A Very Merry Book Loving Christmas to you all!

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. 

Walker Éireann first week!

Its been a great launch week across the country for Walker Éireann, a huge thank you to Easons and to Hodges Figgis for the amazing displays!

Walker Eireann!

Sarah Webb, Myself, Stephan Pastis and the lovely Mary Murphy at the Launch of Walker Eireann last night!

 

 Lots more info on Conor Hackett's Blog here. 

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! 

The Happy Hugglemonsters meet Deirdre!

Loved having my wonderful publisher Deirdre Mc Dermott from Walker Books visit The Happy Hugglemonsters at Brown Bag Films last week. Deirdre got to see lots of behind the scene sneaky peeks at what we've been working on at Brown Bag.  It's so exciting... I can't wait to show you soon!

World Book Day 2012

Bob from The Gutter Bookshop along with Children's Books Ireland organised a fantastic World Book Day yesterday at Wood Quay! Myself, Sarah Webb and Gerry Boland helped launch the Biggest Book Show on Earth live link from London where 750,000 children from the UK and Ireland tuned in online.  RTE Junior came and covered our event,  go check it out here. 

Bob The Book Wizard!

Me and fellow book lover Sarah Webb

St. Audeon's NS see first sketches and doodles of Henry Hugglewug, then we then drew lots of Monsters together. 

Have you read these Picture books :)

Finished with a bit of Nonsense Smonsense!

Dicken's Doodlers

Google has a lovely doodle today to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.

Rackham

Cruikshank

And a great article albeit controversial from The Independent which questions where have all the all the book illustrators gone? Wouldn't it be amazing if adult books were illustrated like they were in the golden era. As Alice said, what is the point of books without pictures?

"Charles Dickens enjoyed close collaborative relationships with the illustrators of his novels, 

but now it's rare to find a picture outside the world of children's books. 

Is drawing a lost art, or could we be on the brink of a new golden age?"

Tenniel

When I left college I really wanted to illustrate adult books.  My final project was a series of gritty illustrations based on Mikhail Bulgakov's The Heart of a Dog. I sent off my illustrations to Harvill straight after I graduated and got my first rejection letter; a charming rejection I do remember. I still have it, must dig it up.  But it's something that I always thought i'd go back to as there is so much scope for an illustrator in an adult text.  Dickens has been illustrated by some of the greats including George Cruikshank, John Leech, and our own PJ Lynch his version of Dicken's Christmas Carol is one of my favourites and refutes The Independent article. Here is a man who clearly knows how to draw and is up there with the classic illustrators of all time.

Lynch

Exhibition opens this Thursday

The Illustrators Guild of Ireland collection of Book Illustrations opens this Thursday at The United Arts Club. We are thrilled that Laureate na NÓg Siobhán Parkinson will officially launch the exhibition at 8pm. Featuring lovely originals by PJ Lynch, Kevin Mc Sherry, Steve Simpson, Annie West, and lots more of the IGIers. It runs until February 13th open 11am-11pm daily. Do pop by!

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

Mavis and Marge Colouring Pages!

If you enjoyed watching On the Road with Mavis and Marge on CBeebies last week you might like to download these activity sheets from the Walker Books Website here or from my site.

OFFSET

Myself and Chris Haughton chat about books, tents and children's publishing at OFFSET 2010

Mavis and Marge on Cbeebies!

Kym Marsh on CBeebies Bedtime Stories does a wonderful rendition of On The Road with Mavis and Marge!

Picture Book Picnic Trailer!

Here's the wonderful Picture Book Picnic trailer from Walker Books. Can you spot Mavis and Marge from ON THE ROAD waving from the top of a mountain!

Go check out all the wonderful Picture books here.

Happy Drawing Day!

WOW! What an afternoon and fantastic turn out at Newbridge House for National Drawing Day. I will let the pictures tell the story, but I have to admit the event was so much FUN!!! My event of the year so far. I think you can tell from the photos there were Nanas and Daddos and Mammos and the drawing bug was infectious. Everyone was drawing!

A little boy who was only three drew an awesome Hugglewug! There was roaring and reading and messy fingers and a HUGE roll of tasty Fabriano Paper to do our Mega Monster Doodle Mash on! Huge thanks for Fingal County Council who outdid themselves on the totally booked out event. And huge thank you to Rachel Doherty who was my fantastic assistant today :)

If you were there today please leave me a comment, I'd love to know what you all thought?

The Picture Book Picnic

Walker Books have just set up The Picture Book Picnic, which is a campaign to encourage families and friends to share books like they would a picnic. I love this idea!!! I'm so delighted that On The Road with Mavis and Marge is one of the titles and that I am one of the authors.

If you would like to win a free copy do pop over and comment on Tim Atkinson's reading On The Road to his son Charlie on his blog, Bringing up Charlie.

On the Road with Mavis and Marge is now out in Paperback. To celebrate there are some free colouring pages you can download from Walker Books here.

Win Free Books!

All you've got to do is do a doodle!

Win The Ravenous Beast and lots of Walker Picture books here!

Walker Books at the RDS craft fair

Go brave the weather and head to the RDS Craft Fair!

Conor Hackett has a great Walker Books stand there, with collectable first editions signed by lots of different Walker Books Authors.

There's new books from four Irish illustrators;Chris Haughton, Kevin Waldron,

PJ Lynch and me, Niamh Sharkey!

As well as signed first editions of Helen Oxenbury and John Burningham's first collaboration 'There's Going To Be A Baby.'

In case you didn't know Helen did the wonderful illustration of the Walker Bear!