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

Photos from Dalkey Book Festival

Here's some photos from my Doodle and Reading event at Photogenic at The Dalkey Book Festival yesterday. Huge thanks to Calla and Finn's Mum Naomi Murphy for these wonderful photos!

Mega-Monster-Mash-Doodle!

This Saturday Fingal County Council are hosting a National Drawing Day at Newbridge House as part of our National celebration of Dooodling! Oh Yeah, Smirktastic! I will be leading a Mega-Monster-Mash-Doodle at 12pm and 1.30pm on GIGANTIC rolls of paper with fantastic messy oil pastels!!!! I cannot wait.

Event is Free! Yipp-ee but you must book on 01-8708449. Download PDF here.