Farewell Maurice Sendak my old friend...

I was heartbroken to hear about the passing of Maurice Sendak on the same day that I was made Laureate. Maurice Sendak has alway been my picture book hero from when I was little and his books have been my constant inspiration and friends over the years. To me he was the most original book maker of the 20th century. 
I LOVED his characters and I truly believed in them. His characters are REAL they are headstrong, bossy, sometimes even obnoxious! His books were groundbreaking in the sixties because they were a departure from the normal safe sweet picture books. Children love them because they depict something they recoginise- being sent to bed without supper and true emotional battles. Sendak sometimes brought the reader to dark places, was unsentimental and he never NEVER underestimated his audience.

Maurice made me love books and I try to share that love in any way I can everyday. He was my biggest influence as a picture book maker and artist.  I make books about Hugglemonsters, Ravenous Beasts; my own 'Wild Things.' He inspired me to never underestimate my audience, to never patronise or speak down to children but also to have fun, to spread a little anarchy with my words and pictures. 

My favourite Sendak Quote is when he talked about when a little boy sent him a letter- 

‘Oh, there’s so many. Can I give you just one that I really like? It was from a little boy. He sent me a charming card with a little drawing. I loved it. I answer all my children's letters — sometimes very hastily — but this one I lingered over. I sent him a postcard and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, "Dear Jim: I loved your card." Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said, "Jim loved your card so much he ate it." That to me was one of the highest compliments I've ever received. He didn't care that it was an original drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.’

I highly recommend Terry Gross's collected interviews with Sendak on NPR  Her interviews with Sendak over the years show his passion and give wonderful insight into Sendak as an artist and as a unique human being. The last interview moved me to tears. 

Laureate's na nÓgs first week!

The first week has been a bit of a whirlwind... but it has been brilliant fun. The messages and warm reaction to my new role as Laureate na nÓg have been really welcoming and I am looking forward to the next two years. Children's Books Ireland has gathered all the coverage here.

And I have been busy! Here's what day 2 was like:

6am-Wake up

7am- Taxi to RTE

9am- Interview on RTE John Murray's Radio Show

10am- Taxi to Brown Bag Films

12.30 Collected by the lovely Nessa who is the Laureates assistant. Fancy that!

1.30 First official event as Laureate na nÓg speaking at Barnardo's Literacy event.

2.30 Back to Brown Bag Films to work on visuals for The Hugglemonster show.

4.30- Interview Newstalk

5 pm- Attend actor records with director for The Hugglemonsters

11.30pm- Last train home and sleep. Phew!

Tomorrow, I will be giving the keynote address at The Children's Books Ireland Conference Weaving a Shared Story, which is taking place this weekend, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May. I've been collecting lots of old and new images to show there. The conference is always jammed packed with inspirational writers and illustrators and this year is no exception. On Saturday there is a talk by Jutter Bauer winner of the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Medal. And Sundays line up includes one of my heroes Ed Emberley, we adore his drawing books in our house! Hope to see you there. 

President Higgins and Laureate na nÓg

Wonderful words by the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins from my inauguration as Laureate na nÓg at the Arts Council offices last Tuesday.  I was incredibly honored that the leader of our country spoke so passionately and eloquently about Children's Books, poetry, authors and illustrators. He even referenced Granny O'Grimm and we made the evening news!




To contact the Laureate's Office about events please email info@childrenslaureate.ie or check out Children's Laureate's Website. 

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!