First published on 19th November, 2024 by The Irish Book Awards. Original article can be viewed here
Children’s author Martin Waddell to be honoured with the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Waddell at the annual An Post Irish Book Awards in Dublin on 27th November
The An Post Irish Book Awards is delighted to announce that Martin Waddell is the recipient of this year’s ‘Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award’. The award will be presented on 27th November at the 2024 awards ceremony in The Convention Centre, Dublin.
As the 2024 Lifetime Achievement honouree, Martin Waddell will join a host of other distinguished recipients including Sebastian Barry, Colm Tóibín, Thomas Kinsella, Eavan Boland, John Montague, J.P. Donleavy, Paul Durcan, John Banville, Maeve Binchy, John McGahern, Edna O’Brien, William Trevor, Seamus Heaney, Anne Enright and Professor Roy Foster. All previous winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award can be found at www.irishbookawards.ie/history/hall-of-fame/
Martin Waddell is the first children’s writer to receive the award, and is one of the most popular and beloved authors in the world of children’s literature. With more than one hundred books to his credit and 25 million books sold worldwide, he is one of the most prolific and successful children’s writers. He is best known for Owl Babies (1992), illustrated by Patrick Benson, and the Little Bear books, illustrated by Barbara Firth. Waddell won the prestigious Hans Christian Anderson Award in 2004, which is considered the highest international recognition for an author of children’s books. He is also two time winner of the Smarties Book Prize and received the Kurt Maschler Award among others.
In conferring the award, the Board of the Irish Book Awards stated:
‘Northern Irish author, Martin Waddell, is best known for his books for children. Previously, Waddell had written thrillers and adult fiction but having transitioned to children’s literature, he became one of the most popular and well-beloved authors for young readers.
His most famous book is Owl Babies (1992), illustrated by Patrick Benson, a picture book about three baby owls waiting anxiously for their mother to return. It has become a timeless classic, widely read in homes and schools alike, and praised for its reassuring message of maternal love and security. Equally popular are the Little Bear books, illustrated by Barbara Firth, which explore themes of friendship, family, and adventure. You would struggle to find an Irish parent who hasn’t read these books to their children at one time or another and all Irish booksellers owe Martin a massive debt for the privilege of selling and recommending his wonderful go-to classics.
Waddell’s signature style is simple, direct, and suffused with an instinctive empathy for the concerns of children and their parents. A deeply private person, Waddell lives quietly at his home in County Down. His legacy, however, is far-reaching, as his stories continue to be cherished by new generations of readers around the world.
For all of the above reasons, the Board of the An Post Irish Book Awards wish to present the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award to Martin Waddell.’
Larry Mac Hale, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, says:
“The Board of the An Post Irish Book Awards is delighted to present the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award to Martin Waddell. His storytelling captures the hearts of readers both young and old, and his work is filled with warmth, imagination, and a deep understanding of childhood, making him one of the most beloved voices in children’s literature. Waddell’s ability to bring characters to life and explore universal emotions with such tenderness and insight makes him a worthy recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”
