Fourth Horseman  

CBI Bisto Book of the Year Award Winners and Shortlist 2005-2006

CBI Bisto Book of the Year

the_new_policeman.jpg Kate Thompson
The New Policeman
Published by The Bodley Head
SBN 037032823X

Eilís Dillon Award

Deirdre Madden

Snakes’ Elbows Published by Orchard Books
ISBN 1843626403

Honour Awards

Oliver Jeffers
Lost and Found Published by Harper Collins
ISBN 0007150350
Kevin Kiely
A Horse called ElDorado Published by O'Brien Press
ISBN 0862789079
Eileen O'Hely
(author) and Nicky Phelan (illustrator)
Penny the Pencil Published by Mercier Press
ISBN 1-85635-475-x Also Shortlisted
Eoin Colfer Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception Published by Puffin Books ISBN 0-141-38164-7
Adrienne Geoghan (illustrator) Fancy That! Frances Lincoln
ISBN 1-84507-335-5
Oisin Mc Gann Under Fragile Stone Published by O’Brien Press
ISBN 0-86278-835-8
Dairíne Ní Dhonnchú agus Maria Murray Bríona ag Brionglóideach An Gúm
ISBN1-85791-559-3

 

2004- 2005 CBI Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year

Annan-Water.jpg Kate Thompson
Annan Water
Published by The Bodley Head

Eilís Dillon Award

Siobhán Ní Shíthigh
Illustrator: Seán Seosamh Mac an tSíthigh
AN BHÓ RIABHACH An Gúm

The Bisto Merit Awards

Illustrators: Corrina Askin, Alan Clarke and Emma Byrne
SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH P. O'Brien Press

Oliver Jeffers (author/ Illustrator)
HOW TO CATCH A STAR HarperCollins
Niamh Sharkey
THE GODS AND THEIR MACHINES O'Brien Press

Shortlist

Ré Ó Laighléis GOIMH AGUS SCÉALTA EILE Móinín
Kate MacLachlan LOVE MY ENEMY Andersen Press
Olwyn Whelan
THE STAR CHILD Chrysalis

Sam McBratney & Anita Jeram (Illustrator)
YOU'RE ALL MY FAVOURITES Walker Books

2003 - 2004 CBI Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year

Wings-over-delft.jpg Aubrey Flegg
Wings Over Delft
The O'Brien Press

Eilís Dillon Award

Alan Titley Amach An Gúm

The Bisto Merit Awards

Kate Thompson Origins The Bodley Head
Anita Jeram You Can do it Sam Walker Books
Niamh Sharkey
(author/ Illustrator)
The Ravenous Beast Walker Books

Shortlist

Carlo Gebler August '44 Egmont Books Ltd
PJ Lynch
(illustrator)
The Been Man of Orn Walker Books
Mary Murphy
(author/ illustrator)
I Kissed the Baby Walker Books
Siobhan Parkinson Kathleen and the Celtic Knot Pleasant Company Publications
Mary Murphy
(author/ illulstrator)
Little Owl and the Star Walker Books

2002 - 2003 CBI Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year - Joint Winners

you_me_and_the.jpg

Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
You, Me and the Big Blue Sea
Gullane

alchemists_apprentice.jpg Kate Thompson
The Alchemist's Apprentice
The Bodley Head

 

The Bisto Merit Awards Matthew Sweeney
Colmán Ó Raghallaigh
Fox Bloomsbury
  The Cartoon Saloon (illustrators) An Tóraíocht Cló Mhaigh Eo
  Gerard Whelan War Children O'Brien Press
Eilís Dillon Award Grace Wells Gyrfalcon O'Brien Press
Shortlist Eoin Colfer Artemis Fowl, The Arctic Incident Puffin Books
  Malachy Doyle Who is Jesse Flood? Bloomsbury
  Siobhán Parkinson The Love Bean O'Brien Press

2001 - 2002 CBI Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year

the_beguilers.jpg

Kate Thompson

The Beguilers

The Bodley Head

 

