Niamh Sharkey

Exhibition opens this Thursday

2012-01-23T08:13:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-13T08:33:00.000-08:00

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!

Hugglemonsters on TV3

2012-01-12T13:29:00.000-08:00

The Happy Hugglemonsters visit TV3 in the morning. Myself, director Norton Virgien and lead writer Sascha Paladino will be on The Morning Show tomorrow with Sybil and Martin to talk about our new show we are making for Disney just after 11am with The Happy Hugglemonsters!

News Updates for The Happy Hugglemonsters

2011-12-20T05:06:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-20T02:04:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-12-18T08:34:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-16T05:55:00.001-08:00

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

Mavis and Marge on Cbeebies!

2011-12-06T04:59:00.000-08:00

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

Picture Books Christmas Tree

2011-12-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

Inspirational Christmas Magic courtesy of Master David Maybury! Enjoy and share the Picture Book love this Christmas...

Book Festival Fever!

2011-10-17T04:19:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos from my visits to Clondalklin Library last week! I have been zooming around lots of Dublin Libraries; there's been plenty of storytelling, doodling and ROARING!

Off to Cork for Book Festival this Wednesday!

A day in the life of Book Festival...

2011-10-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

My Poster Design

Megan and The Book Eating Beast

Niamh Sharkey, Norton Virgien, Lisa O Connor and Megan Mc Mahon

Artwork from The Ravenous Beast

Austrian Illustrators Book Work

Oscar

Laureate NaÓg Siobhan Parkinson

Hey guys! Time to catch up and tell you abut all the amazing things happening for Children's Book Festival! Last Friday was the opening of Images Beyond Borders an exhibition of Irish and Austrian Picture Book Illustrators. It was launched last Friday by our wonderful Laureate na nÓg Siobhán Parkinson and Karin Fichtinger-Grohe, Deputy Minister at the Austrian Embassy, at The No Grants Gallery in Temple Bar. I have to say I am so proud to be included in this exhibition. It is right in the heart of Temple Bar and really raises the bar :) It runs for the month of October so make sure to pop in! although they do close for lunch!

Tomorrow I'll post up photos of my Book Festival Library visits, Doodle Mania and how I met the infamous Don Conroy in Skerries!

Exhibition In Temple Bar This Friday!

2011-10-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

Images Beyond Borders, a new exhibition of illustrations from children’s literature, featuring Irish and Austrian illustrators opens at The No Grants Gallery in Temple Bar this Friday at 7pm, information here.

The exhibition features 8 original pieces of art from The Ravenous Beast and also includes artwork of The Book Eating Monster! It runs until 27th of October.

BookFest Fever!

2011-10-04T03:33:00.001-07:00

It's Book Festival time! I am the official Book Festival Illustrator. For this year’s poster competition CBI are asking you to come up with a name for the book-eating monster who appears on the Children’s Book Festival poster. You could win some fantastic prizes for your school or library! Enter here!

For my BookFest tour dates I'll be visiting libraries in Dublin and Cork this year. I am also one of the illustrators exhibiting at Images Beyond Borders, a new exhibition of illustrations from children’s literature, featuring work by Irish and Austrian illustrators. It is the result of an exciting collaboration between the Irish children’s books laureate, Laureate na nÓg, Siobhán Parkinson, and the Austrian Embassy, and will run for three weeks. The exhibition of orignal art including the Book Eating Monster opens at The No Grants Gallery in Temple Bar this Friday at 7pm. Info here.

My hero, Jim Henson...

2011-09-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

"Please watch out for each other,

and love and forgive everybody."

Jim Henson.

Mountains To Sea

2011-09-11T02:19:00.001-07:00

Toady I'm off to Dunlaoghaire for my Animal Madness with Mavis and Marge event at The Mountains to Sea Book Festival. Can't wait! Full Family Programme available here.

It was Enchanting...

2011-09-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

The Skerries Soundwaves Launch was opened last by the wonderful Robert Dunbar who as Oisín McGann puts it "is arguably the grandaddy of the children’s books community in Ireland." Oisín has a great write up of last night on his blog here. There was lovely guitar music, lots of nibbles and wine and plenty of friends and family there. It was just lovely to have Polly Dunbar along too last night!

The Enchanted Exhibition of Children's book art that features myself, Oisín, Bruce Ingram, Annie West and Adrienne Geoghan and it has travelled Ireland for the past two years. So I was thrilled to be able to bring it to Skerries and host it at Skerries Mills. I can see the windmill from my studio window so it really was a perfect setting. You could see the magical trees that I designed back in 2004 for Barabbas's Mid Summer Nights Dream twinkling away at nights end :)

The Ravenous Beast launches Soundwaves Festival!

2011-09-07T12:49:00.000-07:00

It's here and it launches tomorrow- The Skerries Soundwaves Arts and Music Festival. I am so delighted to be bringing The Enchanted Exhibition featuring five Children's Book Illustrator's to Skerries Mills. A venue I can see from my studio window!

