Huggletastic Holidays!

Hope you all had really Huggletastic holidays? It's going to be a busy few months; there's a sneaky peek of my show that I've been making with Brown Bag Films, Henry Hugglemonster in January on Disney Junior. Henry Hugglemonster officially launches in February, I will post up dates as soon as I can.

Some great Laureate events lining up for 2013; I will be touring with Pictiúr an exhibition of Irish Picture Book Art throughout Europe and I'm also really excited about appearing at Offset 2013 in April.  In meanwhile I'd love to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Doodling on the radio is it really possible?

Do not be fooled. I will stop at nothing to get you doodling... I even attempted a radio doodle last week.

Myself and Gráinne Clear attempted a Live Christmas Doodling workshop on RTE Junior's Little Pages Programme yesterday morning. We even got a mention on Tubridy last Thursday.  Ryan called it  'The nations first live doodle! Thinking outside the box...' Thanks Ryan!

Our interactive-doodling and doodle dinodeers left a tail of glitter all over the RTE radio studio. And if you missed it don't worry you can now down load it On The RTE Junior Page.

So is it really possible? Please send in some of your photos of your doodle to info@childrenslaureate.ie so we can see! 

Hodges Figgis Christmas Window!

Absolutely thrilled to have been asked to paint the Hodges Figgis Christmas Window. I have been working away in my new studio. Its a massive undertaking as the illustration is over 8 foot long.  I couldn't of done it with out the help of my sister Emer who gave up her whole weekend and a day from Open Book Company (Thank you Brendan!) She was fantastic gessoing and helping me paint Dinotown. Thank you so much Emer! 

Here's a few images of the work in progress. I will be instore in Dawson Street all day Monday 27th painting the final touches and reading from Santasurus, and making stars to decorate the window with six year olds from Griffeen Valley Educate Together, Lucan.

Emer and Oscar roll out the gesso! 

Sketch up outlines

Niamh painting...

My painting Elf Emer! 

Conor has more info here. 

Leaves Festival

Here's some photos of the Monster Doodle form The Leaves Festival last Friday. The Monster Doodle is now hanging in Abbeyleix Library. 

Hamburg Workshops!

I am just back from three days of doodle and painting workshops in the The International School in Hamburg.  I really had the most fantastic welcome and was given free reign. I worked with Children from 3-8 years and was astounded at the amazing work they produced.

Here's the monster recipe I used...

 Add lots of 3 years olds and a blank canvas...

 Choosing Colours! 

 Making circles!

Orange handprints!

 Painting Summer Hugglemonster in the Roaring Forest...

Hugglemonster Flowers!

Hugglemonster Roar! 

The teachers were SO enthusiastic and hugely encouraging to the children and to me also. I was given complete freedom and wonderful art materials...  Huge thank you to Joanna Mc Donagh who invited me to her wonderful school. I also did some fantastic Monster doodles on huge rolls of Fabriano paper with the 5-8 years olds which was immediately hung in the entrance hall as a celebration of Book Week...

 Monster banner in the entrance hall!

 
Henry Hugglemonster Art all over the walls!

Hamburg hugglemonster

 I was very, very sad to say goodbye! 

Interactive Monster Doodle

Yesterday I launched The Children's Books festival with an interactive Live Streamed Monster Doodle event in Tallaght Library. I gave a workshop with tiny children as young as four and we connected to 9 schools across Ireland in a Google+ Hangout. The Monster Doodle was also live streamed on You Tube so other schools could follow us too. We all made Monster art with Oil pastels on huge rolls of Fabriano paper that took over the library! The doodles were fantastic. Go have a look at Mrs Bells Class Blog to see how her class got on...Doodletastic! 

Happy Niamh at the Monster Doodle! 

 10m Giant roll of paper at Tallaght Library

 Monster Doodles 

Monster Doodles 

 Google Hangout 

Cabra Library's Doodle

Huge thank you to the team at Children's Books Ireland, Bord Gais Energy Book Club for their support, Tallaght Library for setting it up and all especially to the children who Monster Doodled with me on Google!  