The Bisto Merit Awards Eoin Colfer Artemis Fowl Puffin
  Carlo Gébler Caught on a Train Egmont
  Colmán Ó Raghallaigh
The Cartoon Saloon (illustrators)
An Sclábhaí Cló Mhaigh Eo
Eilís Dillon Award Gillian Perdue Adam's Starling O'Brien Press
Shortlist Trevor J. Colgan The Stretford Enders Away Red Fox
  Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (author / illustrator) I'm A Tiger Too Wolfhound Press
  P.J.Lynch (illustrator) Ignis Walker Books
  Austin McQuinn
(author / illustrator)
This Will Take Forever Zero to Ten
  Martin Waddell Give it to Joe! Walker Books

2000 - 2001 CBI Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year

izzy_and_skunk01.jpg

Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

Izzy and Skunk

Blackwater Press

 

The Bisto Merit Awards Eoin Colfer The Wish List O'Brien Press
  Martina Murphy Dirt Tracks Poolbeg Press
  Martin Waddell The Orchard Book of Ghostly Stories Orchard Press
Eilís Dillon Award Patrick Deeley The Lost Orchard O'Brien Press
Shortlist Malachy Doyle
Niamh Sharkey (illustrator)
Tales from Old Ireland Barefoot Books
  Jim Halligan and John Newman
Fowl Deeds Wolfhound Press
  Adrienne Kennaway (illustrator) This is the Tree Frances Lincoln
  Michael Mullen An Bóthar Fada Coiscéim
  Siobhán Parkinson Call of the Whales O'Brien Press

1999 - 2000 CBI Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year

faraway_home.jpg

Marilyn Taylor

Faraway Home
O'Brien Press

 

The Bisto Merit Awards Mary Arrigan Siúloid Bhreá An Gúm
  Marilyn McLaughlin Fierce Milly Mammoth/Egmont
  Mark O'Sullivan Silent Stones Wolfhound Press
Eilís Dillon Award Marilyn McLaughlin Fierce Milly Mammoth/Egmont
Shortlist Eoin Colfer Benny and Babe O'Brien Press
  Louise Lawrence The Crowlings Collins
  Larry O'Loughlin Is Anybody Listening? Wolfhound Press
  Gabriel Rosenstock
Piet Sluis (illustrator)
Paidín Mháire Mhuigín An Gúm
  Niamh Sharkey Jack and the Beanstalk Barefoot Books
  Bill Wall The Boy Who Met Hitler Mercier Press
  Gerard Whelan Out of Nowhere O'Brien Press

1998 - 1999 CBI Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year

tales_of_wisdom_and_wonder.jpg

Niamh Sharkey

Tales of Wisdom and Wonder

Barefoot Books

 

The Bisto Merit Awards Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick The Long March Wolfhound Press
  Siobhán Parkinson The Moon King O'Brien Press
  Gabriel Rosenstock
Piet Sluis (illustrator)
An Rógaire agus a Scáil An Gúm
Eilís Dillon Award Caitríona Hastings Dea-Scéala Cló Iar-Chonnachta
Shortlist Pat Boran
Stewart Curry (illustrator)
All the Way from China Poolbeg Press
  Sam McBratney Bert's Wonderful News Walker Books
  Tom McCaughren Ride a Pale Horse Anvil Press
  Mary Murphy Please Be Quiet Methuen
  Niamh Sharkey (illustrator) The Gigantic Turnip Barefoot Books

1997 - 1998 CBi Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year

dream_invader.jpg

Gerard Whelan

Dream Invader

O'Brien Press

 

The Bisto Merit Awards Soinbhe Lally The Hungry Wind Poolbeg Press
  P.J. Lynch When Jessie Came across the Sea Poolbeg Press
  Siobhán Parkinson Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (maybe) O'Brien Press
Eilís Dillon Award Ed Miliano It's a Jungle Out There Wolfhound Press
Shortlist Mairéad Ashe FitzGerald
Stephen Hall (illustrator)
The World of Colmcille, also known as Columba O'Brien Press
  Dan Kissane
Angela Clarke (illustrator)
Jimmy's Leprechaun Trap O'Brien Press
  Dan Kissane
Angela Clarke (illustrator)
The Eagle Tree O'Brien Press
  Larry O'Loughlin
John Leonard (illustrator)
The Gobán Saor Blackwater Press
  Mark O'Sullivan Angels Without Wings Wolfhound Press
  Mark O'Sullivan White Lies Wolfhound Press

1996 - 1997 CBI Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year

sisters_no_way.jpg

Siobhán Parkinson

Sisters ... No Way !

