The KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards will take place on 18 May 2026 in Merrion Square, Dublin.
The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards are recognised as the most prestigious awards for children's books in Ireland, north and south and celebrate the best of Irish writing and illustration for young people. The Awards have been running for over thirty years and offer a total prize fund of €16,000 across six categories.
As part of the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards, children across the country take part in Junior Juries, where their votes decide the winner of the annual Junior Juries’ Award. This island-wide programme invites schools, libraries, and book clubs to read, discuss and evaluate shortlisted books, giving young readers a meaningful voice in the awards process.
Every spring, KPMG volunteers go out to schools across the country to take part in our annual Junior Juries volunteer morning. Volunteers lead fun, book‑based activities, spark conversations about what students enjoyed most, and help build confidence and enthusiasm around reading.
KPMG colleagues interested in taking part in the 2026 Junior Juries volunteer morning on Thursday, 26 March can sign up via the form on Eolas or click the button below to be sent more information.
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)
Skipshock - written by Caroline O’Donoghue (Walker Books)
Pictured are Claire Browne, Partner in KPMG Belfast, Chloe Clugston (Year 9) and Jenny Finney (Year 9), Pupils from Victoria College, Belfast
The KPMG Reading Hero Award recognises a young person’s reading potential. They may be voracious readers or have just finished their first book, overcoming learning or language difficulties to do so. They may not be the fastest reader in their class, but they’ll probably be the most passionate.
Last year, it was Alannah O’Donoghue, a fifth class student from St. Patrick’s Girls National School, Limerick who received the KPMG Reading Hero Award. This award recognises remarkable passion and achievement in reading by a young person.
Speaking on the award, Alannah said “Reading gets me into the zone, it calms me. When I read it's like I'm living in the world of the characters, reading helps me escape from the stress of school and tests.”
(L-R) Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, Alannah O’Donoghue, Reading Hero 2024, Maria Flannery, Partner at KPMG Ireland