My article for Journal.ie

I was asked by thejournal.ie why reading is so important and what I hope to achieve as Laureate na n'Óg. Here's my answer...

'MY NEW ROLE as Laureate na nÓg is to raise the profile of Irish children’s books in Ireland and abroad. I want children to get really excited about reading and drawing.

As a picture book maker my focus will be visual as well as literary. I make books for very young children and over the next two years I want to reach those who don’t have easy access to books. One of my aspirations as Laureate is to gift a picture book to every newborn child in Ireland. I think it would say a lot about us as a country.

So far it has been a bit of a whirlwind; I’ve been to Cologne, Annecy and Belfast in the past few weeks. The city of Cologne had a two-week celebration of Irish children’s literature, and invited twelve writers and illustrators over for an exhibition and school visits. John Boyne, and the previous Laureate, Siobhán Parkinson, were among those who were invited. The Irish Ambassador traveled down from Berlin to open Enchanted, an exhibition of 45 illustrations by Marie Louise Fitzpatrick, PJ Lynch and myself. It was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the world-class children’s writers and illustrators we have in Ireland.

I traveled from Cologne to Annecy in France, for the prestigious animation festival. This year cast a spotlight on Irish animation. I was there with Brown Bag Films with whom I’m making The Happy Hugglemonsters – an animated series based on my picture book.

I’ve been amazed at the response to my new role at home too. For a nation of readers and book lovers, having a Children’s Laureate has sparked lots of interest. We really care about reading and books in Ireland, and we need to be active in sharing this passion with the next generation.

I believe children are never too young to start enjoying books! Sharing stories and reading pictures enriches children’s lives and fuels their imagination. Parents provide a good reading role model; if your kids see you reading, they will be encouraged to. I’d encourage families to read together. This month I helped launch the Bord Gáis Energy Read Together campaign. They offer fun tips on sharing books with your child that are well worth checking out.

Avalanche of ideas

With Children’s Books Ireland (CBI), I’ve generated pages of ideas. I’m enthusiastic about promoting the visual side of storytelling. I’d love to start a huge Monster Doodle similar to the Big Draw Quentin Blake launched when he was the UK Laureate. I believe everyone can draw. Just pick up a pencil and make a mark. I would encourage children to keep a doodle notebook for sketching and writing their ideas down. A 2B pencil and a blank page can unleash an avalanche of ideas.

I want to highlight our children’s authors and illustrators – children’s literature in Ireland doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. This is particularly true of literature for the very young.

I think we need to expand the definition of reading and to think outside the box about how to draw in reluctant readers. I love funny books. The ‘Wimpy Kid’ series has been fantastic for hooking reluctant readers because of its humour.

Think about what started you reading! The Cat in The Hat changed my life. I loved the tangled wordplay of Dr Seuss. The books were great ‘read-alouds’, and had zany madcap illustrations. My weekly Beano sparked my interest in comics and illustration.  I’d make my own comics every Saturday with my brother Daniel.

As a child I borrowed books from the mobile library when it came to Swords. I can remember how eager I was to get my hands on new books. Over the years I have given countless workshops in libraries as a writer and illustrator. Some of the children at these workshops are being afforded access to books that they clearly haven’t had in their lives. Such workshops can offer them an introduction to the world of stories. As Laureate I’m keen to promote the highly valuable resource that Irish libraries are.

Reading and drawing should above all else be fun. Literature for children is profoundly enriching precisely because it is something that can be enjoyed, and there is such a wealth of quality Irish children’s literature out there to influence and inspire.'

If you would like to contact Niamh about Laureate requests and events please contact  the project manager, Nessa O'Mahony at info@childrenslaureate.ie

Bord Gáis Read Together Campaign

Myself and Emma Walsh launched the Bord Gáis Energy Read Together campaign on TV3 last week. A recent survey showed that only 47% of parents read to their children before bed time. I believe children are never too young to start enjoying books.  Sharing stories and reading pictures enriches children’s lives and fuels their imagination no end. I'd really encourage families to read together at breakfast, lunch, dinner and at bedtime too!  There's fun tips on sharing books with your child that are well worth checking out here.  And here's the link of myself and Dr. Emma telling you all about it on the TV3 Book Club! Cobby Hugglemonster and Baby Ivor helped launch the campaign too! 

