Hackett|Flynn Publishers' Agency

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

2012-02-09T17:43:00.000Z

Walker Books and Corsair will present this fascinating new book to the UK and Irish Market in June 2012.
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making was first published in USA in May 2011 and debuted at no. 11 on The New York Times bestseller list.
Neil Gaiman says; "A Glorious balancing act between modernism and Victorian fairytale, done with heart and wisdom"

Oh No George! Chris Haughton

2012-02-06T09:49:00.002Z

Chris Haughton has posted an insight into the long process of writing and illustrating Oh No George! CLICK HERE. ........Oh No George! will be out in March. Chris will be in Dublin for OFFSET but we hope to arrange some bookshop events and visits around 8-10 March.

PJ Lynch painting live at Hodges Figgis - Short Film

2011-12-23T15:04:00.002Z

PJ edited the footage that I took over the course of his five days painting in the window of Hodges Figgis Bookstore in Dublin, Ireland and this is the result. The event was covered on RTE News and also on radio.
The painting depicts 'The Ghost of Christmas Past' from PJ's interpretation of Dickens'
A Christmas Carol
You can see PJ prepare the canvas and do the initial drawings and colour washes on his website here.

Irish Times feature on Niamh Sharkey's 'Hugglewugs'

2011-12-21T10:29:00.000Z

Disney commission means 40 animation jobs in the bag
GENEVIEVE CARBERY
The Irish Times
21 Dec 2011
IRISH ANIMATION studio Brown Bag films has been commissioned to make a new series for Disney Junior, creating 40 jobs. The Happy Hugglemonsters is based on an Irish book series and will air on the children’s channel in more than 150 countries from...read more...

Niamh Sharkey to get Global Audience

2011-12-20T10:15:00.000Z

Disney EMEA today announced thatit has greenlit a brand new CG animated pre-school series, The Happy Hugglemonsters. Set to premiere on Disney Junior fromautumn 2012 and air in more than 150 countries worldwide, the series follows the adventures of fun-loving, five-year-oldHenry Hugglemonster, the middle child in a happy, wacky close-knit monsterfamily – The Hugglemonsters.

Producedby twice Oscar-nominated animation studio, Brown Bag Films in Dublin,Ireland, The Happy Hugglemonsters is the latestseries being developed and produced by Disney’s London based production hub. Led by BethGardiner, Vice President, Production, Disney Junior, the Disney team is workingwith Brown Bag Films to deliver the 52 x 11 minute series - developed from aseries of books created by Niamh Sharkey called “I’m a Happy Hugglewug” andpublished by Walker Books. The illustration style of the books is retained inthe series’ CG animation.

Niamh Sharkey said

"Iam 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 Junior is a dream come true, and to be able tocreate this show in Irelandis the icing on the cake. I know my monster family is in safe hands!”

Cathal Gaffney, co-founder and CEO of Brown Bag Films said:

“We are delightedto announce the production of this series, it is great to work with home growntalent like Niamh Sharkey and to bring an original idea like this to a globalDisney Junior audience is hugely satisfying for all involved”, “This serieswill see over 40 additional staff employed full time in Brown Bag Films overthe coming 18 months and demonstrates how the creative economy has such animportant role to play for Ireland.”

Beth Gardiner Vice President,Production & Development, Disney Junior EMEA, comments:

“We are thrilled to welcome The HappyHugglemonsters to the Disney Junior fold. Seen through our five year old heroHenry Hugglemonster’s eyes, the series delivers comedic and emotionalstorytelling with a monstery twist that pre-schoolers can really relate to;perfect for Disney Junior.”

Niamh Sharkey & Chris Haughton at OFFSET 2010

2011-12-16T14:45:00.001Z

Mags Walsh (Childrens Books Ireland) talks with Niamh Sharkey and Chris Haughton at OFFSET
Getting your Childrens book published from OFFSET on Vimeo.

Official recognition of Where's Wally World Record

2011-12-05T12:32:00.001Z

The Street Performance World Championships Where's Wally event has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the new holder of the World Record for the most Where's Wallys gathered in one place. The record now stands at 3,872. Congratulations to everyone who took part and who also raised lots of money for charity in the process.

You can see all of the photos of the event and lots of updates here.

PJ Lynch Interview after Hodges Figgis event

2011-12-01T21:36:00.001Z

Mary Brigid Turner (Hodges Figgis) interviews PJ Lynch after his Artist in Residence event in the Hodges figgis Window. Click here for the interview on the Inis Website
A big 'Thank You' to all the staff at Hodges Figgis for staging this event. Especially, Mary Brigid and also Stephen who set up the window and completed the adjacent windows with the printed images from A Christmas Carol.

