Siobhán Parkinson writes fiction for children and young people. She has published more than twenty books since 1992, and her work has been translated into as many languages. She has been shortlisted nine times for the Bisto Book of the Year award, which she won on one occasion; she has received Bisto Merit and Honour Book awards four times as well as two IBBY Honours and several White Ravens. Siobhán is an editor and publisher by profession and is the founder of Little Island Books. She has wide experience of teaching creative writing, and has held numerous Writers-in-Schools residencies, many with an emphasis on working with children with special needs. She has always been an outspoken champion of children’s literature, and writes and speaks passionately on the subject. Siobhán is visually impaired, and relies heavily nowadays on audiobooks and ebooks. During her term as Laureate, Siobhán championed the importance of school libraries, and instituted the Laureate International Library, a touring collection of children’s literature from around the world. Siobhán Parkinson was Ireland’s first Laureate na nÓg (2010-2012).
Scríobhann Siobhán Parkinson ficsean do pháistí agus do dhaoine óga. Tá níos mó ná fiche leabhar foilsithe aici ó bhí 1992 ann, agus aistríodh a saothar go roinnt mhaith teangacha. Bhí sí ar an ngearrliosta naoi n-uaire do Leabhar Bisto na Bliana, agus bhuaigh sí ar ócáid amháin é. Tá gradaim Fiúntais agus Onóir Bisto gnóthaithe ceithre huaire aici chomh maith le dhá Onóir iBbY agus gradaim éagsúla White Raven. Is eagarthóir agus foilsitheoir í Siobhán ó thaobh gairme de agus is bunaitheoir Little Island Books í. Tá taithí fhairsing aici ar an scríbhneoireacht chruthaitheach a theagasc, agus is iomaí uair a bhí sí ina Scríbhneoir Cónaitheach gearrthéarmach le scoileanna, ag leagan béim go minic ar obair le leanaí a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta acu. Labhair sí amach go láidir i gcónaí ar son litríocht do pháistí agus scríobhann sí agus labhraíonn sí go paiseanta faoin ábhar. Tá lagamharc ar Shiobhán, agus bíonn sí ag brath go mór anois ar chlos-leabhair agus ar ríomhleabhair. Le linn a tréimhse mar Laureate, tharraing Siobhán aird ar an tábhacht atá le leabharlanna scoile agus bhunaigh sí Leabharlann Idirnáisiúnta an Laureate, bailiúchán ar camchuairt de litríocht pháistí as áiteanna ar fud an domhain.
Ba í Siobhán Parkinson céad Laureate na nÓg (2010-2012).