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Children's Books Ireland (CBI) Collection

Children’s Books Ireland (CBI)

Children’s Books Ireland (CBI)

Collection Dates: (c1920s-Present)

Extent: 3500+ items.

Children’s Books Ireland (CBI) is a national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading. 

CBI was founded in 1997, as a result of the merger between the Irish Children’s Book Trust and the Children’s Literature Association of Ireland. 

Through events, book clinics, conferences and more, CBI shares their expertise with adults to inspire and guide children, while also inspiring a love of reading in children. 

CBI also champions the writers, publishers and illustrators across the island who create the books. In doing so, CBI amassed a large collection of children’s literature that now forms the Children’s Books Ireland Collection at DCU Library.

At present, the collection consists of over 3,500 books from the early 1900s to the present day. DCU Library will continue to take in the shortlisted books for CBI’s annual awards. The collection continues to grow and incorporates books published in both the English and Irish languages which reflect aspects of Irish history, mythology, nature, and culture, as well as societal changes that are affecting children in modern Ireland. 

 

 

Cnuasach Leabhair Pháistí Éireann

Méid: 600+ leabhar.

Carthanacht agus eagraíocht ealaíne náisiúnta é Leabhair Pháistí Éireann (LPÉ) a oibríonn chun grá don léitheoireacht a spreagadh i ngach páiste. Déanann siad iarracht tuiscint níos fearr faoi thábhacht na leabhar agus na léitheoireachta a scaipeadh, agus níos mó rannphairtíochta le leabhair a spreagadh i measc daoine óga. Chomh maith leis sin, acmhainn iad do dhaoine a bhfuil suim acu i leabhair do pháistí in Éirinn. Thar na blianta, thóg Leabhair Pháistí Éireann cnuasach mór leabhair do dhaoine óga in oifig na carthanachta. Sa bhliain 2021, d’eagraigh LPÉ comhpháirtíocht le hOllscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath chun an cnuasach sin a chaomhnú. 

Seo an chuid Ghaeilge den chnuasach seo, ina bhfuil breis is 600 leabhar Gaeilge ó na 1960idí ar aghaidh. Tá comhaontú ag an gcarthanacht le OCBAC go dtabharfar na leabhair a bhaineann lena ngradaim bhliaintiúla don ollscoil chun an cnuasach seo a fhás agus a fhorbairt. 

A digital exhibition on the Children's Books Ireland Collection at DCU Archives and Special Collections has been created. This can be viewed through the google arts and culture links below. 

Click here to view the exhibit in English.

Click here to view the exhibit as Gaeilge.

 

Some Images of a related physical exhibition of Irish language titles showcased in the Cregan library in March 2025 and their accompanying captions are here: 

Cregan Library Exhibition of Irish Language titles from the CBI collection

Cregan Library Exhibition of Irish Language titles from the CBI collection, 2026 exhibition poster.

A view of a display case in the March 2026 exhibition.

A view of a display case in the March 2026 exhibition. 


Oidhcheanna Sidhe / Fairy Nights le Micheál Mac Liammóir

Comhlucht an Tálbóidigh, Baile Átha Cliath / Talbot Press, Dublin (1922)

 

Leabhar dátheanghach le téacs comhthreomhar, scéalta bunaithe ar cheithre ‘oidhcheanna sidhe’ nó na hoícheanta roimh cheithre ceiliúradh traidisúnta na séasúr.

 

A bilingual book with parallel texts of stories based on four ‘fairy nights’ or the eves of four traditional seasonal celebrations.

An t-Áilleán le Tadhg Ó Donnchadha

Conradh na Gaedhilge, Baile Átha Cliath (1924)

 

Ba iar-scoláire Coláiste Naomh Phádraig, Droim Chonrach, é Tadhg Ó Donnchadha. Ba scríbhneoir, file, agus eagarthóir é agus ba bhall é de Chonradh na Gaeilge. Is athchló an chóip seo ar fhoilseachán ó 1902.

 

Tadhg Ó Donnchadha was a former student of St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra (now part of DCU). He was a writer, poet, and editor, as well as a member of Conradh na Gaeilge. This is a 1924 reprint of his 1902 publication.

An Choill Bheo le hEilís Diolún

Oifig an tSoláthair, Baile Átha Cliath (1948).

 

An chéad leabhar Gaeilge a scríobh Eilís Diolún. Tar éis di cáil a bhaint amach le leabhar Béarla, The Lost Island (Faber & Faber, 1955), scríobh sí leabhair Bhéarla den chuid is mó. Bronntar Gradam Eilís Dillon (céad leabhar do pháistí déanta ag údar nó maisitheoir) mar chuid de ghradaim bhliantúla Leabhair Pháistí Éireann in ómós di.

 

Eilís Dillon’s first Irish-language book. Following the success of The Lost Island (Faber & Faber, 1955) she turned to writing predominantly in English. The Eilís Dillon award for first children’s book is awarded each year by Children’s Books Ireland.