The exhibition opens tomorrow night at 8.30 by the wonderful Robert Dunbar and will run until the 25th September. Make sure you pop along to see the original artwork! I have 8 pieces from The Ravenous Beast. Schools will be visiting and some of the authors will also be doing workshops in the local schools during the festival. Hurray!

Picture Book Picnic Trailer!

2011-08-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

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.

Go Eat Books!

2011-07-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

My secret is out! I am the illustrator for The Children's Book Festival this year! You can feast on tasty Irish and international authors and illustrators during the month of October, designed to whet the appetite of young readers from toddlers to teens! Lots of sneaky info here.

Now my secret's out. I am off to EAT BOOKS!!!!

What a Great Picnic!

2011-07-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Here's my teddy Bedford on his way to The Picture Book Picnic last Saturday. It was part of the Made in Temple Bar Festival organised by Walker Books, The Gutter Bookshop and Children's Books Ireland.

It was so wonderful doing an event for the really tiny ones; there were lots of babies and families there. Everyone joined in singing and dancing the Hugglewug song and there was plenty of doodling games too! And a surprise visit from Maisy Mouse at the end.

The Dare Project has a great review and some wonderful photos of the afternoon here. I loved her description that it was like a 'Love bubble.' I couldn't agree more as I was smiling all afternoon after the event. It really had a lovely warm vibe. The wonderful Bob also has some great photos up on The Gutter Bookshop's Facebook.

Dublin Picture Book Picnic!

2011-07-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

Huzzah! Dublin is to have a Picture Book Picnic and I'll be there doodling and storytelling. Bring along your teddy I will be bringing along my teddy Bedford. Bring a blanket, a picnic hamper and your listening ears. There will be plenty of surprises including Maisy Mouse! It's on this Saturday 16th July at 1pm. The event is free, but booking is advised – so get your tickets at The Gutter Bookshop, Cow’s Lane, Temple Bar. More info too at Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and Childrens Books Ireland.

New Sharkey and Jeffers Book Tokens!

2011-07-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

My own Sharkey credit card at last! And it's one for buying books...so perfect! Delighted that Mavis and Marge are featured on the new electronic book tokens. There in good company too with Oliver Jeffer's Boy and Penguin. Many thanks to Bob at The Gutter Bookshop for the photo!

The Older Set...

2011-06-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

I also ran an Illustration Workshop for an older group of 8-13 year olds. We had a long session so we worked on character design sheets, cast design illustrations, thumbnails, storyboarding, dummy books, cover design and typography. They were a really great group and really came up with some fantastic work!

The Super Illustrators!

Torn by Louise O' Brien's

Character Design, and Storyboarding

Little Illustrators Make Their Mark!

2011-06-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

Wonderful jam-packed day on Saturday at The Riverbank with The Little Illustrators. There were some really tiny little illustrators attending but they did amazing drawings. Look at the Lion it was made by Sarah, who was only three! This group got to draw Hugglewugs, Ravenous Beasts and even make Book-books with Marge the Chicken from On The Road, and they really were totally amazing!

Some Little Illustrators with their books-Ciara and Jamie

Watching Ravenous Beast DVD and colouring in Mavis and Marge pages

Lion by Sarah aged 3!

Millie and her fantastic Book-Book!

Millie's Henry Hugglewug

Roisin's Book-Book!

Billy's Book Book

Proud Billy and his finished Book!

Illustration Workshops @ Riverbank Arts Centre

2011-06-23T03:29:00.001-07:00

I'll be at the Riverbank Arts Centre, in Newbridge Co. Kildare this Saturday 25th doing two workshops. Read and Draw the Hugglewug Way suitable for age 3-7 years. I promise stories, doodling and lots of ROARING!

I will also be running a Illustration Workshop suitable for age 8-12 years. You will get a chance to see inside my notebooks and dummy books and find out where I get my ideas from and lots of secrets of the trade! It will very much a hands-on illustration workshop, where we will be drawing lots and you'll get tips on how to design funny characters and funky worlds! Hope to see you there.

Photos from Dalkey Book Festival

2011-06-20T04:47:00.000-07:00

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!

Dalkey Book Festival

2011-06-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

Just back from the Dalkey Book Festival and it was so wonderful to be part of it. Imagine a small seaside town busting and bustling with adult and children's literature events on all weekend. It was a very ambitious festival but a total sell out! The atmosphere on the streets was wonderful and I popped into The Tramyard Gallery to look at Brian Fitzgerald's Bloomsday illustrations which are wonderful. And the sun shone too...wow! Here's me and Don Conroy enjoying a cup of coffee together after our events.

