Hugglemonster Giveaway

It's today Henry Hugglemonster official Launch day! I feel like a nervous parent sending my monster out into the world!

To celebrate the launch of Henry Hugglemonster today on Disney Junior I have 5 signed copies of my book 'I'm a Happy Hugglewug' to give away on my new Niamh Sharkey Illustration Facebook page.  Winners will be announced on Monday 11th February. Good luck everyone!

Have a Happy Hugglemonster Day!

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! 

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!