CBI is the national children’s books organisation of Ireland. Through our many activities and events we aim to engage young people with books, foster a greater understanding of the importance of books for young people and act as a core resource for those with an interest in books for children in Ireland.

Children’s Books Ireland was founded in 1997 as a result of the merger of The Irish Children’s Book Trust (ICBT) and the Children’s Literature Association of Ireland (CLAI). Both of these organisations had developed during the late eighties and nineties, a time of significant progress in Ireland for publishing and writing for children. The new organisation, Children’s Books Ireland, set up as a company limited by guarantee, obtained charitable status and adopted a memorandum and articles.

CBI’s primary source of funding is The Arts Council, which has always recognised the importance of our remit for children in Ireland. CBI first received Arts Council funding, both revenue and capital, in 1997. Revenue funding has been received annually since, enabling continued growth and development. Additional funding is actively sought from a variety of sources, which currently include membership, subscriptions, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, Culture Ireland, Foras na Gaeilge and commercial sponsors.