The Morning Show on TV3

Here's the link of me, The Hugglemonsters, Director Norton Virgien and Lead Writer Sascha Paladino on TV3's The Morning Show with Martin and Sybil. You can scroll to 16:20 to get straight to it. And a great photo from Darragh of the Brown Bag gang tuning in to watch the show at work this morning! 

News Updates for The Happy Hugglemonsters

For Press requests with Niamh Sharkey please contact Brown Bag Films on
+3531 8721608 Official Disney Press Release here.


Some news updates on The Happy Hugglemonsters!


Kidscreen
Animation World Network
The Irish Film and Television Network
C21media
Televisual
Hackett Flynn Publishers' Agency
Business Post
Animation Magazine
Cartoon Brew


Irish Media-
RTE2LateNews-Skip ahead to 12:30
Irish Times
Evening Herald
theJournal.ie
Belfast Telegraph
The Examiner
Ray Darcy Show fast forward to 9:15

Disney greenlights Happy Hugglemonsters from Brown Bag Films

I am thrilled to announce that Brown Bag Films have begun production on a new animated series ‘THE HAPPY HUGGLEMONSTERS’ for Disney Junior based on my book! 


It is the latest series to be developed and produced by Disney’s London based production hub, and will premiere on Disney Junior blocks from Autumn 2012, airing in over 150 countries worldwide. The 52 x 11 minute series will be produced in Brown Bag Films’ Dublin-based studio.
Cathal Gaffney, co-founder and CEO of Brown Bag Films said, “We are delighted to announce the production of this series, it is great to work with home grown talent like Niamh Sharkey and to bring an original idea like this to a global Disney Junior audience is hugely satisfying for all involved.”
Beth Gardiner, Vice President, Production & Development, Disney Junior EMEA added, “We are thrilled to welcome The Happy Hugglemonsters to the Disney Junior fold. Seen through our five year old hero Henry Hugglemonster’s eyes, the series delivers comedic and emotional storytelling with a monstery twist that pre-schoolers can really relate to; perfect for Disney Junior.”
Henry, the star of “The Happy Hugglemonsters”, is a young monster growing up in a bustling house with three siblings; older brother Cobby, slightly older sister Summer, and baby brother Ivor.  Henry knows a lot about the emotional ups and downs that preschoolers face in their daily lives, and in “The Happy Hugglemonsters” he is your guide to preschool life, monster-style.
Author Niamh Sharkey, whose illustrated picturebook, ‘I’m A Happy Hugglewug’ was published in 2006, says, “I am thrilled to be working with Brown Bag Films to bring my characters to life; the creativity, enthusiasm and care they bring to the project is mind blowing. Making this show for Disney Channel is a dream come true, and to be able to create this show in Ireland together is the icing on the cake. I know my monster family is in safe hands!”
“The Happy Hugglemonsters” was developed with support from the Irish Film Board/Bórd Scannán na hEireann.  For the Walt Disney Company’s full press release including press contacts please visit www.niamhsharkey.com and www.brownblogfilms.com

Library Mice

Huzzah! I'm a Happy Hugglewug is featured on Library Mice today! Make yourself a cuppa tea and grab a few Jammie Dodgers as you'll want to stay a while once you get there!

Then make another cuppa tea and go read this article 50+ Picture Books Every Child Should Read. There's lots of my favourites featured on Playing By The Book. Happy Reading!

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!

Farmleigh Big Day Out

The sun came out and so did lots of children to Children’s Books Ireland’s Summer Story Day. Thanks to all the children who came along to Farmleigh House and drew a Hugglewug. My workshop was for 3-5 year olds, I read I'm a Happy Hugglewug and did a step by step drawing of how to draw a Hugglewug. The drawings were fantastic! And what an amazing setting!

Miss Read!

My designer Helen Read has left Walker Books after twenty years. I featured Miss Read in 'I'm a Happy Hugglewug', as Henry's school teacher. Helen did a fantastic job designing all my books with Walker. I will really miss her. Good luck Miss Read in your new adventures!

Sunny Day!

Hi writing this blog is getting to be like a weather forecast station. Our moods are really affected by weather. So I just want to say the rain has gone, the studio windows are open wide and it is a beautiful day in Dublin!

Early Hugglewug

Just looking back through old Hugglewugs sketches. This was one of my first doodles of what a Hugglewug could look like. Characters often go through lots of different stages. This is a watercolour sketch. I really like using this medium because its fast!!! And you get an instant idea of the character. I would usually make lots of these versions before I find the real character. 

Amazon

Hugglewug news!

December 2007: Exciting news!
I’m a Happy Hugglewug has jointly won the top prize
for the picture book category of the Highland Children’s Books Award. Hurray!
Thanks to all the children in Scotland who voted for Hugglewugs.
The Highland Council
Amazon