The MS Readathon encourages children to open a wonderful world of adventure and imagination through reading for a great cause.

For kids who are already bookworms, it’s a chance to perhaps challenge themselves with longer, more advanced books.

For children who aren’t so keen on reading, the MS Readathon can help them rediscover the wonder they felt when they first heard those magic words “Once upon a time…”.

The MS Readathon will take place from 1st – 30th November 2023.

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Taking part in the MS Readathon is easy – just sign up at www.msreadathon.ie and start reading. Children can register with their school (teachers, you can register your class) or individually.

Your child can pick whatever books they like, and as many as they like, then ask friends and family to sponsor them. After November 30^th this money should be sent back to MS Ireland.

And for participating schools around the country, the MS Readathon website has lots of teacher resources to print and lesson plans to use.

Over 9,000 people have MS in Ireland. Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease, the most common disabling neurological condition affecting young adults in Ireland, which is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. Three times as many women as men are affected, and there is no known cause or cure for MS.

MS Ireland is the national organisation providing service, information and support to the whole MS community.

Here are some of the summer reading challenges that kids will enjoy. Some involve visiting the library, others can be done by downloading reading lists online.

Happy reading!

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge 2023 theme for The Reading Agency in the UK is Ready Set Read! arriving online and in your local library this summer.

Get ready for a whole load of team spirit, your fave sporty (or not!) heroes, and plenty of fun with our latest collection for the 2023 sports and games themed Summer Reading Challenge: Ready, Set, Read! Each book has been specially chosen by an expert group of readers for everybody taking part to enjoy.

The aim of the challenge is to get children to read any six books of their choice from their library during the summer holidays.

The Summer Stars reading programme runs in public libraries throughout Ireland during summer, from June until the end of August. All children throughout the country are invited to join the adventure and to enjoy the fun and pleasure of reading and writing over the summer. Summer Stars is non-competitive and every child who reads even one book / ebook is regarded as having completed the programme – and it’s all completely free!

Each child who registers for the programme at their local library joins in the fun of reading lots of exciting books during the summer.

Children can sign up for the programme in their local library at the start of the summer and are encouraged to read as many books as they can during the months of July and August.

Track your reading progress with reading cards which can be marked each time a book is read, online or in print form. These are available from your local library or for download and print here.

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Readingrockets.org has 10 Weeks of Summer Reading Adventures for you and your Kids with activities for each week on different topics from outdoors to recipes to travel.

Their Start with a Book website offers lots of book ideas by age.

The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is a free reading program dedicated to stopping the “Summer Slide” and encouraging kids to read every day this summer. The Summer Reading Challenge invites kids to log the minutes they spend reading as they strive to set a new world record for summer reading.

From May 4 through  September 7, kids can visit the summer zone in Scholastic Home Base, a completely free digital destination which offers stories, characters, games, and a community of readers. Home Base is moderated for safety 24/7.

PBS Parents has some good resources for parents with fun, educational activities that explore reading, writing and language. Just pick the age group you are interested in and there are also some nice tips to encourage reading every day.

Don’t miss the chance to have your say! We’re looking for parents to get involved and give their feedback on all aspects of family life.

Reading can take children (and adults!) on magical journeys. Through reading, children learn about people, places and events outside their own experience. They are exposed to ways of life, ideas and beliefs about the world which may be different from those which surround them. Reading lets children learn about different countries and cultures and encourages their imagination to grow.

Children naturally have vivid imaginations and reading will nurture and support their creativity. Creativity is very important for developing interests and ideas, as well as building confidence. David Walliams books are wonderful reads for kids of all ages, laugh out loud funny.

We have all heard the phrase ‘Practice makes perfect’ many times. But in this case it really does. Children who read from a young age, invariably get better at reading. This builds confidence to attempt more difficult books.

The vocabulary children gain from reading cannot be underestimated. Children will use words they have just read to understand it’s meaning in everyday life – sometimes with quite funny results. Captain Underpants is a big favourite in our house and boy we have had some funny utterances as a result.

Many children find it difficult to concentrate for long periods, hey even some adults do too! Reading encourages children to get lost in a story, thus focusing them on one task for a period of time.

In order to fully understand what is being read, a child needs to devote 100% of their attention to the words and this is how concentration is developed. One of the many benefits of reading that is appreciated in all aspects of their lives as children grow into adulthood.