Dalkey Book Festival

2011-06-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

Before I forget I will be doing a workshop at the Dalkey Book Festival this Sunday at 11am. I'm afraid that it's booked out but I will be around after my event at Photogenic @ 11.45 if you want to meet me and get books doodled on! The line up is amazing now we just need some sunshine.

My visit to Candlewick Press

2011-06-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

Just back from Boston, it was so lovely to visit my American publisher Candlewick Press while I was over. Everyone was so welcoming and it was lovely to meet up with Joan and all the team again. Got sneaky peeks at some exciting projects happening soon, some we never get to see this side of the water. They have moved office since the last time I was over and the one story building, gallery wall and lunch area is wonderful. Can wait until my next visit! Here's the lovely entrance, you can sit and chat with Maisy while you're waiting.

Happy Drawing Day!

2011-05-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

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?

23 Degrees 5 Minutes

2011-05-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

Brown Bag Films animator extraordinaire Darragh O’Connell has been making a new short ‘23 Degrees 5 Minutes’ and here's a sneek peek. It's Brown Bag Films first short since Darragh and Nicky Phelan were shortlisted for an Oscar for ‘Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty’ last year. Original score by super talented Darren Hendley, guaranteed to give you shivers. It will also feature the voices of John Hurt and Stuart Townsend. I can't wait to see the rest now!

23 degrees will premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh this summer. Go have a look at Darragh's excellent behind the scenes making of 23 degrees over on The Brown Bag Blog.

Mega-Monster-Mash-Doodle!

2011-05-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

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.

Kenny Gave Obama A Book!

2011-05-23T05:21:00.000-07:00

There is so much excitement today for Michelle and Barack Obama's visit to Ireland. Wonderful that our Taoiseach Enda Kenny gave them a first edition of 'Legends of Hawaii' that was written by an Irishman, Padraic Colum. Enda's commented that it was not for Obama but for his daughters Malia and Sasha. I loved Obama's reaction, "If you need someone to do some good writing...hire an Irishman!'

'Let me through security or I'll eat you up! '

Due to high winds, torrential rain, and tight security, Ravenous Beast might not make it through the barriers and I'll have to post Tales from Old Ireland to Malia and Sasha at the White House!

There has been such excitement here today. Here's a clip of US President Barack Obama and First Lady, Michelle Obama having a pint of the black stuff down in Ollie Hayes pub in Moneygall, Co. Offaly. They are such an awesome couple, kissing babies and shaking hands all over Ireland! They look like they are having a great day and the street party is yet to begin!

Sláinte Obama!

Missing Picture Book Characters after Easons Event?

2011-05-23T04:56:00.000-07:00

The David O'Callaghan rounds up the Illustration Easons Bash...

'Mass Doodling from the Audience! 3 Sad Tales of Loneliness (perfect for kids), one of a Cow 'n Chicken Thelma & Louise (and we all know how that ended) .. and An OWL RUG that made peeps go OOOOOHHH ! Yep, another nite at the Eason mothership = Happy Happy Times ! Thanx to Niamh, David (NOT The David), Chris & Chris.'

It was really lovely to meet some of the Mums and Dads who brought their kids along that night. And a great turn out from the IGI! Thank you also to Caoilfhionn who did an excellent job on the poster for the event!

The Ravenous Beast really enjoyed his trip on the train, ate a few passengers on the way. There was breaking news that a Lonely Beast, some lost Owl and a bear called Douglas were missing after the event in the picture book dept. When questioned about the disappearance, the Ravenous Beast had no comment but belched loudly. MMM?

Come one come all!

2011-05-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Join Bisto winner Chris Haughton along with fellow children's book illustrators Chris Judge, David Melling and myself this Thursday at 6pm in Easons, O'Connell Street for an evening of Q&A & doodling! More info on Scamp and Easons.

We promise story telling, noodling and you-can-doodling. Open from age zero to infinity!

Tickets are FREE! So no excuses, g'wan now you know you can come.

Chris Haughton wins The Bisto!!!!

2011-05-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

WOWSERS!!!! The Bisto Book of the Year Award goes to C hris Haughton’s A Bit Lost! And the Eilís Dillon award for a first children’s book goes to Chris too!!!! Huge congratulations to Chris, he is such an nice fella and its a wonderful book.

What a year for Picture Books! The Honour Award for Illustration went to Caitríona Hastings and Andrew Whitson’s Mac Rí Éireann. And The Special Judges Award to Oliver Jeffers’ Heart and the Bottle.

The Children’s Choice Award went to the lovely Sheena Wilkinson for Taking Flight.

David Maybury has all the scoop here on the new INIS site. And can I say what a delicious site it is too :)

Google Doodle Mr Men

2011-05-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Mr Men's creator Roger Hargreaves would of been 76 yesterday and Google ran some lovely banners in case you missed them have a look here or at some Mr. Men book covers on The Guardian site. I remember getting my first Mr.Men book when I visited my cousin Rachel in London when I was 5.

