The Bisto Book of the Year Awards Shortlist was announced earlier this week. This year's list features ten books which are now in the running for the most prestigious Irish children's book awards. The CBI Bisto Book of the Year Awards are presented annually in recognition of excellence in writing and illustration. The awards are administered by CBI and sponsored by Bisto (Premier Foods). The winners will be announced on May 22nd 2008.

The shorlisted books are:

• Michael Scott The Alchemyst
• F E Higgins The Black Book of Secrets
• Jessica O'Donell Discover Art
• Andrew Whitson Gaiscioch na Beilte Uaine le Caitriona Nic Sheain agus
• Kate Thompson The Last of the High Kings
• Siobhan Dowd The London Eye Mystery
• Tom Kelly The Thing With Finn
• Colin Bateman Titanic 2020
• Oliver Jeffers The Way Back Home
• Roddy Doyle Wilderness