My eldest has recently discovered the world of Harry Potter. The writing in the books is smaller than she is used to and they are a step up from her regular reading. But her concentration levels have definitely increased as she is so involved with the story!

We all know that a good plot and well written story will draw you into a book. But it is great characters that you can identify with that will really pull at the heart strings and make you feel empathy.

We recently watched the movie Wonder and days later in our local bookshop my 8 year old spotted a copy of the book and had to have it. He is really enjoying it and comes to ask me questions regularly about different things that happen in the book and how he feels about them.

Children will often identify with characters in books – whether it be a child who is afraid of something or who has done something brave. We all want to be the person who gets over their fears and achieve great things.

There are also characters and stories that we will have empathy for, a friend or indeed themselves may be going through a similar situation to that in the story. Sometimes this can enable them to find a solution to a problem they are having, or at least feel like they are not alone. The written word can empower them with the right vocabulary to voice concerns or thoughts to those around them.

If you read, you are never alone and have no reason to ever be bored! Hours can be spent with a good book and it can take you away from whatever is going on around you and transport you to a new world.

One of the amazing things about books and reading is the wide availability of topics on offer. There are books on every subject and topic available from libraries, bookshops and online. Why not start your child’s journey today?

Not only does literacy improve confidence in language subjects, it improves schoolwork across the board.

The obvious ones are history, geography, science where text is read and important points are picked out to be remembered. But even subjects like maths benefits from an ability to read and understand a question.

My Mum is Fantastic is a celebration of an amazing mum – and mums everywhere!

The mum in this book is truly fantastic. She’s a brilliant artist, she can balance on a tightrope, she can swim like a fish, do amazing stunts on a bike and she can tame wild animals… in fact, there’s very little this astounding mum can’t do.

The book ends: “It’s great to have a mum like mine. It’s fantastic!” And no one can argue with that!

I think my mummy’s MAGIC – I notice every day . . .
That whenever MAGIC happens, Mummy’s never far away!

From a morning cuddle to a bedtime kiss, follow a mum and her little one through the day as they find magic in the simplest of things. My Mummy is Magic is the perfect gift to share with Mum on Mother’s Day and every day.

In this stunning gift edition of Mother’s Day, a classic story by Kate Greenaway-winning author Shirley Hughes, Katy and her little brother Olly tell us about their day with Mum.

From the fun of waking up in the morning, getting the bus into town with Mum or even stories all together at bedtime, this joyous tale gives readers a snapshot into a child’s day and celebrates the special bond between a mother and child.

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I Love Mum is a beautiful little gift book from The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the perfect way to say ‘I love you, Mum!’

Join The Very Hungry Caterpillar for a celebration of love and all the ways to tell your mum how much you care. This delightful little book features Eric Carle’s bright and distinctive artwork of animal mums and babies – from giraffes and crocodiles to bears and penguins – with The Very Hungry Caterpillar making an appearance alongside each one.

Mama’s love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. This celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones!

On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is.

With lyrical prose and a tender touch, Mama and Me is an ode to the strength of the bond between a mother and a daughter as they spend a rainy day together.

Push, pull and slide the tabs to celebrate Mother’s Day in I Love My Mummy! Play together in the park, bake delicious cookies and snuggle up for a story, then thank Mummy for everything she does for you!

Children will love playing with this bright and colourful board book with gentle rhyming text and wonderful illustrations by Louise Forshaw.

Join little rabbit and his mummy as they spend a glorious sunny day together in the meadow. Little rabbit finds love everywhere, but knows that a mummy’s love is always the best love of all.

Love features a tenderly-told rhyming text and delightful illustrations from Emma Dodd.

My Mum is Magnificent is a read-aloud, read-again rhyming board book that celebrates the brilliance of Mums everywhere – ideal for parents and chiddlers to read and share together. The perfect gift for your magnificent mum this Mother’s Day!

‘I love my mummy because… ‘

Everyone’s mummy is the best. And who better to tell the world than children themselves? Why I Love My Mummy is a charming book that combines endearing things said by children about their mothers with gentle illustrations of familiar animals.

Everything is…MAMA!

Jimmy Fallon, one of the most popular entertainers in the world and NBC’s Tonight Show host, was on a mission with his first children’s book to have every baby’s first word be DADA. And it worked! A lot of babies’ first words were DADA. However, everything after that was MAMA.