What I love about them is each Mr. Men or Little Miss reminds me of one of my friends or family.

Which one are you? I am definitely this one...

Back to Earth....with a bang!

2011-05-03T02:50:00.000-07:00

I'm back at my desk after the most amazing Easter Break ever. The weather has been really warm and sunny compared to our normal drizzle. I've been surfing, boogie boarding with my little surfers, picnicing in a 500BC stone fort, breaking a knitting world record, painting plein air, and X-sailing. I fell off my X-sail yesterday and landed on my head. My brain felt like a bowling ball sloshing around in my skull. Not good! Will have to get a helmet. Back to my inbox overflowing but it was so worth it. Apologies to all the no replies, I'll get there soon I promise. Hope you all had a great break?

May is looking like a great month for illustration. Look out for some of the amazing illustration events lined up. The fantastic folk at Easons are kicking off with an Illustration Evening (soirée) with David Melling, Chris Haughton, Chris Judge and myself. Should be an evening full of doodling and noodling. Event is ticketed (free!) and you can get tickets on the Easons site.

David Maybury is a dab hand in collage and photoshop... he's turned the two Chris's, David and myself in to an illustration machine!

Then there's The Bisto, the CBI Summer School Conference and National Drawing Day on the 28th. Hope to see you at some of these events!

THE GIRL WHO FORGOT TO SING BADLY

2011-04-21T05:55:00.000-07:00

Myself, Megan and my Mum had a three generation girly day on Monday and went to Dublin. We had such an amazing day book shop wandering and noodling about town. Our total highlight was going to see Louis Lovett in THE GIRL WHO FORGOT TO SING BADLY at The Peacock.

Go see Louis Lovett’s Top Ten Reasons You Should See The Girl Who Forgot To Sing Badly. My favourite is Reason 9.

"If you and your granny or your friend or your dad or your younger sister or any of your family and any of your friends want to laugh your socks off at the same thing at the same time and at the same place and at the same funny man who’s sweating his socks off not three feet in front of you. Phew."

Lovett's physical theatre, the set, the stage, the lighting, the sweaty man are so imaginative, interactive and utterly, utterly fabulous. Go see it now!!!!
Megans says, "Amazing, Amazing, Amazing!" ("Mum can we go see it again?").

Sendak Mural unveiled...

2011-04-15T03:47:00.000-07:00

Imagine having a Maurice Sendak mural to sleep under!

50 years ago and two years before he wrote and illustrated 'Where the Wild Things Are,' Sendak painted a mural in Nina and Larry Chertoff's bedroom, in their apartment in New York. They have lovely memories from when Sendak came to paint the mural, they were only 6 and 4, “Maurice was sensitive to the quality of light in the room.”

Nina and Larry donated this 2 ton piece of plaster to the Philadelphia's Rosenbach Museum and Library. In 2008 it was moved from Manhattan to a conservation studio and then to the museum. It was unveiled on Wednesday.

Go have a listen to Nina, Larry and Maurice talking about their fond memories of when it was painted over on NPR. There is a wonderful slide show of the restoration here on the Rosenbach site.

Sendak speaks of it being “a happy time of my life.” He had never or has never since tackled a mural,“ There was no one from the renaissance around that could advise me.” he says.

More about the story on The History Blog.

15ft Letter to Editor of NY Times defending Picture Books!

2011-04-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

This is the best answer yet to that "Demise of Picture Books" article from New York Times from last October. Birch Lane Elementary School in Davis, California took issue with this article and set out a month long campaign to promote and read picture books in their school. Then they sent a 1 5-foot-long scroll by snail mail to the editor of The New York Times in response!

"To the Editor:

We believe that picture books are essential to the development of lifelong readers and learners. In response to an Oct. 8 news article, “Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children,” the library at Birch Lane Elementary School (enrollment: 600) dedicated the entire month of February to the promotion of picture books for every person, every reader.

During that month, Love a Picture Book Month, our students read 4,590 picture books.

We capped off the month with an evening celebration for families, with more than 250 people in attendance. Also, students, families, teachers and staff members all contributed to the creation of a list of 100 All-Time-Favorite picture books that everyone should read!

Contrary to the article’s message, picture books are not languishing on the shelves at Birch Lane, but are actually read, loved and read again.

LYNNE SUNDSTROM

Teacher Librarian"
Read the entire letter from the teacher here.

Animation Lover?

2011-04-13T03:53:00.000-07:00

There is a fantastic event on this Friday 15th in Dublin's Science Gallery you cannot miss!

Pegbar Dublin's Animation Network is hosting an event, hoping to give you sneaky insights into the creativity and technology behind the animation scene. Brown Bag's Norton Virgien (Director of Rugrats and Duckman), Jason Tammemägi (Fluffy Gardens) and multimedia artist Fergal Brennan will be the speakers on Friday evening.

