The CBI Book of the Year Awards (
Irish: Duaiseanna Leabhair na Bliana CBI), previously known as the Bisto Book of the Year Awards, are
literary awards presented annually in the
Republic of Ireland to writers and illustrators of
books for children and young people. The Awards are run by Children's Books Ireland (CBI) and are open to authors and illustrators born or resident in
Ireland; books may be written in
English or
Irish. Many bestselling, internationally renowned authors have won a "Bisto", including
Eoin Colfer,
John Boyne and several times winner
Kate Thompson.
The awards were sponsored by Bisto (Premier Foods) from their inception.[1]
First awarded in 1990 (with the Book of the Decade Awards), prizes are awarded in three categories:
CBI Book of the Year Award
Eilís Dillon Award for a First Children's Book, named in honour of writer
Eilís Dillon
three Merit Awards, which in 2012 were:
Judges' Special Recognition Award
CBI Honour Award for Illustration
CBI Honour Award for Writing
The winner of Book of the Year wins a perpetual trophy and €10,000; the 3 winners of the Merit Award share a combined prize fund of €6,000; the Eilís Dillon Award winner for first time writers also wins a trophy and €3,000.[2][citation needed]
In 2010, the Children's Choice award was introduced to mark the 20th anniversary of the Bisto Book of the Year Awards. It was chosen by 10 Junior Juries from all around Ireland, and was awarded to Jane Mitchell's Chalkline. The Judges' Special Recognition Award was not awarded in 2010.
^"General Info: Bisto Book of the Year Awards – Leabhar-Ghradaim Bisto"]. October 2008. Children's Books Ireland. Archived 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2015-09-14.