O'Brien Press

 

The Bisto Merit Awards Cliodhna Cussen and Cormac Ó Snodaigh An Eala Dubh Coiscéim
  Maeve Friel The Lantern Moon Poolbeg Press
  Gerard Whelan The Guns of Easter O'Brien Press
Eilís Dillon Award Gerard Whelan The Guns of Easter O'Brien Press
Shortlist Dan Kissane
Aileen Johnston (illustrator)
The Eagle Tree O'Brien Press
  P.J. Lynch (illustrator) The King of Ireland's Son Poolbeg Press
  Ré Ó Laighléis Gafa Comhar
  Colmán Ó Raghallaigh Drochlá Ruairí Cló Mhaigh Eo
  Colmán Ó Raghallaigh Róisín ar Strae An Gúm
  Mark O'Sullivan More than a Match Wolfhound Press

1995 - 1996 CBI Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year

christmas_stories.jpg

P.J. Lynch

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

Poolbeg Press

 

The Bisto Merit Awards Mary Beckett Hannah or Pink Balloons Marino Books
  Ré Ó Laighléis Sceoin sa Bhoireann Cló Iar-Chonnachta
  Frank Murphy Lockie and Dadge O'Brien Press
Eilís Dillon Award Frank Murphy Lockie and Dadge O'Brien Press
Shortlist Marita Conlon McKenna Safe Harbour O'Brien Press
  Benedict Kiely The Trout in the Turnhole Wolfhound Press
  Paul Muldoon The Last Thesaurus Faber and Faber
  Siobhán Parkinson All Shining in the Spring O'Brien Press
  Gabriel Rosenstock
Piet Sluis (illustrator)
Naomh Pádraig agus Crom Dubh An Gúm
  Martin Waddell John Joe and the Big Hen An Gúm

1994 - 1995 CBI Bisto Awards

In 1994 the Eilís Dillon Award was established for an author or illustrator of an outstanding first book.

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year

blaeberry_sunday.jpg

Elizabeth O'Hara

Blaeberry Sunday

Poolbeg Press

 

The Bisto Merit Awards Rose Doyle Goodbye Summer, Goodbye Attic Press
  P.J. Lynch Catkin Poolbeg Press
  Ré Ó Laighléis Ecstasy agus Scéalta Eile Cló Iar-Chonnachta
Eilís Dillon Award Mark O'Sullivan Melody for Nora Wolfhound Press
Shortlist Maeve Friel Distant Voices Poolbeg Press
  Tom McCaughren In Search of the Liberty Tree Children's Press
  Kate Thompson Switchers Aran

1993 - 1994 CBI Bisto Awards

In 1993 the Bisto Merit Awards replaced the category awards.

The Bisto Book of the Year

when_stars_stop_spinning.jpg

Jane Mitchell

When Stars Stop Spinning

Poolbeg Press

 

The Bisto Merit Awards Sam McBratney The Chieftain's Daughter O'Brien Press
  Elizabeth O'Hara The Hiring Fair Poolbeg Press
  Máirín Johnston The Pony Express Attic Press
Shortlist Mary Arrigan Lá le Mamo An Gúm
  Siobhán Parkinson Amelia O'Brien Press
  Maria Quirk-Walshe Searching for a Friend Attic Press

1992 - 1993 CBI Bisto Awards

The Bisto Book of the Year

the_blue_horse.jpg

Marita Conlon-McKenna

The Blue Horse

O'Brien Press

 