Then it's over to The Trinity Inn for a few drinks, some animations on screen and a bit of social networking. Sounds good to me!

Guiding Light Home.

2011-04-09T08:24:00.001-07:00

This has been the saddest and longest week in Skerries history, this town will never be the same. In remembrance of Ronan and David there will be A Guiding Light Ceremony at Red Island at 8.30pm tonight.

I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to members of the Browne and Gilsenan families.

The Walk of Solidarity.

2011-04-08T04:12:00.000-07:00

A hush fell over Skerries as everyone gathered at Red Island on Wednesday Night.

It was truly mind blowing the amount of people who came out in support of the missing fishermen. The support and solidarity from the local community has been incredible. I am so proud of the way our small town has rallied in such an extraordinary and inspiring way at this sad time. To date the community has raised over €80,000 to the help the RNLI and to a fund for fuel. Last night there was an account in the Herald of the walk.

Dave Diebold, husband of Emily who runs Skerries News wrote a really moving account of the walk here.

“The Walk of Solidarity, this show of strength, of community, of union, a crowd of almost four kilometers in length and three to five people wide most times, is something that will live with each of us until we die, that will go down in our town's history, be talked about for generations. God save the souls of our friends and husbands, sons and brothers out there in the cold. We will bring you home.’

The Picture Book Picnic

2011-04-06T05:55:00.000-07:00

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.

Walk of Solidarity

2011-04-05T02:48:00.000-07:00

You may of heard on the news that two local fishermen are lost at sea off the coast of Skerries since last Friday. They were fishing for lobsters behind the islands and did not return. It is a small town and everyone is devastated and have been out searching the beaches and doing whatever they can to help the RNLI. There is such sadness in the town. All our thoughts are with the two families at this incredible difficult time.

The Coast Guard and Naval diving section as well as local fishermen have all been involved in the search. Donations are being sought to help with the cost of fuel to continue searching for David and Ronan. There is 'A Walk of Solidarity' in aid of the RNLI from the Bandstand at Red Island, Skerries this Wednesday 6th at 7pm to walk a 5km lap of Skerries. Please come if you can.

If you cannot make it along, and would like to help donations can be made on the Skerries RNLI or on Charity.ie. More information on the Fund For Fuel can be found at Skerries News.

Monsters Monsters Everywhere!!!!

2011-04-04T04:02:00.000-07:00

I keep coming back to monsters in my own work, partly because I grew up glued to the Muppet Show before bedtime every Sunday night and with monsters you can really explore strong emotions and feelings, really important in picture books. I’ve written a picture book about a very hungry Ravenous Beast and a picture book about family of Hugglewug Monsters.

I really can’t seem to get away from them!

So I was really delighted to be asked to pick my top five Picture Books that feature Monsters for Library Mice Blog. Before you click can you guess who the monsters are?

1 Who has a bluish-greenish nose, sharp white teeth, and big yellow eyes?

2 This monster likes to lick up the darkness?

3 Who has potatoes growing out of his pants?

4 Who wants to “scare the tuna salad” out of a boy named Sam?

5 Who does Max tame?

Monsters books give children stories with teeth that they really can hold on to. Want to see how many you got right? Find the answers here.

What are your top five Monster picture books?

Library Mice

2011-04-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

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!

Shaun Tan awarded 2011 Astrid Lindgen Memorial Award!

2011-03-30T06:12:00.000-07:00

Head this fabulous news yesterday but only getting to blog about it today. Shaun Tan has been awarded the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award! For those of you not in the know, it's like the Nobel for Children's Literature with a award of £490,000.

The jury said “Shaun Tan is a masterly visual storyteller, pointing the way ahead to new possibilities for picture books. His pictorial worlds constitute a separate universe where nothing is self-evident and anything is possible. Memories of childhood and adolescence are fixed reference points, but the pictorial narrative is universal and touches everyone, regardless of age”

Shaun had no idea that he has won. He was washing the dishes at home when he got the call from ALMA. He wasn't even going to answer the phone. Read more on Shauns Blog here, and on The Guardian here.

I was really lucky to meet Shaun when he was in Dublin for the Children's Books Conference you can read about when I met him here. Members of the IGI got to hang out and talk about illustration for a few hours.

Shaun's illustrations are so amazing. His dedication and the love he has put into his books are inspiring. I first came across his work when Marie Louise Fitzpatrick brought The Red Tree and The Lost Thing back from Australia.

Go have a look at Shaun on World News Australia this morning. Imagine how overwhelming it is. I am absolutely thrilled for him!!!!

Fabarooney Illustrations Everywhere!

2011-03-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

It's been a fabarooney week for illustration! First off two Irish Illustrators Kevin Waldron and Chris Haughton were chosen as rising stars Book Trust Best New Illustrators Award 2011! Hurray! They are now going to spread the love as Picture Books Ambassadors. Anthony Browne has been everywhere this week telling everyone the good news too. There is a wonderful online gallery of the illustrators here.

