Useful Organisations No.17: Children’s Books Ireland

Children’s Books Ireland (CBI)
17 Lower Camden Street,
Dublin 2
e-mail: childrensbooksire@eircom.net.

CBI is a national, membership based organization dedicated to promoting excellence in all aspects of children’s literature. Regular events include an annual Summer School, an autumn conference, and seminars and events, including events for children, in Dublin and other centres. CBI is also responsible for the annual children’s Book Festival.

Each year CBI runs the Bisto Book Awards. These consist of awards for the Irish Children’s Books of the Year, the Eilís Dillon Award for a first children’s book by an Irish writer, and three Merit awards. CBI’s publications include the book guides Best Books and Book Choice , The Big Guide to Irish Children’s Books and The Big Guide 2: Irish Children’s Books (eds. Coghlan & Keenan), and Children’s Books in Ireland , a magazine containing reviews and articles about the Irish children’s book scene and children’s authors, as well as articles and news about books for young people from outside Ireland. Members of CBI include teachers, academics, librarians, authors, illustrators, publishers and parents.