The shortlist of the Bisto Book of the Year nominees was announced yesterday in Dublin. This year five awards will be presented to Irish authors or illustrators who have published children's books of outstanding merit during 1996.
The overall winner receives £1,500 and a perpetual trophy sculpted in bronze by the artist Joseph Sloane. There are three merit awards worth £500 each.
The special Eilis Dillon award is also worth £500. This new category was introduced two years ago for the author of an outstanding first children's book.
Eilis Dillon had a long association with the Bisto awards, having been chairwoman of the Irish Children's Book Trust in 1989 when the awards were established.
This year 97 books were submitted for judging. The panel of judges has selected a shortlist of 10 titles. They are: Drochld Ruairi by Colman O Raghallaigh and Anne Marie Carroll; The Eagle Tree by Dan Kissane and Aileen Johnston; An Eala Dhubh by Cliodna Cussen and Cormac O Snodaigh; Gafa by Re O Laighleis; The Guns of Easter by Gerard Whelan; The King of Ireland's Son by P.J. Lynch; The Lantern Moon by Maeve Friel; More Than Match by Mark O'Sullivan; Roisin Ar Strae by Colmiin O Raghallaigh and Aoife Ni Raghallaigh; and Sister, No Way! by Siobhan Parkinson.