The wonderful Polly Dunbar has been the BookTrust Writer in residence for the past 6 months. But she leaves today. I've really enjoyed looking at her doodles and mind noodling over the past few months. Polly has put together a yummy online book called Ideas Everywhere. Go see it's wonderful... Polly you make it look so easy :)

And there is a gorgeous slide tribute of the wonderful John Burningham on the Guardian. Oh what a fabarooney week!

Watch where you step...miniature street art!

2011-03-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

Wonderful miniature street art by Slinkachu. The humour and attention to detail are stunning! He has been abandoning little people on the street for years. Don't miss his blog here.

Jim Henson's Red Notebook

2011-03-09T08:30:00.001-08:00

Any of you who know and love Jim Henson will be thrilled to go have a look inside his Red Book. There really are some wonderful sketches and photographs archived there.

Library Week, some doodles and The Bisto!

2011-03-09T02:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Library week everyone! Enjoy this wonderful movie as part of the Library week celebrations.

It's been a busy few days for Books; what with World Book Day and World Book Night over the last week. Don't forget to spend your €1.50 tokens you got last Thursday. Mums and Dads they could be rolled up in a hairy ball at the bottom of the school bag! There are some wonderful videos of the authors reading on the World Book Day Site here.

Huge congrats also to my fellow Walker Books picture book makers Kevin Waldron and Chris Haughton on the Bisto Shortlist. It's great to see so many picture Books on the Bisto Shortlist. 5 out of 10 titles are Picture books!

On a sobering note, Mags Walsh of CBI in the Irish Times, calls out for the new government to reinstate the school book grant to schools and libraries. She says the abolition of the grant two years ago has "fundamentally affected access to books for kids who don't have access to books at home".

Dont be shy...

2011-03-05T08:59:00.001-08:00

come along tomorrow!

Market Tomorrow!

2011-03-05T08:27:00.000-08:00

Its on from 11-5pm at Newmarket Dublin 8. We hope to see you there!

Happy World Book Day Everyone!!!!!!

2011-03-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

It’s been a busy couple of days. Yesterday, I was at a great school Dalkey School Project NS and was warmly welcomed by the teachers and children. The school are mad about books and drawing and I had great sessions drawing and doodling with the kids.

This morning after I dropped a princess, a skeleton and Hermione off to school, I headed to St Catherine’s NS, Rush to celebrate World Book Day!

They had really prepared for my visit too; this really makes a huge difference to the children’s enjoyment of the day, (and the authors too!) The teachers were brilliant and so enthusiastic; Junior Infants had made painted Hugglewug masks and Roarsome Roars welcomed me. They nearly lifted the roof off the building!

Its been a great two days, I love meeting kids and reading and drawing with them, as they're what its all about. I’ve done lots of doodling, character sheets, showing dummy books, notebooks and roughs too.

Hundreds of Mr. Aliens, Mavis and Marge’s and Hugglewugs have been doodled. I’ve almost lost my voice from celebrating too much. Tomorrow St Catherine's tell me they are opening assembly with The Hugglewug Song!!! Huzzah!

Here are a few drawings the children made over the last two days...

Happy World Book Day everyone hope you got to enjoy reading today! I’m off to my book club tonight. Now, that’s what I can a 24 hour celebration!

Peas and Pods Market This Sunday!

2011-03-02T10:31:00.000-08:00

I'm delighted to be at the Peas and Pods Family Market this Sunday from 11-5pm.

I'll be signing my books and bringing along 'Love Bugs' and 'Little Critters' whom are hoping for new homes. Its going to be a wonderful family friendly event, (I've been promised good coffee too!) The Glór Gospel Choir will be singing live from 1pm until 3pm, fundraising for Barnardos.

Tucked away off Cork Street, (where my Dad grew up) at the Dublin Food Co-Op at Newmarket Square, with free parking all day. In case you get lost you can find it on Google Maps.

Hope to see you there!

The Lost Thing wins Oscar!

2011-02-28T03:04:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely thrilled that Shaun Tan's The Lost Thing won an Oscar last night!!!!

I met Shaun Tan in Dublin when he was over with CBI a few years ago here. He was such a lovely guy, and he spent a couple of hours chatting with the IGI about books and illustration. I am so delighted for Shaun, it couldn't of happened to nicer person. He has been working on this animation for ten years!

Huzzah!!!!

Children's Literature, Classics and the City

2011-02-25T04:28:00.000-08:00

Dublin is now a UNESCO City of Literature, and as part of the celebrations there will be a debate on Children's Literature, Classics and the City in Trinity College tomorrow .

Looks like its going to be an amazing day and the event is open to everyone. You can book or find out more information on the Irish Society for the Study of Children's Literature website here or to book here.