So take a lighthearted look at the world from your baby’s point of view as different animals try to teach their children that there are other words in addition to MAMA for familiar objects and activities.

When Maxine wakes up on the wrong side of the bed one morning, she wonders if the problem might be her mother. What if she could try out a new mom who doesn’t make her brush her teeth or comb her hair? Enlisting Mom to help her with the search, Maxine interviews various prospects to be her new mother at the park, the toy store, and the zoo. Unfortunately, these other mothers present a host of new problems and concerns. Maybe her “old mother” was the best mother of all?

For every child who’s ever wondered if the grass is greener, The Best Mother affirms that there’s nothing better than your own mother’s love.

This very special Little Miss book, My Mummy, is the perfect gift for Mother’s Day. The Little Miss will help you show your mummy just how special she is to you.

From making you smile, even when things are going wrong, to knowing just when hugs are needed, mummies are Splendid, Fun, Magic, Sunshine – lots of the Little Miss rolled into one!

Children can also add their own words to the story to make it a really personal gift.

Spot loves spending time with his mum. They do lots of fun things together. Sometimes, he helps her with the groceries and sometimes they play hide-and-seek in the garden.

Join the much-loved Spot in Spot Loves His Mum as he learns what it means to spend time with his mum.

I Love My Mummy is a sweet, rhyming board book about the special relationship between mother and child.

With a gentle, rhyming story and lovely illustrations, this is a book to be loved, shared and treasured. The perfect gift for every family, for new Mothers, on Mother’s Day or at any time of the year. From the author of picture book classic, Giraffes Can’t Dance.

In The Night Before Mother’s Day, Dad and the kids are determined to show Mom just how much they love her. They whip up a cake from scratch, and offer a special coupon for a day at the spa, right in their own kitchen!

Kids and moms will love reading this sweet story aloud together for a fun way to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Maria the Mother’s Day Fairy looks after mums everywhere and makes sure they get on well with their sons and daughters. But when Jack Frost steals her magical objects, the magic of motherhood goes all wonky!

Can Kirsty and Rachel help restore order in time for the special surprise they have planned for their mums?

My Mums Love Me is a lyrical and heartfelt picture book, and a gorgeous celebration of same-sex parents and motherhood.

This beautifully-told story about a same-sex family of two mums and their baby is a love letter to close-knit families everywhere. Lyrical and calming, it’s a perfect picture book to cuddle up with.

Days with my mummy are always such fun,
and ever so special together, as one.

From playing in the park to cuddles at bedtime, being with Mummy makes every moment of every day special.

A touching celebration of the special relationship between mother and child. Warmly told in gentle rhyme and brought to life with charming illustrations, With My Mummy is a heartwarming picture book and the perfect gift to share time and time again.

Little Bear is sure that no-one is as strong as his mum. She can carry anything: his bike, Zebra’s shopping, Elephant’s carpet and even…Flamingo’s piano! And of course, there’s ALWAYS room in her handbag for Little Bear’s treasures. But even mums can get tired and need a helping hand sometimes, as Little Bear learns when Mum takes on one thing too many, with hilarious and heart-warming consequences.

The Strongest Mum is a warm, funny and original story about a parent-child relationship, perfect for learning about helping each other out. Packed full of endearing animal characters, it is sure to delight young children. Nicola Kent’s bright, jewel-like colours and eye-catching illustrations make this a truly stunning picture book debut.

She’s nice, my mum…My mum’s a fantastic cook, and a brilliant juggler. She’s a great painter, and the strongest woman in the world! She’s really nice, my mum.

My Mum is a warm, funny tribute to Mum (and to mums everywhere) by the brilliant author/illustrator Anthony Browne.

There’s nothing quite like the love a mother and child share. Join mother, daughter, and a silly little frog on a heartwarming journey describing love through the eyes of a child.

Kids will enjoy cuddling up with their parents to read You Taught Me Love while exploring their own unique, special bond. The beautiful illustrations and joyful rhymes are sure to tug on your heartstrings.

Write now, read later, treasure forever. The 12, fold-and-mail-style envelopes in Letters to My Mom invite sons and daughters to surprise and delight her with memories, appreciations, and hopes for the future.

