I was on the One O'Clock News...

reading The Ravenous Beast! I was delighted to help launch the Eason's Get Into Reading campaign, which aims to spread the gift of reading to children and adults alike. The Easons survey showed that over 18% of Irish parents never read to their children. I pledged my support and feel that Reading aloud with your children is a joy not a duty. Make up funny voices, pore over small details in the pictures, or for longer books, read a chapter each night, have fun! The Irish nation really cares about reading and books, we need to be active in sharing our love of books with the next generation.

Every Saturday during the summer Eason's will be hosting a Get Into Reading event where children's books are read out loud at the same time across the country, starting with The Ravenous Beast this Saturday.  You can sign up and promise to read to your children here.

Myself and Cathy Kelly even got to tell the world all about it on the One O'Clock News!

Missing Picture Book Characters after Easons Event?

The David O'Callaghan rounds up the Illustration Easons Bash...

'Mass Doodling from the Audience! 3 Sad Tales of Loneliness (perfect for kids), one of a Cow 'n Chicken Thelma & Louise (and we all know how that ended) .. and An OWL RUG that made peeps go OOOOOHHH ! Yep, another nite at the Eason mothership = Happy Happy Times ! Thanx to Niamh, David (NOT The David), Chris & Chris.'

It was really lovely to meet some of the Mums and Dads who brought their kids along that night. And a great turn out from the IGI! Thank you also to Caoilfhionn who did an excellent job on the poster for the event!

The Ravenous Beast really enjoyed his trip on the train, ate a few passengers on the way. There was breaking news that a Lonely Beast, some lost Owl and a bear called Douglas were missing after the event in the picture book dept. When questioned about the disappearance, the Ravenous Beast had no comment but belched loudly. MMM?

Back to Earth....with a bang!

I'm back at my desk after the most amazing Easter Break ever. The weather has been really warm and sunny compared to our normal drizzle. I've been surfing, boogie boarding with my little surfers, picnicing in a 500BC stone fort, breaking a knitting world record, painting plein air, and X-sailing. I fell off my X-sail yesterday and landed on my head. My brain felt like a bowling ball sloshing around in my skull. Not good! Will have to get a helmet. Back to my inbox overflowing but it was so worth it. Apologies to all the no replies, I'll get there soon I promise. Hope you all had a great break?

May is looking like a great month for illustration. Look out for some of the amazing illustration events lined up. The fantastic folk at Easons are kicking off with an Illustration Evening (soirée) with David Melling, Chris Haughton, Chris Judge and myself. Should be an evening full of doodling and noodling. Event is ticketed (free!) and you can get tickets on the Easons site.

David Maybury is a dab hand in collage and photoshop... he's turned the two Chris's, David and myself in to an illustration machine!

Then there's The Bisto, the CBI Summer School Conference and National Drawing Day on the 28th. Hope to see you at some of these events!

Owl, Chicken & Cow Book Tour!

The uber talented Walker Books rep Conor Hackett brought myself and Chris Haughton on a whirlwind book signing session to eleven stores yesterday. I am still dizzy!

We had a great day, it was so wonderful to meet all the brilliant booksellers in Dublin who do trojan work all year around. I really appreciate all the support they have given to me over the years. We got a really lovely welcome in all stores.

Here's are some of the highlights...

The Chris, the owl, the giraffe, the Niamh, the chicken, the cow.

Blocking escalators...

ouch Chris may never draw again...

Ahh! Crimbo owl tree...

News2Day

I really had a brilliant day in Airfield House yesterday will all the regional winners of the First Ever Sightsavers Junior Painter of the Year Awards.
It was brilliant to see all the artists in person and to see the fantastic paintings framed and hung in Airfield House, Dundrum. There was a real energy and excitement at the exhibition. The artworks are colourful, vibrant and imaginative. I am thrilled for all the 2010 Junior Painters who came from all over Ireland. Congratulations!!!!

There's coverage on The Den on News2Day from last night and plenty of photos today in The Times and The Indo.

The exhibition is now open everyday until the 20th February. Go along!

Change

I spent the day with Conor my rep driving around all the Easons signing copies of Cinderella. It’s half price in all Eason Stores for one week only.
Here is a copy of the Argosy Christmas Catalogue, it was commissioned for Argosy who sell wholesale into Independent bookstores. I always try to support the independents. We have a lovely little bookstore in our Town Skerries Bookstore, run by Paddy. It's a great little shop and he is a great supporter of my books.
I also think that books are the best Christmas present and I am making my list up now so if you know me expect a book. So fantastic to curl up in front of the fire and read or sit your little one on your knee for a cosy read.
I know its credit crunch time but I still think that books are good value, for a night in just add cup of hot chocolate and warm fire!

Last night I stayed up 'til two in the morning watching the coverage of US elections but my peepers had to go asleep in the end. When we woke up this morning we all raced down to turn on the news. I was so happy and delighted that Obama is new president...what a monumental moment in time. The coverage was incredibly moving, it really was a young peoples vote for change and hopefully Obama will change the world for the better, to a happier world :-)