Mice and other stuff

A Cinderella review on Citv an interview in The Irish Word.
Tomorrow I will be in Drogheda as part of the Children's Leanbh Arts Festival.

This is the first morning that I'm off duty! I have been doing lots of Library visits as part of The Bookfest. Yesterday I was in Balbriggan and on Tuesday I was in Malahide. Top photo is from Slane Library fromlast week. Bottom photo is from Malahide after reading and drawing we sat down to watch The Ravenous Beast on DVD its an animation made by King Rollo Films.
I have also been designing the Trocaire Christmas Cards which I delivered on Monday so watch out for them I will post up the images soon.

Mini Grey

Here is an interview from Seven Impossible Things that features a great review of Mini Grey's work.

Hugglewugs

I'm a Happy Hugglwug will be available as a board book format from Candlewick Press and Walker Books from December. I got first copy by post this morning it looks really cute... my two year old read it in her own words from cover to cover so that's a good sign. I love board books for that age as they can bash them about, chew them, read them, love them and you don't have to worry! When The Ravenous Beast came out in board book format Oscar my son took a bite out of the corner! Yum!

Hear ye!

I was on Radio 4 tonight... But in case you missed it you can hear it on The Go For It site.

Radio 4 this Sunday

Hi I am on Radio 4 this Sunday evening with Author and Illustrator Mini Grey talking about our picture books on Go For It. Don't miss it! Oscar my son absolutely loves her book The Dish And The Spoon, and requested it night after night. I think she is great too!

Children's Drawings from Montolieu

Here are a few of the children's drawings of Hugglewugs from yesterday in the L'ecole Montolieu. I took pics of all the childrens' work so I will try to put them all up on a fliker so the children can all see their drawings. They were so small and they did such fantastic drawings!

Montolieu

Back yesterday from France, I had an amazing time and met some amazing people!

I arrived to the little Village of Books, Montolieu which is in the south of France close to Carasonne. Straight into workshops in the School! I gave my workshops through a mixture of French and the international language of illustration... no words required. It didn't really matter that my french was pretty bad. I did an interesting thing with Penni Cotton the organiser. We asked the children to tell the story in french without anyone reading the words. So it was the children's interpretation of my images. It was hilarious! We 'read' The Ravenous Beast this way and they were pretty close to the mark.

On Saturday I met some great people that were also taking part in the Book Festival. We all gave a talk on our work along with other writers, academics and the Mayor too! Gunter an illustrator from Belgium. And Sabien and her sister Dorine who were last spotted heading off down a hill towards Toulouse 100km away on their fold up bikes!

On Monday I did some more workshops with the really little ones. their teacher Magali was amazing! Bonjour Magali! I drew Hugglewugs with the children for about an hour. Some little ones as young as three did amazing drawings. Once we all starting drawing and looking at the images in my books the language barrier did not exist anymore. There was a lively discussion and lots of questions for me. It was really wonderful. I will post up the photos later...

Montolieu!

I have been mad busy this week with workshops as part of the Children's book festival and tomorrow I am off to France. I am invited to take art in The European Children's Literature festival.
I have also been commissioned to illustrate the Trocaire Christmas Cards this year, such a lovely project to be part of. all the roughs were sent today...hopefully I will be painting these next week on my return.
This is a little alien character design from my new book that I though you might like to have a look at.
Until I return... Au Revoir!

BookFest Fever!!!

I've been running about from Library to Library doing workshops as part of Children's Books Ireland Bookfest for the past two days! The children were amazing...and the teachers and librarians too.
I was made feel very welcome in Ashbourne, Duleek and Slane Libraries. Thank you to all the children who came along and doodled with me.
I am off to France on Friday to do more childrens' workshops! I have been learning French for the past few months myself by CD. I think it will be very funny giving my workshops in french I hope they understand me!
Here are a few photos from Ashbourne Library from yesterday taken by Joe Fannning.

A night to remember....

An amazing night was hosted by John Huddy at the Illustration Cupboard last Thursday. Lots of family and friends were there. John did an amazing job; the illustrations were beautifully displayed and glittered under the lights. David Lloyd said some words, about 'Poor Cinderella!' and lots about fishing...Thank you David :-) I also met Max Eilenberg for the first time, which was just lovely. After lots of sips champagne, and some yummy nibbles we tottered off to Cocoon to celebrate. Yvonne and Pauline stayed out past midnight but I heard the bells a ringing and hightailed it before my carriage turned back into a pumpkin!

The clock is ticking

Tonight I am packing my bags for London! Owen, Megan and my folks are going over for my exhibition tomorrow. Lots of people will be there all my Walker Books crowd and hopefully some friends too. Call by if you are near Bury Street it opens at six at the Illustration Cupboard. Or if you want to pop by on Saturday Max Eilenberg will be reading from Cinderella and I might draw a few mice!