Each letter is printed with a unique prompt like “A special memory I have of you is…,” “From you I learned the importance of…,” “I always think of you when…,” and “One thing I’m glad we share is…,” plus two blank letters to write your own. Seal your letters with the included stickers, postdate, and gift this book to your remarkable mom. When she opens the letters in the future, she’ll receive an invaluable gift: a tangible reflection of her child’s love.

Lift the flaps and join in the fun with Rod Campbell’s classic, Dear Zoo, with a host of favourite zoo animals and flaps to lift on every page.

‘I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet…’

Young children will love lifting the flaps to discover the animals the zoo has sent – a monkey, a lion and even an elephant! But will they ever manage to send the perfect pet?

Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a perennial favourite with children and adults alike. Its imaginative illustration and clever cut-out detail charts the progress of a very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through the week.

Check out more of our favourite Eric Carle books here!

We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one.

For over a quarter of a century, readers have been swishy-swashying and splash-sploshing through this award-winning favourite, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.

Follow and join in the family’s excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river, squelch through the mud and brave their way through the swirling, whirling snowstorm in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest!

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This beloved Scarry classic is packed with things to spot on every page. What Do People Do All Day? is beautiful, fun and has been a favourite with children of all ages for more than 50 years.

Everyone is busy in Busytown – from train drivers to doctors, from mothers to sailors, in police stations and on fire engines. Follow lots of busy people working through their busy days!

Captain Salty and his crew are getting ready to go on a voyage; Doctor Lion is busy at the hospital; Sergeant Murphy is working hard to keep things safe and peaceful; and engineers are building new roads. Packed full of activity and funny details to discover, this celebration of Busytown and its inhabitants will keep curious minds occupied for hours on end!

It would be most definitely a tragedy, if at least one Julia Donaldson is not in your child’s collection! There is lots of rhyming fun to be had with books such as The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, Zog, and many, many more.

With a cast of everyone’s favourite farm animals, What the Ladybird Heard is a brilliant rhyming adventure that is perfect for reading aloud. Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len are two crafty robbers with a cunning plan to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow. But little do they know that the tiniest, quietest creature of all has overhead their plot, and she has a plan of her own…

Check out more of our favourite Julia Donaldson books here!

Set sail on a wonderful adventure in Lost and Found, a toddler-friendly book from award-winning, bestselling picture book creator, Oliver Jeffers!

There once was a boy and one day he found a penguin at his door…

The boy decides the penguin must be lost and tries to return him. But no one seems to be missing a penguin. So the boy decides to take the penguin home himself, and they set out in his row boat on a journey to the South Pole.

But when they get there, the boy discovers that maybe home wasn’t what the penguin was looking for after all…

Join the Jolly Postman as he delivers letters in fairy-tale land in this fun, interactive story book!

The Jolly Postman is off on another adventure as he delivers letters around fairy-tale land! Children will love opening the envelopes to read a letter from Goldilocks, a postcard addressed to a giant up a beanstalk… and even a note for the Big Bad Wolf!

Discover the magic of letters with this much-loved rhyming tale, which has delighted readers for generations.

The Enchanted Wood is the first magical story in the Faraway Tree series by the world’s best-loved children’s author, Enid Blyton.

When Joe, Beth and Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. And when they discover the Faraway Tree, that is the beginning of many magical adventures!

Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Birthdays, the Land of Toys, or even the Land of Ice and Snow with its magic snowman?

The Giggler Treatment is a gloriously silly comedy from Booker prize winner and bestseller Roddy Doyle.

If adults are mean to children, they get the Giggler Treatment. It’s smelly. It’s squishy. And it sticks to your shoe. But sometimes, just sometimes, the Gigglers make a mistake…

Can Robbie, Kayla, Jimmy and Rover the dog come to Mr Mack’s rescue before the poo hits the shoe?

George Kranky’s grandma is a grouch. She’s always mean to George (and not much nicer to his parents either).

One day, when George is put in charge of giving Grandma her medicine, he wonders if he can come up with his own remedy to try and help Grandma become less of a grump.

Using some rather unusual ingredients, George creates his magic medicine. But will it stop his grandma from being so horrible…or will it shoot sparks out of the top of her head?!

George’s Marvellous Medicine is a laugh-out-loud book that kids and parents will enjoy together.

Andy and Terry live in the WORLD’S BEST treehouse! It’s got a giant catapult, a secret underground laboratory, a tank of man-eating sharks and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and shoots marshmallows into your mouth whenever you’re hungry!