Gug le Marion King

Oifig an tSoláthair, Baile Átha Cliath (1950)

 

Ba ealaíontóir agus cartúnaí í Marion King. Scríobh sí cúpla leabhar Gaeilge do pháistí agus bhí stillghreannáin The Adventures of Seán Bunny san Irish Times ó 1953 go dtí a bás i 1963.

 

Marion King was an artist and cartoonist. She wrote a number of Irish-language children’s books as well as the comic-strip The Adventures of Séan Bunny, published in The Irish Times from 1953, to her death in 1963.

An tEiteallán Do-Fheicthe (Réics Carló), Réamonn Óg, Sirriam agus An Captaen Spéirling Arís le Cathal Ó Sándair

 

Oifig an tSoláthair, Baile Átha Cliath (1943, 1953, and 1960)

Cuireadh an bleachtaire Réics Carló in aithne don phobal den chéad uair i 1942. Ba é sin an tsraith is cáiliúla de chuid Uí Shándair ach chum sé sraitheanna eile ar nós An Captaen Spéirling, An Captaen Toirneach agus Réamonn Óg. Mar chomhartha ómóis ar an sár-obair a rinne Ó Sándair ar son litríocht Ghaeilge do dhaoine óga, tá Gradam Reics Carló (gradam Leabhar Gaeilge na Bliana do Pháistí) ainmnithe i ndiaidh phríomhcharachtar iomráiteach an údair.

 

The detective Réics Carló was first introduced to the public in 1942. This was Ó Sándair’s most popular series, though he created several more such as An Captaen Spéirling, An Captaen Toirneach agus Réamonn Óg. In recognition of his contribution to Irish language children’s literature, the Gradam Reics Carló (an annual award for Irish-Language Children’s Book of the Year), is named after his primary hero.

Codladh Céad Bliain, aistrithe ag Máiréad Ní Ghráda

An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath (1984)

 

Seán agus an Gas Pónaire, aistrithe ag Máiréad Ní Ghráda

An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath (1984)

 

Luaithríona, aistrithe ag Máiréad Ní Ghráda

An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath (1984)

 

An Cat Beag Buí le Máiréad Ní Ghráda (1990)

An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath (1990)

 

Na Trí Bhéar le Máiréad Ní Ghráda

An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath (1990)

 

Ba dhramadóir, craoltóir, scríbhneoir, agus file í Máiréad Ní Ghráda. Ach chomh maith leis sin ba aistritheoir bisiúil í a chuir Gaeilge ar a lán leabhar, ina measc leabhair do pháistí. D’oibrigh sí leis An Gúm chun aistriúcháin a dhéanamh ar leabhair Ladybird. Níos déanaí, scríobh sí a leabhair féin do pháistí.

 

Máiréad Ní Ghráda was a playwright, broadcaster, author and poet. She was also a prolific translator of books into Irish, including children’s books. She worked with An Gúm to translate a number of the Ladybird books into Irish. In later years, she wrote her own children’s books.

Sean Shéamus Seaca le V. Odoyevsky, aistrithe ag Rachel Ní Riada

 

Clódhanna Teoranta le Raduga Press, Baile Átha Cliath agus Moscó (1986)

Ba chomhphairtíocht é an leabhar seo idir Clódhanna Teoranta (Baile Átha Cliath) agus Raduga Press (Moscó). Eadarthu, d’fhoilsigh siad sraith leabhar as Gaeilge bunaithe ar scéalta béaloidéasa ón Rúis.

 

This book was a collaboration between Clódhanna Teoranta (Dublin) and Raduga Press (Moscow). Between them, they published a series of Irish-language books based on Russian folktales.

An Táin le Colmán Ó Raghallaigh, ealáin le The Cartoon Saloon

Cló Mhaigh Eo, Maigh Eo, (2006).

 

Is úrscéal grafach é an leabhar seo, bunaithe ar cheann de mhórscéalta miotaseolaíochta na Gaeilge, Táin Bó Cuailgne. Tá sé maisithe ag Cartoon Saloon, comhlucht beochana ó Chill Chainnigh.

 

This book is a graphic novel, based on one of the greatest stories from the Irish tradition, Táin Bó Cuailgne. It is illustrated by the animation company, Cartoon Saloon, based in Kilkenny.

Scéalta le hinsint don Ghealach le Caoimhe Nic Lochlainn, maisithe ag Olivia Golden

Cois Life, Baile Átha Cliath (2018)

 

Is athinsintí ar scéalta béaloideasa ó Chúige Uladh atá le fáil i gCnuasach Béaloideas Éireann atá sa leabhar seo. Is léachtóir í Caoimhe Nic Lochlainn le Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge DCU.

 

This book is a retelling of folk stories from the National Folklore Collection. Caoimhe Nic Lochlainn is a DCU lecturer with Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge.

Mo Chuid Amhráin Ghaeilge le Risteard Mac Liam, maisithe ag Tatyana Feeney

My Irish Books, Dublin (2020)

 

Seo an chéad leabhar Gaeilge le píosa fuaime istigh sa leabhar féin. Sé amhrán traidisiúnta atá san áireamh a sheineann le brú cnaipe.

