The Tir na n-Og Awards (abbreviated TnaO) are a set of annual children's literary awards in Wales from 1976. They are presented by the Books Council of Wales to the best books published during the preceding calendar year in each of three awards categories, one English-language and two Welsh-language. Their purpose is "[to raise] the standard of children's and young people's books and to encourage the buying and reading of good books." There is no restriction to fiction or prose. Each prize is £1,000.
The awards are named for Tír na nÓg, the "Land of the Young", an otherworldly realm in Irish mythology.
The English-language award honours one book with an "authentic Welsh background" whose original language is English. It is sponsored by the British Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, Cymru Wales division (CILIP/Wales), and presented at that association's annual conference in May.
The Welsh-language Primary Sector and Secondary Sector awards honour one book written for primary school children and one for secondary school children. They are presented at the annual Urdd National Eisteddfod, recently at the beginning of June or end of May. Since 2011, the Welsh-language awards are co-sponsored by the Cardigan-based publisher Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion.
Shortlists comprising three or four books in each awards category have been published by BCW at least from 2011.
Recent awards
2019
The 2018/2019 cycle was completed by announcements of the English-language winner on 16 May 2019 and the two Welsh-language winners at the Urdd National Eisteddfod on 30 May.
The primary sector award went to Elin Meek and Valériane Leblond for Cymru ar y Map, a lavishly illustrated picture atlas of Wales, published by Rily Publications.
The secondary sector award went to Manon Steffan Ros for Fi a Joe Allen, a football novel about a fan following the Welsh team to France, published by Y Lolfa.
The English-language award was presented to Catherine Fisher for The Clockwork Crow, a tale of enchantment involving Welsh folklore and set in a snowy Welsh landscape, published by Firefly Press.
2016
The 2015/2016 cycle was completed by announcements of the English-language winner on 26 May 2016 and the two Welsh-language winners at the Urdd National Eisteddfod on 2 June. Three shortlists of three or four books had been announced in March.
The primary sector award went to Sian Lewis and Valériane Leblond for Pedair Cainc y Mabinogi, a retelling of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi, published by Rily Publications.
The secondary sector award went to Llyr Titus for Gwalia, a space travel adventure, published by Gomer Press.
The English-language award was presented to Griff Rowland for The Search For Mister Lloyd, about a Welsh boy's search for his missing racing pigeon, published by Candy Jar Books.
2015
The 2014/2015 cycle was completed by announcements of the English-language winner on 14 May 2015 and the two Welsh-language winners at the Urdd National Eisteddfod on 28 May. Three shortlists of three or four books had been announced 26 March.
The primary sector award went to Caryl Lewis for Straeon Gorau'r Byd, a collection of stories from all over the world, published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch.
The secondary sector award went to Gareth F. Williams for Y Gêm, a novel about football and friendship centred on events of the First World War, notably the Christmas truce, published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch.
The English-language award was presented on 14 May 2015 at Swansea Central Library to Giancarlo Gemin for Cowgirl, a story of two very different girls in contemporary south Wales, published by Nosy Crow.
2014
The 2013/2014 cycle was completed 29 May 2014 at the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire with the presentation of the two Welsh-language awards.
The primary sector award went to Gareth F. Williams for Cwmwl dros y Cwm, a historical novel set in Senghenydd in South Wales at the time of the disastrous colliery explosion in 1913, published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch.
The secondary sector award went to Haf Llewelyn for Diffodd y Sêr, a historical novel about the family of Welsh poet Hedd Wyn (Ellis Humphrey Evans), who died at Passchendaele, published by Y Lolfa.
The English-language award was presented 15 May 2014 at Cardiff Central Library to Wendy White for Welsh Cakes and Custard, family-based stories about two young children in contemporary Wales, published by Gomer Press.
2013
The 2012/2013 cycle was completed 30 May 2013 at the Urdd National Eisteddfod with the presentation of the two Welsh-language awards.