IT IS “disturbing and disappointing” that the Department of Education has cut the school book grant to schools and libraries in a move that will “limit young people’s access to books”, the chairwoman of Children’s Books Ireland has said.
Jane O’Hanlon was speaking at the announcement yesterday of the winners of the Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Awards.
She described the department’s move as “retrogressive”, said it would “impact heavily on already overstretched schools and libraries”, and called for the decision to be reconsidered.
Yesterday’s ceremony in Dublin marked the 19th year of the Children’s Book Awards.
The top award for 2009 – the Bisto Book of the Year – went to the late Siobhan Dowd for Bog Child. The award was accepted by her sister Oona Emerson.
Dowd died in August 2007 at the age of 47 after a long illness.
The €10,000 prize money will be donated to the Siobhan Dowd Trust, which she established to help disadvantaged children improve their reading skills.
Bog Childis about a boy, Fergus, who while digging turf finds the body of a child in the bog.
The Eilís Dillon Award for a first children's book went to Mary Finn for Anila's Journey. It is the story of a half-Irish, half-Indian girl whose journey down the Ganges takes her back to her past.
The Bisto Honour Award for Writing was presented to Kate Thompson for Creature of the Night, while the Bisto Honour Award for Illustration went to The Great Paper Caperby Oliver Jeffers.
A special recognition award went to Kate Thompson, for a second book, Highway Robbery.
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