Conference build-up begins

With less than three weeks until the CILIP Cymru Wales Annual Conference we will be posting content here, as well as on Twitter and Facebook, to help you prepare for the Conference.

First off ... the Tir na n-Og Awards.

The Conference Drinks Reception forms a social high point in the proceedings for the conference. It is also the stage for the announcement and presentation of the Tir na n-Og Award for Best English Language Book. For nearly forty years the award, organised by the Welsh Books Council, has celebrated and championed the best books published for children and young people in Wales. CILIP Cymru Wales is delighted to support The Council and Tir na n-Og through a annual funding from the Kathleen Cooks Bequest. 

"The Tir na n-Og Awards were established in 1976 with the intention of raising the standards of children’s and young people’s books in Wales, and to encourage the buying and reading of good books. Three awards are presented annually by the Books Council and are sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Cymru/Wales and Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion".

This year’s shortlisted titles for the Best English-language Book are:

Friends at War  –  Alan Lambert (Pont)
The Gardening Pirates  –  Ruth Morgan and Chris Glynn (Pont)
Tree of Leaf and Flame  –  Daniel Morden with illustrations by Brett Breckon (Pont)

Having just read David Almond's Skellig for the first time recently I'll be trying to get my hands on these titles prior to conference. Might this be an opportunity for you to broaden your professional horizons, or just spend some time re-living childhood?

Further information:

This Year's Tir na n-Og shortlists via the Welsh Books Council New Pages and details of past winners are available here