I will be part of a panel of writers and illustrators discussing how the City and Classics have influenced our work.

I did lots of research in Early Printed Books in Trinity when I illustrated Cinderella in 2007 and will be showing notebooks and slides of my research. Our Children's Laureate Siobhán Parkinson will be there for the day too.

Can you spot the influences for my Stepmother in Cinderella?

More sneaky peeks on The Trapped by Monsters Blog here!

The Last Knit...

2011-02-15T03:55:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Karl for sending me this film by Finnish animator, Laura Neuvonen. Karl's wife, the lovely Miss Dee is one of my best friends in the world. Dee taught me how to knit in a wild cottage up in Donegal about 20 years ago.

He said it reminded him of me. I have to say I can get totally obsessed by things. I have a one track mind. Once I start a project nothing can tear me away from it. I have been known to cut my hair really short too for the sake of art. Look here's a photo from my 4th year ID from college after I had one of those cuts!

Ha! Ha! I found this old student card this morning and I'm shocked with how much I look like my son, Oscar.

Now here's where all this knitting talk is leading me. My craftaholic super talented friend Michelle needs your help with her knitting obsession. I think Michelle is like the Irish Kirsty. Go and have a look at her blog, it's wonderful. Michelle is obsessed with knitting. So much in fact, she hopes to break a world record with her knittamania!

Michelle needs lots of help... it's on Saturday 30th April. So grab your sticks and balls of wool and make sure you are in Roscommon that day. I will be! Knitters unite!!!!

More info on Michelle's blog.

Keep warm and knit

2011-02-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

Here's a lovely wooly warm video to warm up your eyes.

The idea is very simple, but wonderfully executed. Based on the idea of the house warming up, it was directed by Olivier Babinet and produced by Lovo Films. Clips of the making of it here.

It's charming. I'm off to have a wooly cuppa tea and do some knitting now.

Win Free Books!

2011-02-08T04:37:00.000-08:00

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

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

Dog and String

2011-02-08T04:22:00.000-08:00

I've been researching puppet companies to invite to Skerries as part of The Soundwaves festival this September and I stumbed upon Dog and String and guess what?

One of their shows Tales from The Forest was inspired by Tales of Wisdom and Wonder. The first picture book I ever illustrated, retold by fantastic storyteller, Hugh Lupton.

I had never heard about it at all, it totally made my day :)

Talking tigers and tea :)

2011-02-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

Watch this and then go make yourself a cuppa tea and read this wonderful interview from The Guardian with writer and illustrator Judith Kerr.

I absolutely adore The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Judith's Mog books. Judith is still drawing and making books at 86, a true inspiration!

THE SMALL PRINT- A Year In Review 2010

2011-01-18T02:23:00.000-08:00

Oh what a delicious thing to wake up to!

Bren Byrne & Richard Seabrooke from The Small Print have outdone themselves and compiled a fantastic 274 page survey of creatives from all over the world. They asked them to spill the beans on their favourite event, film, book, piece of work from 2010. I am delighted to be to be part of it too :) I'm on Page 207...

What a line up of creatives.. go check it out here.

It’s a great tonic, full of positivivity and incredible work. Don’t miss it!

My Blog Break

2011-01-14T04:17:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a belated Monsterly Happy New Year!!!

Sorry, I have been off the blog-a-sphere for a few weeks. I totally took a Blog and Twitter break to recharge my batteries (Plus I had become insanely addicted to reading every Twitter feed last December.) I first really missed reading the little screen constantly on my phone, flicking and scrolling looking for tasty bites of text. I love the munching sound my phone makes as it releases the latest Tweets.

I was constantly updating my screen flicking between Twitter and Facebook, checking my emails. My battery life would only stretch half a day (I blamed my old phone, but really it was my constant appetite for information.) I knew it was becoming a problem; I was only giving conversations my half attention. Sure, so and so won't notice if I just flick open my screen, if I'm caught, I can explain it away by quoting a witty Stephen Fry morsel. I knew I had an addiction when my evening conversations with my husband constantly quoted what I had read on Twitter or talking for hours about Dublin Zoo's Penguin Cam. I knew deep down that if my children were carrying on like this I would take serious actions.

And so I took a self-imposed technology break, it was not total as I answered my phones and occasionally dipped my toe into Facebook. But my battery life on my phone now lasts two days and not surprisingly I have replaced reading twitter feeds with reading books, I have been reading like a mad woman, staying up late devouring them. Working my way through the stack on my bedside locker. I have started to keep a journal, and I'm writing and drawing more. I’ve been invited to join my first ever Adult Book Club. They meet monthly in Skerries cosiest pub, Nealons. I also started talking to my husband about writing, ideas, and creative blocks. It felt good to be free. So good in fact I have been delaying returning to writing this blog.