Laureate's na nÓgs first week!

The first week has been a bit of a whirlwind... but it has been brilliant fun. The messages and warm reaction to my new role as Laureate na nÓg have been really welcoming and I am looking forward to the next two years. Children's Books Ireland has gathered all the coverage here.

And I have been busy! Here's what day 2 was like:

6am-Wake up

7am- Taxi to RTE

9am- Interview on RTE John Murray's Radio Show

10am- Taxi to Brown Bag Films

12.30 Collected by the lovely Nessa who is the Laureates assistant. Fancy that!

1.30 First official event as Laureate na nÓg speaking at Barnardo's Literacy event.

2.30 Back to Brown Bag Films to work on visuals for The Hugglemonster show.

4.30- Interview Newstalk

5 pm- Attend actor records with director for The Hugglemonsters

11.30pm- Last train home and sleep. Phew!

Tomorrow, I will be giving the keynote address at The Children's Books Ireland Conference Weaving a Shared Story, which is taking place this weekend, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May. I've been collecting lots of old and new images to show there. The conference is always jammed packed with inspirational writers and illustrators and this year is no exception. On Saturday there is a talk by Jutter Bauer winner of the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Medal. And Sundays line up includes one of my heroes Ed Emberley, we adore his drawing books in our house! Hope to see you there. 

President Higgins and Laureate na nÓg

Wonderful words by the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins from my inauguration as Laureate na nÓg at the Arts Council offices last Tuesday.  I was incredibly honored that the leader of our country spoke so passionately and eloquently about Children's Books, poetry, authors and illustrators. He even referenced Granny O'Grimm and we made the evening news!




To contact the Laureate's Office about events please email info@childrenslaureate.ie or check out Children's Laureate's Website. 

Laureate na nÓg!

My lovely medal

Happy Niamh!

I am thrilled and honored to announce today that I am to be the new Laureate na nÓg! It will be a day that I will always remember. Surrounded by friends and family I was inaugerated by President of Ireland in the Arts Council Offices this morning.

Heres what is in store for me... Mags Walsh, Director of Children’s Books Ireland said: “In the two years since its establishment, the position of Laureate na nÓg has been able to highlight and celebrate the incredible talent and passion which exists in the Irish children’s books community. By bringing national and international attention to Irish children’s books, Laureate na nÓg has demonstrated the central role that books can play in every Irish childhood.”

Mu publisher Deirdre McDermott said: “Walker Books are so pleased and honoured that Niamh Sharkey has been appointed the second Laureate na nÓg. We have worked with Niamh since 2004 and have made five picture books with her, the most recent On the Road with Mavis and Marge winning the 2010 Irish Book Award. During her tenure, Siobhán Parkinson has done a tremendous job of establishing the role of Laureate na nÓg and promoting Irish children’s literature abroad. I know that during Niamh’s laureateship she will be also be the perfect ambassador for Irish children’s books and will particularly bring attention to Irish picture book makers worldwide. We couldn’t be more delighted!”

And I said... 'It is a great honor to be chosen as the next Laureate na nOg. I am a picture book maker so my focus as Laureate will certainly be visual as well as literary. I am going to get to do even more of what I love most – promoting quality children’s literature and encouraging children to read, write and draw. I have lots of ideas that I hope will inspire creativity in children of all ages. I’m very excited and can’t wait to get started!’

You can find our more about my exciting new role here. You can hear all about my day on the Laureate's Blog! Some lovely coverage from Children's Books Ireland, The Arts Council, Inis, Illustrators Ireland, Brown Bag Films and a clip from new Today on RTE Player and we made the six one and nine o clock news too!