Just watch out for the sea monkeys, and the monkeys pretending to be sea monkeys, and the giant mutant mermaid sea monster…Oh, and, whatever you do, don’t get trapped in a burp-gas-filled bubble!

The 13-Storey Treehouse is the first in this hilarious series.

Alex and Conner Bailey’s world is about to change. When the twins’ grandmother gives them a treasured fairy-tale book, they have no idea they’re about to enter a land beyond all imagining: the Land of Stories, where fairy tales are real.

But as Alex and Conner soon discover, the stories they know so well haven’t ended in this magical land – Goldilocks is now a wanted fugitive, Red Riding Hood has her own kingdom, and Queen Cinderella is about to become a mother!

The twins know they must get back home somehow. But with the legendary Evil Queen hot on their trail, will they ever find the way?

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, the first in The Land of Stories series, brings readers on a thrilling quest filled with magic spells, laugh-out-loud humour and page-turning adventure.

Meet the great Skulduggery Pleasant: wise-cracking detective, powerful magician, master of dirty tricks and burglary (in the name of the greater good, of course). Oh yeah. And dead.

Then there’s his sidekick, Stephanie. She’s… well, she’s a twelve-year-old girl. With a pair like this on the case, evil had better watch out…

Stephanie’s uncle Gordon is a writer of horror fiction. But when he dies and leaves her his estate, Stephanie learns that while he may have written horror, it certainly wasn’t fiction. Pursued by evil forces intent on recovering a mysterious key, Stephanie finds help from an unusual source the wisecracking skeleton of a dead wizard.

Will evil win the day? Will Stephanie and Skulduggery stop bickering long enough to stop it? One thing’s for sure: evil won’t know what’s hit it.

Join the world of Artemis Fowl, the number one bestseller by Eoin Colfer.

Rumour has it Artemis Fowl is responsible for every major crime of the new century. Just twelve years old and already he’s a criminal genius, plotting to restore his family’s fortune with a spot of corruption and kidnapping. Kidnapping a fairy for ransom, to be precise.

Artemis Fowl has discovered a world below ground of armed and dangerous – and extremely high-tech – fairies. But he may have underestimated their powers. They will fight back. Is the boy about to trigger a cross-species war?

Let the misadventure begin.

Gangsta Granny is a hilarious and moving novel from bestselling author David Walliams.

Our hero Ben is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at his grandma’s house. She’s the boringest grandma ever: all she wants to do is to play Scrabble, and eat cabbage soup. But there are two things Ben doesn’t know about his grandma.

1) She was once an international jewel thief.

2) All her life, she has been plotting to steal the Crown Jewels, and now she needs Ben’s help

The Mixed Up Chameleon is a captivating picture book from Eric Carle that teaches young children the key differences between animals and the importance of being yourself.

A chameleon’s antics with colour, shape and size show what makes each animal different and why it’s important to be yourself.

As children follow The Bad-Tempered Ladybird on her journey, they will meet a grouchy bug who won’t say “please” or “thank you,” won’t share, and thinks she is bigger and better than anyone else.

Readers will learn the important concepts of time, size, and shape, as well as the benefits of friendship and good manners.

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In From Head to Toe, “I can do it!” is the confidence-building message of this fun-filled interactive picture book.

A variety of familiar, colourful animals, invite young children to copy their antics as they wiggle, stomp, thump, and bend across the pages.

When Mrs. Seahorse lays her eggs, she does it on Mister Seahorse‘s belly! She knows he will take good care of them.

While he swims waiting for the eggs to hatch, he meets other underwater fathers – Mr Stickleback, Mr Tilapia, Mr Kurtus and many other fish fathers caring for their eggs and babies in the most surprising ways.

“Ducks overboard!” shouts the captain, as a giant wave washes a box of 10 little rubber ducks off his cargo ship and into the sea. The ducks are swept away in various directions. One drifts west, where a friendly dolphin jumps over it. A whale sings to another. But as the sun sets, the 10th little rubber duck is left all alone, bobbing helplessly on the big wide sea. Small readers and listeners will rejoice at the heartwarming surprise ending.

Follow the little ducks as they float to all parts of the globe in 10 Little Rubber Ducks. Young explorers will learn numbers, counting and the meaning of directional words.

Written by Bill Martin, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? features Eric Carle’s distinctive illustrations.