Then this morning my cousin Averil phoned to see if I was ok, was I sick, struck down my some mysterious weird illness? She had been checking my blog and noticed that I was missing and was worried about me. I told her about my blog break, and we laughed about Twitter addictions, which she also confessed to. We talked about motherhood, cousins and what books her children Darragh and Freya laugh at. It really made me really happy to talk with her.

So, I guess what I am trying to say is that the connections are what its really all about. This is a virtual space, where virtual Niamh resides, I usually don't post up too many personal things here. But it was nice that Averil missed me in Cyber world enough, that she picked up the phone and called me.

So I want to say to anyone else who missed me that...

I am here.

I will blog.

I will post on Twitter.

But I will also be available in real life to have coffee with friends, play with my children, talk, read, go sailing, make books, draw, go dancing, have pints, play tennis, give workshops, walk on the beach, laugh and play.

Happy NEW Year!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

2010-12-22T04:40:00.001-08:00

Market cancelled tomorrow

2010-12-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

Friends, I am so sorry but The Peas and Pods Christmas Market is cancelled tomorrow. There is just too much snow :(

I am really disappointed as I have been painting my Crimbo Critters for the last few weeks and they were looking forward to newly adopted homes.

I'll take some more photos of them tomorrow and post them up for you. I painted 25 originals in all, in acrylic and watercolour, they are all framed.

Peas and Pods Market Tomorrow!

2010-12-21T04:30:00.000-08:00

I have been painting and framing my 'Little Critters' for the Peas and Pods Market tomorrow.

But the snow is coming down fast and heavy in Skerries for the first time in years. I really hope that I can make it in tomorrow! AAAAAGHHHH!

Story Spark at The Ark!

2010-12-20T08:38:00.001-08:00

I had an amazing session yesterday at CBI’s Story Spark at The Ark in Dublin. I have to admit that as my last event of 2010 it was the session that I really fretted over. I think I was so nervous before because it is such an iconic venue and I knew there was going to be a packed house. I couldn’t do my usual doodle along session with the kids so I had to come up with more theatre friendly ideas.

So I decided that I should bring on as many props that I could pack into my suitcase…

I also brought along dummy books, roughs, early sketches and original illustrations.

The Ravenous Beast puppet went down a storm!!!!

I cracked the drawing by getting the kids to join me on stage for a doodle-along, and by playing the doodle shape game with Tom from CBI at the end!

Once I was onstage my nerves and worries disappeared, the audience were AWESOME! As you can probably tell from the photos I had great fun and the hour totally zoomed by…

Thanks to CBI for coming up with such an amazing month celebrating stories and huge kudos to The Ark too. They really storm a path for children’s creativity in this land! The Ravenous Beast thinks so too!

There is a lovely review of my session here from Natasha, who came along yesterday with her twins. Passed on by Tom at CBI. Thanks Tom!

Fantastic offer!

2010-12-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the last weekend of Story Spark a two-for-one ticket offer is available on Sunday 19th for the 4pm show with Sarah Webb, Gillian Perdue and Brianóg Brady Dawson. Brilliant for 5-7 year olds!

Just contact Ark Box Office and quote CBI Special Offer to secure tickets - 01 6707788 - www.ark.ie

Way hey!

Story Spark this weekend!

2010-12-15T01:46:00.000-08:00

Don't forget I will be at The Ark this Sunday for the last weekend of CBI's Story Spark.

I promise plenty of 'Nonsense Smonsense', Hugglewug roaring and fun with Mavis and Marge too! I am on at 2pm, there's a few tickets left so get booking here.

Pop over and read Hazel Gaynor's interview with me on her fab blog, Hot Cross Mum.

Frabulous Sarah Webb,will be appearing along with Brianóg Brady Dawson and Gillian Perdue on Sunday too at the 4 o'clock session.

Bob from The Gutter Book shop will be there in case you would like some signed books for Christmas pressies! The Gutter Bookshop has to have the best Christmas window display in the city...wise words!

Dr Noise can cure anything....

2010-12-14T04:35:00.000-08:00

I am bopping around my studio to this clip that's up on the Booktrust site of Polly Dunbar's Penguin show. Long Nose is a Brighton based puppet company, they create inspiring, inventive,colourful and totally awesome puppet shows for the very young.

Ya gotta love these puppets! Lyrics for this song were written by Polly's mum Joyce, the music is written by musician Tom Gray of Gomez.

I so, so want them to come to Ireland!

Crimbo Critters!

2010-12-14T03:06:00.000-08:00

I've been up late-night painting little critters; dragonflies and elves and their ilk, they'll be framed up for the Peas and Pods Family Market next week. Looking something like this...

If you want to buy some of these little critters do come along next Wednesday, it will be a cosy indoor mulled wine affair to get you in the Christmas mood. It's on at the Dublin Food Co-op, Newmarket, Dublin 8 from 1-8pm.

I'll be signing books and available for orders of Take-away Doodles too!