Information Book Mairin Uí Chomain
Deiri and Bébhinn Ó Meadhra (illustrators)
Tamall sa Chistin An Gúm
Teenage Fiction Sam McBratney Put a Saddle on the Pig Methuen
Historical Fiction Morgan Llywelyn Strongbow O'Brien Press
Shortlist June Considine View from a Blind Bridge Poolbeg Press
  Margrit Cruickshank A Monster called Charlie Poolbeg Press
  Maeve Friel The Deerstone Poolbeg Press
  Mairéad Ní Nuadháin Cois Trá An Gúm

1991 - 1992 CBI Bisto Awards

The Bisto Book of the Year

summer_of_lily_and_esme.jpg

John Quinn

The Summer of Lily and Esme

Poolbeg Press

 

Historical Fiction Marita Conlon-McKenna Wildflower Girl O'Brien Press
Picture Book Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick The Sleeping Giant Brandon Books
First Children's Novel Yvonne MacGrory The Secret of the Ruby Ring Children's Press

No shortlist was complied in 1991

1990 - 1991 CBI Bisto Awards

The Bisto Book of the Year

island_of_ghosts.jpg

Eilís Dillon

The Island of Ghosts

Faber and Faber

 

Best Emerging Author Morgan Llywelyn Brian Boru O'Brien Press
Book for Young Readers Martin Waddell Grandma's Bill Simon and Schuster
Illustration P.J. Lynch Fairy Tales of Ireland Collins
Shortlist Marita Conlon-McKenna Under the Hawthorn Tree O'Brien Press
  Don Conroy The Celestial Child Kildanore
  Michael Mullins The Long March Poolbeg Press
  Eilís Ní Dhuibhne The Uncommon Cormorant Poolbeg Press
  Joan O'Neill The Daisy Chain War Attic Press
  Finola Sumner Double the Boys Poolbeg Press

 

CBI Bisto Book of the Decade Award 1980 - 1990

Fiction Category

run_with_the_wind.jpg

Run with the Wind; Run to Earth; Run Swift, Run Free

Tom McCaughren, Jeanette Dunne (illustrator)

Wolfhound Press

 

Information Books Category:

 

Exploring the Book of Kells; Brendan the Navigator

George Otto Simms, David Rooney (illustrator)

O'Brien Press

Irish Language Category:

 

An Chanáil

Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Bernadine Nic Ghiolla Phádraig (translator)

An Gúm

 
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Coming Up

May 16, 2008 (5:00 pm)
Shadowing 2008: Decision Deadline
(Dublin City)
Final decisions from all groups involved in the 2008 Shadowing Scheme need to be submitted to CBI by Friday 16th May.
May 22, 2008 (1:00 am)
CBI Bisto Awards Presentation Ceremony
(Dublin City)
The winner of the CBI Bisto Book of the Year Award will be announced at a ceremony at No. 6 Kildare Street on Thursday 22nd May at 1pm.
May 24, 2008 (10:00 am)
CBI Annual Conference
(Dublin City)
**PLACES FILLING FAST** CBI's annual conference featuring a wide range of exciting Irish and international speakers including Tim Bowler, Enda Wyley, Julie O'Callaghan, Nina Christensen (Denmark), Kristin Wardetzky (Germany), Mary Finn, Tiina Nunnally...
May 26, 2008 (6:30 pm)
Storytelling, Serious Art or Child's Play
(Dublin City) CBI, Goethe-Institut Dublin, Poetry Ireland and Storytellers of Ireland present Storytelling – Serious Art or Child's Play? "The ability to imagine is an indispensable pre-requisite for understanding not only what is heard, but especially what is...
May 31, 2008 (2:30 pm)
SCBWI Ireland Meeting
(Dublin City)

The Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators invite you to attend their meeting at the CBI Offices, 17 North Great Geroges Street, Dublin 1.

"A place to meet, share ideas, experiences, tips and advice"

June 10, 2008 (11:00 am)
Deborah Ellis Visits Dublin
(South Dublin) The celebrated Canadian author of 'The Breadwinner' trilogy will be in Dublin for one day only to celebrate the publication of her new title 'The Prison Runner' (Oxford). A whistle-stop schedule will see her visiting South Dublin County Library in...

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