PJ Lynch completes his 'Ghost of Christmas Present' in the window of Hodges Figgis

2011-11-28T15:58:00.001Z

As reported last week, PJ Lynch 'installed' himself in the window at Hodges Figgis Bookstore in Dublin.
The event was featured on RTE Television's News2Day here (Click on 24th Nov.) and PJ was interviewed on Nadine O Regan's show on Phantom FM. The interview dicussed 'Art in Unusual Places' and while the window was an unusual place for an artist to work, PJ found enough elbow room within which to work and thoroughly enjoyed the feedback from passing customers. You can read PJ's account of the event here

The following photographs were taken by Naoise Culhane from www.maxwellphotography.ie
Please do not repost these photos without crediting him. Click to enlarge

The painting is currently being mounted in the window and will form the backdrop for the Hodges Figgis Christmas Window. Printed scenes from 'A Christmas Carol' have been mounted in the adjacent windows and you can see the finished display until Christmas.

Book Supplement from Irish Times today

2011-11-28T11:29:00.001Z

The Irish Times
28 Nov 2011

Rosita Boland remembers working with Walker Books

2011-11-28T11:25:00.001Z

The Irish Times
28 Nov 2011

First Photos of PJ Lynch painting at Hodges Figgis

2011-11-23T13:11:00.001Z

PJ Lynch paints 'live' at Hodges Figgis

2011-11-22T21:33:00.001Z

On Wednesday 23rd November PJ Lynch will paint a large canvas in the window at Hodges Figgis, Dublin.
PJ has chosen to recreate the scene of the Ghost of Christmas Present from his illustrated version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The two adjacent windows will be adorned with huge backdrop printed images from the same book so the finished display with PJ's original art in the main window will be impressive to say the least!
PJ will be 'installed' in the main window until Saturday 26th November, so he has commenced work on the painting in his studio. Visitors to the shop will be able to see his work in progress - well beyond pencil sketches and roughs but you can see the work so far in stages below.

Check out David Maybury's short film of PJ sizing up the window last week here.
Keep an eye on PJ's progress over the next few days on his facebook page or blog

Many thanks to PJ for agreeing to do this work (painting will be auctioned for charity) and also to Hodges Figgis who saw the potential in this initially mad idea.

Mirror wins British Book Design Award

2011-11-14T14:11:00.001Z

Mirror by Jeannie Baker has won thePrimary, Secondary and Tertiary Education category of the British Book Designand Production Awards.

The award wasannounced last week and collected by Alan Leeand Nicola Constable from Walker Books at a glitteringproduction and design evening held at the The Lancaster London Hotel. The eventwas themed ‘Once Upon a Time’ … to celebrate just whatremarkable achievements have been made in the last year in the quest to bringout the best in British book design and production.

The judge’s hadnothing but lovely things to say about Mirror:

“Great eyecatching design inside and out, good use of illustrations, well printed, weloved the layout and concept.”

In addition toMirror winning its category, two Walkertitles were also Highly Commended in the Children’s Trade category –both A Bit Lost and A Monster Calls rightly received thiscommendation.

Shortlist and winners of the Book Design and Production Awards here.

MS Readathon

2011-11-11T11:41:00.001Z

Ms Readathon nabbed Siobhan Parkinson, Jenny Murray, David Maybury and I to answer a few questions. Click Here.

Chris Haughton posters for Bookshops and Libraries

2011-11-10T20:54:00.001Z

Chris Haughton has kindly produced two posters which you can use in your bookshop or library.
To download a Hi Res printable version, click on the link for the one you want.

Bookshop poster
Library poster

For use other than in Bookshops and Libraries, please contact Chris Haughton

Daylight Saving coming Soon (Feb 2012)

2011-11-09T18:47:00.000Z

Walker Books has produced this animated book cover. Trace your mouse over the image.

David Maybury has the book thrown at him!

2011-11-04T09:25:00.001Z

David Maybury reviews as many books as possible without a safety net or body armour HERE

Bruce Ingman In Dublin

2011-11-02T11:48:00.001Z

Bruce Ingmam (now based for much of the time in beautiful West Cork) did a series of worlshops in The ARK over the weekend. Bruce entertained both parents and young children with lots of animations and plenty of lessons on how to draw. There were Monsters, Bicycle riding Sausages and of course Ronny Rock Starring in the Monster Cake Meltdown.
Bruce will be a judge for the 2012 Bisto Award.

