Actually, it's the shortlist for the 2010 Bisto* Book of the Year Award, but it's an award that is only open to "any children's book by an author and/or illustrator born or resident in Ireland", so... yeah.
The shortlist is a total mish-mash -- picture books up against chapter books up against YA books -- which I think is pretty fun. The only book I've read is Solace of the Road (haven't written about it, though), though I'm going to have to read The Eyeball Collector simply because of its amazing title, and The Third Pig Detective Agency has some potential for awesome as well...
Other awards news: David Almond has won the Hans Christian Andersen medal, and Sherman Alexie won the PEN/Faulkner. (That photo of Sherman Alexie at the Guardian is very... model pose, isn't it?)
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*Bisto is a kind of gravy, I think?
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Ha ha yes, Bisto is a kind of instant gravy...
Haven't read any of these, but I do like that they've included two Irish-language books on the list.
Posted by: Ms Avery | 24 March 2010 at 09:18 AM
I haven't read any of those on that list (although Solace of the Road sounds familiar)....but I am surprised that the YA doesn't include Michael Scott's The Alchemyst series....that is an extremely popular series over there and over here (yet no one seems to know about it...?).
Posted by: Katie | 24 March 2010 at 09:26 AM
Oh, is the author Irish? I started the first Alchemyst book and I hated it -- but I know it's been very, very popular with some people!
Posted by: Leila | 24 March 2010 at 09:31 AM
My mind has been boggled! I thought the Third Pig Detective Agency was sold as adult crime - the author emailed my old shop about stocking it, and we did (the crime dude loved it), in the crime section. I had no idea it was children's! (I wish I'd read it now.)
And I've been meaning to read FE Higgins. Grah.
Posted by: Anna | 24 March 2010 at 10:03 AM
Yes Scott is, I didn't notice it until after picking up the books.
I've found that it is a hit or miss series - either you like it or you don't - with most people. Although I found it an enjoyable read, I did find that the books plot was a bit overdone...the only thing that kept me reading was one or two of the characters. The second was definately more developed, but still suffered from the same illness as the first.
Posted by: Katie | 24 March 2010 at 12:28 PM
Agreed. I'm meh on Michael Scott. But Leila if you haven't read The Eyeball Collector then you much do so immediately. It cures what ails you. Besides, name me one other children's book that features a man devouring an entire dead cat raw.
Posted by: Fuse #8 | 24 March 2010 at 10:53 PM
Anna: It sounded to me like it might be one that would crossover well -- good to know. I'll definitely have to read it now!
Fuse: I'll track down a copy ASAP! That title alone! It makes me almost swoony!
Posted by: Leila | 25 March 2010 at 06:28 AM