All thoughts of celebrities such as David Beckham or Westlife were temporarily put to one side at yesterday's Children's Books Ireland (CBI)/Bisto Book of the Year awards in Dublin, as authors became the focus of eager young autograph hunters.
First-time children's author John Boyne scooped the overall award for his book The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. The novel tells the story of a nine-year-old boy as he tries to understand what is going on around him in Auschwitz, or "Out With" as he knows it, during the second World War.
Irish novelist Boyne's first novel for children was chosen as book of the year from among 10 books shortlisted for the €10,000 prize. His novel has enjoyed considerable commercial and critical acclaim since it was published last year and is currently being made into a film.
The awards are presented annually in recognition of excellence in writing and/or illustration of books for young people. They are administered by CBI, the national organisation for children's books, and sponsored by Bisto.
This year's Eilis Dillon award for first time children's authors, which includes a cheque for €3,000, went to Siobhán Dowd, author of A Swift Pure Cry.
The three winners of the Bisto "honour" awards, worth €2,000, were Oliver Jeffers, author and illustrator of The Incredible Book Eating Boy, Eilis Ní Dhuibhne for Hurlamabocand Siobhán Parkinson for Something Invisible.
After accepting his overall award from Senator David Norris, Boyne said he was happy to accept both it and the "lovely gravy that goes with it".
He said the themes of the book included prejudice, hatred and the loss of human dignity in the world. He added he had been lucky enough to have the opportunity to speak in many schools around the country following the publication of the book. He expressed the hope that its themes would encourage readers to find out more about the Holocaust and related themes.
Boyne, who has previously written a number of books for the adult market, also received a specially commissioned trophy by sculptor Jarlath Daly to accompany his award.
Pupils from San Carlo primary school in Leixlip, Co Kildare, and Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne, Co Meath - selected from among 140 schools to attend yesterday's event - were eager participants during yesterday's awards lunch. At times, they were witnessed surrounding individual authors looking to gain a valuable autograph to show off at home and in school.
Ronan MacNamara, a sixth-class pupil at San Carlo primary school, said Boyne's book was a popular choice among his classmates, and was closely followed in the popularity stakes by another shortlisted book, A Christmas Carol.
He said he particularly liked the book's emphasis on providing a child's perspective on the events surrounding the second World War.
"My grandma got the book for me, she's really into John Boyne books.When she hears I met him and got his autograph, she'll be really pleased," he said.
In his address, Senator Norris, a noted Joycean scholar, outlined his belief that adults should be allowed to read children's books freely. One of his personal favourites included a work entitled Mary Mouse Goes to Town, he confided.
"I think adults should be allowed to read [children's books] too and I don't think they should be afraid of it," he said.