 

Mo Chuid Amhráin Ghaeilge is the first Irish language children’s book with in-built sound. There are six traditional Irish songs which play at the press of a button.

Lá Álainn Dainín  le Tadhg Mac Dhonnágáin agus Steve Simpson

Futa Fata, An Spidéal, Co. na Gaillimhe (2013)

 

Is leabhar tadhaill é Lá Álainn Dainín atá dírithe ar an aos óg. Tá sé mar chuid de sraith leabhar faoin tíogar Dainín agus a bhéirín Teidí.

 

Lá Álainn Dainín is a touch-and-feel book aimed at our youngest readers. It is part of a series following the small tiger Dainín and his bear, Teidí.

Ar Strae Beagán le Chris Haughton, aistrithe ag Gabriel Rosenstock

Walker Éireann, London (2012)

 

Is scríbhneoir agus maisitheoir Éireannach é Chris Haughton. Scríobhann sé a leabhair as Béarla Seo cuid dá sraith a aistríodh isteach sa Ghaeilge ina n-imíonn ulchabhán óg ar strae.

 

Chris Haughton is an Irish writer and illustrator. He writes his children’s books in English. This is a translation of his book Little Owl Lost, in which a small owl gets a little bit lost.

Rita agus an Dragún le Máire Zepf, Andrew Whitson a mhaisigh

An tSnáthaid Mhór, Béal Feirste (2018)

 

Is cailín beag í Rita le smaointe móra a thógann muid ar eachtraí éagsúla i sraith leabhar. Samhlaíonn sí róbat, lampa draíochta, fathach agus sa cheann seo drágún. Tá leagan beag den leabhar seo eisithe go speisialta do Lá Domhanda na Leabhar 2023.

 

Rita is a little girl with a big imagination. She imagines robots, magic lamps, giants, and in this book, a dragon. A small version of this book was specially released for World Book Day 2023.

Geansaí Ottó le Sadhbh Devlin, maisithe ag Róisín Hahessy

Futa Fata, An Spidéal, Co. na Gaillimhe (2020)

 

Scríbhneoir cónaithe DCU í Sadhbh Devlin i 2022. Seo leabhar faoi Ottó. Is aoibhinn leis a stíl agus éadaí deasa, ach ní thuigeann Mamó na cúrsaí sin.

 

Sadhbh Devlin was writer-in-residence at DCU in 2022. This book is about Ottó, who love his style and nice clothes but Gran hasn’t a clue about fashion.

Dialann Emily Porter - An Jailtacht le Richie Conroy, maisithe ag Don Conroy

LeabhairCOMHAR, Baile Átha Cliath (2018)

 

Leabhar do dhéagóirí óga atá anseo. Tá plean dá laethanta saoire ag Emily, ach i ngan fhios di, tá plean eile ag a tuismitheoirí. Samhradh síos sa Ghaeltacht atá i ndán di – nó an Jailtacht, mar a ghlaonn sí air.

 

This is a young adult book. Emily has a plan for her summer holidays, but her parents have an alternative plan for her. She’ll be spending the summer in the Gaeltacht - or the Jailtacht as she calls it.

Daideo le hÁine Ní Ghlinn 

Cois Life, Baile Átha Cliath (2014)

 

Buachaill ar a theitheadh óna thuismitheoirí. Seanduine ar a theitheadh ón pháistí. Buaileann siad ar an traein, agus éistíonn siad le scéalta a chéile. Bhuaigh an leabhar seo duais Oireachtais, agus Gradam Réics Carló i 2014. I 2015, bhuaigh sé duais ficsin Leabhair Pháistí Éireann, chomh maith le Gradam Leabhar do Pháistí í Chumann Liteartha na hÉireann. Is teács don Teastas Sóisearach anois é.

 

A boy on the run from his parents. An old man on the run from his children. They meet on the train to Dublin, and exchange stories. This book won the Gradam Réics Carló, as well as an Oireachtas prize in 2014. In 2015, it won Children’s Books Ireland Book of the Year, as well as the Literacy Association of Ireland Children’s Book Award. It was subsequently added as a text on the Junior Certificate syllabus.

Nóinín le Máire Zepf 

Cois Life, Baile Átha Cliath (2019)

 

Casann Nóinín, déagóir cúthail, ar fhear óg ar an idirlíon. Nuair a théann sí chun casadh leis, ní thagann sí ar ais. Léigh scéal a cara Eimear, a cuireann an milleán uirthi féin. Buaiteoir Ghradan Leabhar na Bliana KPMG ó Leabhair Pháistí Éireann (2020).

 

Nóinín, a shy teenager, meets a young man online. When she goes to meet with him in person, she never returns. Read the story from her friend Eimear, who blames herself for Nóinín’s disappearance. Winner of the 2020 KPMG Book of the Year Award from Children’s Books Ireland.

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