A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck – all parade across the pages of this classic children’s book in a delightful way to teach children about colours.

In this unique and delightful picture book, Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me the story literally unfolds as pages open dramatically, extending both outward and upward.

Monica wants the moon to play with, so her Papa sets out to get it for her. It isn’t easy to climb all the way up to the moon, but he finally succeeds – only to find that the moon is too big to carry home!

The Very Busy Spider is a great story for reading together and the rhyming text is really engaging.

A spider, blown by the wind to a fence post near a farmyard, begins to build her web and cannot be distracted from the task at hand – not by the horse, cow, sheep, goat, or dog. But when the rooster asks if she wants to catch a pesky fly, the busy spider is able to catch it in her web immediately!

In Today is Monday, learn the days of the week through song. String beans, spaghetti, ZOOOOP, roast beef, fresh fish, chicken and ice cream are the delicious fare during the week in this popular children’s song. Until Sunday – then, all the world’s children are invited to come together and share in the meal.

Little nature lovers will enjoy The Tiny Seed.

When the tiny seed is blown away from its parent plant, it travels a very long way – over seas, deserts and mountains. The tiny seed survives the hazards of the journey and finally falls onto fertile earth. It grows and grows, becoming the tallest, biggest flower for miles around. Then one day the wind blows and thousands of the flower’s seeds begin their own journeys.

The clouds drift across the bright blue sky – all except one. Little Cloud trails behind. He is busy changing shapes to become a fluffy sheep, a zooming airplane, and even a clown with a funny hat. Eric Carle’s trademark collages will make every reader want to run outside and discover their very own little cloud!

Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? is a reassuring take of a mother’s love for her child and answers questions about whether lions, bears, and monkeys have mothers, too.

Meet the little joey bouncing in mother kangaroo’s pouch. Watch little cubs prance around mother lion. Swim with a baby dolphin calf in the deep blue sea.

The ten shortlisted books for the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards this year range from picture books to short story collections to teen fiction, covering all ages and reading abilities including:

• Unsung stories of Ireland’s mythical goddesses reimagined
• A magical retelling of Cinderella as Gaeilge;
• Wild and wonderous stories of adventure
• Tales of seeking asylum and Direct Provision
• a gripping mystery which brings together two girls from opposite sides of Northern Ireland’s political divide.

This year’s shortlist, which includes four debut authors, will compete for the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Book of the Year and five other awards, including honours for fiction, illustration and a Junior Juries’ Award which will be decided by young readers from across the country.

The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards recognise excellence in writing and illustration in Irish or English and are open to books by authors and illustrators who were born in Ireland, are permanently resident in Ireland or are citizens of Ireland and which were published between 1st January and 31st December each year.

Children’s Books Ireland, which administers the awards, will as ever be working closely with ‘Junior Juries’ – groups of children and young people who will read and judge the shortlisted titles. The Juries’ scores decide the winner of the Junior Juries Award, giving children a real way to participate in the awards and make their voices heard.

Five other awards will also be made – The Book of the Year Award, The Honour Awards for Fiction and Illustration, the Judges’ Special Award, and the Eilís Dillon Award for a first children’s book, named in honour of the revered Irish children’s author Eilís Dillon.

The winning books will be announced at a ceremony on 24th May 2023 at a special ceremony at the International Literature Festival Dublin.

Girls Who Slay Monsters, written by Ellen Ryan and illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald, published by HarperCollins Ireland.

This outstanding book brings oft-forgotten goddesses and heroes of Irish mythology out of the depths of an ancient past and into the reader’s present. Ryan’s wonderfully rich (and well-researched!) text and Macdonald’s sophisticated palate combine beautifully to create an innovative book that celebrates storytelling, curiosities, and female power.

Firmly anchored in the landscape of this island, the book reminds us that these tales are forever etched into our hills and the valleys and the lakes and beaches; our mythic past is present in the everyday.

Buy Girls Who Slay Monsters from TaraBookCo.ie

Run for your Life, written by Jane Mitchell, published by Little Island Books

This compelling novel follows the story of Azari who ends up living in one of Ireland’s grim and inhumane Direct Provision centres when she and her mother are forced to flee their own country. For Azari, running – a passion she brings with her from home – provides her with a sense of power, confidence, and happiness, as she navigates the difficulties of a new life in Ireland.

Respectfully written with wonderfully vivid and complex characters, Mitchell’s brilliant narrative is one of freedom and constraint, secrets and lies, hope and heartache.

Buy Run For Your Life on Amazon

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The Book of Secrets, written by Alex Dunne, published by The O’Brien Press

This fast-paced story inspired by Irish myth and folklore brilliantly intertwines the real and the magical. Eleven-year-old Cat Donnelly has the Sight, like others in her family before her, and so is particularly open to all things supernatural.

Set around Hallowe’en when the Trooping Fairies descend on the small town of Clonbridge, this is an exciting adventure with just the right level of creepiness – dark, but not too dark. There’s a real urgency to the writing, sweeping readers along through an original and imaginative tale of magic in contemporary Ireland.

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The Boy Who Lost His Spark, written by Maggie O’Farrell and illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Tarrazzini, published by Walker Books

This remarkable and moving story of Jem as he tries to adapt to his new life in the countryside, is a refreshingly quiet tale about the necessity of having a little bit of magic in life. Unhappy with his lot, Jem begins to see his world differently when a mischievous little creature called a nouka makes its presence known.

The calmness of the tale reminds readers that they are in the hands of assured and expert storytellers: writer and illustrator have created a special narrative that readers will want to revisit time and time again.

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The Lost Girl King, written by Catherine Doyle, published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

This thrilling adventure story reinvents the world of Tír na nÓg and brings it to a new generation of young readers. When Amy and Liam head west for the summer to stay with their grandmother – a literature professor – their whole world begins to open up.

They soon discover a waterfall that acts as an entrance to Tír na nÓg, the land of eternal youth – but something in this magical world has gone very wrong. In Amy and Liam, Doyle constructs such credible and marvellous characters who begin to realise the power and potential they hold within.

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Be Wild, Little One, written by Olivia Hope and illustrated by Daniel Egnéus, published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

This is a heart-warming and inspiring call to be wild, to be brave, to go out and meet the world. Expertly written and beautifully illustrated, this inclusive book brings the reader on a journey into jungles, across skies, into the deep blue seas, along snow-capped mountains, up to the rooftops, and through stormy skies.

This enchanting picturebook demonstrates how so much can be said with just a few words and is a wonderful reminder of the life-affirming world that surrounds us.

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The Wilderness, written and illustrated by Steve McCarthy, published by Walker Books

This fun and playful picturebook follows the story of the Vasylenko family as they head out to brave the wilds and search for adventure – well, all members of the family except young Oktober, who prefers to find his adventures in the safety of books. Until one day he discovers that maybe the Wilderness isn’t as monstrous as he thought.

This original tale engages with the importance of dealing with your feelings and shows the transformative potential of a different point of view.

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An Slipéar Gloine, written by Fearghas Mac Lochlainn and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly, published by Futa Fata

A refreshing take on the story of Cinderella, this Irish-language retelling brings new life to an old classic. Fantastic pictures and playful rhyming text work together brilliantly to tell the tale of Luaithrín bhocht, tormented by her sisters Smaoisín agus Straoisín, as well as by her leasmháthair Camilla, until the prince arrives with the titular glass slipper, transforming Luaithrín’s fate.

Full of humour and wit, this is a book that readers will want to return to again and again.

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One & Everything, written and illustrated by Sam Winston, published by Walker Books

The stunning and thought-provoking book can be appreciated on multiple levels as it brings the reader on a round-the-world journey through the importance of stories and storytelling.

A meditation on language and script, on how we communicate, and on the perils of thinking that one single story is the most important story of all, this is an original and unusual book that – through text and illustration – celebrates the power of stories and the excitement they bring to our existence.

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Truth Be Told, written by Sue Divin, published by Macmillan Children’s Books.

Set in contemporary Northern Ireland, Truth be Told is a beautifully-written Young Adult novel full of distinctive voices. Tara and Faith are from different backgrounds and religious denominations but when they meet they realise that they have a lot in common – they look just like each other.

As they try to figure out who they really are, they must delve deep into the past of their families and communities, uncovering secrets that some would prefer remained hidden.

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Discover the folklore, legend, magic and mystery that Ireland is famous for with these engaging and exciting Irish books for kids. From facts and fairies to first Irish words, there is certainly something for everyone with this round up of new releases and classic tales.

Whether you are Irish, living in Ireland, planning a visit, or just have an interest in the Emerald Isle, these Irish-themed books are a brilliant way to learn more about Irish culture, history, traditions and folklore.

Has your child finished reading the Harry Potter series? It’s always a bit of a sad moment for any reader besotted with a series to find they’ve reached the end. If your child has been enjoying J.K. Rowling’s magical and mysterious series, they will love these 20+ books like Harry Potter that we’ve picked out. The good thing is most of these are in series too so there should be plenty to keep them going!

Does your child love reading a funny book? Do they enjoy laughing when they read with you or themselves?

These humorous books for kids are guaranteed to make your child laugh out loud! With plenty of hilarious characters and riveting tales, sometimes a good giggle is just what’s needed.

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We all know – and love – Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which is one of the bestselling and most read children’s books of all time. This colourful, rhythmic, interactive story is just one of Eric Carle’s wonderful creations. You can transform story time with 12 more Eric Carle books you’ll enjoy reading together.

Tales of giants have always been popular with kids of all ages, from the classic Jack and the Beanstalk to Roald Dahl’s The BFG. There is something so magical and downright fun about stories with giants – and children just love the excitement that comes with these tall tales!

We’ve picked these fantastic stories with giants for kids that will send you on a real adventure! Our round up of stories come from renowned authors like Roald Dahl, Michael Morpurgo and Oscar Wilde, as well as modern favourites like Kes Gray and Julia Donaldson.

When your child is dealing with anxiety, worries or fears, having a way to open conversation in an age-appropriate way can be a real bonus. Sitting down together with a book can provide that chance, and you’d be amazed at how even the simplest story can hit the mark.

These books for anxious kids range from picture books for younger children, through to workbooks that can be done independently by older children.

If your child is a big David Walliams fan, you’re sure to be on the hunt for other authors whose books are as entertaining. We’ve chosen 30 amazing books for kids who love David Walliams that offer the same fun, adventure-filled excitement and are bound to be a hit!

These books offer many similarities to those from David Walliams – some are laugh out loud funny, some deal with a ‘big’ topic not normally found in children’s books, while even more take a reader on a wild adventure.

Calling all dino fans! Do you want to know more about the T-Rex, or become a stegosaurus expert? Well, look no further than our pick of the best dinosaur books to learn about all your favourite prehistoric creatures.

From board books for babies to chapter books for independent readers, or how about encyclopaedias to learn even more dino facts – our dinosaur books list has something for everyone.

Bestselling author Holly Webb has written more than 100 great books for children. Kittens, puppies and other adorable animals are the main focus of many Holly Webb books, however you’ll also find plenty of fun in her series about princesses, magic and groups of friends.

The moon is fascinating and a source of wonder for both adults and kids. Does your child ever wonder about the man in the moon, or delight in being the first to spot the moon as the sun is setting? If so, they will love these wonderful moon-themed books that celebrate the moon in all its glory.

Bestselling author Neil Gaiman has written numerous books for kids, teens and adults – many of which have skyrocketed in popularity and even hit the big screen as Hollywood blockbusters.

Gaiman’s first book for children, The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish, was published in May 1997. Since then he has written numerous popular children’s books, including Coraline, which was a New York Times and international bestseller and an enormous critical success later turned into a hit animated movie, and the magical story Stardust, which was similarly turned into an all-star movie.

These weird and wonderful Neil Gaiman books are bound to be a success with your kids as they are creative beyond belief!

Reading your child a bedtime story is one of life’s great pleasures. You get to cuddle in, share the story and have some bonding time just before sleepy time. We asked Mykidstime parents to share their favourites, and here are their picks for the best bedtime stories for kids!

Does your child love to explore, dig in the dirt or ask questions about everything from why the leaves change colour to how bees make honey? Investigate the answers to these and hundreds of other questions with exciting (and educational) books to help your child learn about nature.

Learn about nature, wildlife and the environment – it’s not only fascinating, but important for any budding scientists and conservationists. We’ve chosen 35 of the best that will suit all ages, from toddlers to teens!

Is your child looking to perfect some wondrous tricks to awe and amaze family and friends? From their very first card trick, kids are often hooked on magic – and it’s a great way to build their confidence, memory and language skills.

Take a look below at magic books suited to even the youngest child, giving them an opportunity to learn card and coin tricks, illusions, sleight of hand, and lots more.