Cassandra Clare in Dublin

2011-10-28T01:23:00.002+01:00

Thursday 28th October 2011

Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan chatted and discussed the Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices in front of a massively enthusiastic capacity crowd at Eason O Connell St.

David O Callaghan (Eason), Sarah Rees Brennan, Cassandra Clare, Ruth Maurice (Walker Books), Annalie Grainger (Walker Books)

Michael Murpurgo / Emma Chichester Clark Window at Hodges Figgis

2011-10-28T01:11:00.003+01:00

We have blown up an illustration from The Pied Piper of Hamelin for the Hodges Figgis Halloween Window.

Helen Oxenbury on Culture File

2011-10-12T19:57:00.001+01:00

Culture File on RTE Lyric FM broadcast a wonderful interview with Helen Oxenbury this evening.

Helen was in Dublin in May this year for the Childrens Books Ireland Summer Conference.
Before taking to the stage with her husband John Burningham and editor / chairman of Walker Books, David Lloyd, Helen met up with Regan Hutchins (late of the Winding Stair Bookshop). They chatted about her work many years ago with Ivor Cutler, her interpretation of the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and her thoughts on the digital age.

To enjoy this broadcast click here.

Childrens Book Festival Activity Sheets

2011-10-12T12:50:00.001+01:00

October is Childrens Book Festival time so here are some links to activity sheet downloads from Walker Books.

Eason roll out new Childrens Departments

2011-10-06T22:06:00.001+01:00

Eason Bookshops has commenced a series of Children's Department re-fits. The photos below show Dundrum. the first shop to get the new look. The Department is split loosely into two areas, one for younger readers with lots of complimentary non-book product (and a area for activities and events) and one for teens and young adults. This section is built around a high table and barstool arrangement, perfect for young customers to hang out and swap news about what's big in fiction.
The Explore Zone incorporates a flat screen which is currently showing lots of book trailers and author interviews from Walker Books.

Lionsgate to develop Chaos Walking Trilogy for Big Screen

2011-10-03T17:55:00.000+01:00

LIONSGATE® a leading global entertainment company, announcedtoday that it has obtained worldwide rights to develop, produce and distributefilms based on the award-winning, best-selling and critically acclaimed“Chaos Walking” young adult novel trilogy by Patrick Ness. The announcement was made by Lionsgate’s co-COO and Motion Picture GroupPresident Joe Drake. Doug Davison (THE DEPARTED, HOW TO TRAIN YOURDRAGON, THE GRUDGE) will be producing through his Quadrant Pictures.

Reported today in Variety here

Animated trailer for A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

2011-09-22T00:46:00.000+01:00

Claire Keane

2011-09-20T00:18:00.002+01:00

I came across this great cover art for an edition of Anne of Green Gables. I love it but probably because it's got a touch of Disney about it. Turns out it's by Claire Keane, daughter of Disney animation legend Glen Keane. Claire did concept art for Tangled and also the animation intro for the Tangled Nintendo Wii game.
Claire's Blog

Henry Winkler Wins Honoury OBE

2011-09-15T21:48:00.001+01:00

Congratulations to Henry Winkler, who has been appointed an honorary OBE for his educational work on dyslexia in the UK.

Henry received the honour at the British embassy in Washington DC.
The actor-turned-children's author,(of the Hank Zipzer series) who was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult, said he was "overwhelmed" to have his work recognised.
Over the past two years, he has toured schools in the UK and Ireland talking about the learning disability.
Wherever he went he inspired young children and adults alike with his infectious sense of humour and positive outlook on life. We hope to see him return to Ireland someday soon.

Morris the Mankiest Monster

2011-09-11T19:56:00.003+01:00

Few books from non client publishers get onto this blog but this one is the source of so much hilarity in our house.

Morris lives in a house made of dung - "he sleeps in a bed of old compost, shoveled on lovely and thick and when he get up he goes to the bathroom and gives all his scabs a good pick".
Ella (5) and Charley (3) answer this rhyming text with shrieks and whoops and plenty of 'yucks'. At the end there is the threat of a big kiss from Morris which has both of them running away to the other side of the room in howls of laughter.
If your kids are obsessed with flatulence and loo jokes buy this now! Good family entertainment!

Illustrators Night at Eason Bookshop, Dublin

2011-09-09T00:20:00.002+01:00

Sarah McIntyre, PJ Lynch and Oliver Jeffers appeared at Eason Bookshop today. All three bestselling illustrators talked about their approach to book making and gave a very talented audience some quick lessons in sketching.

Walker Books sponsor Picturebook Picnic at Mountain to the Sea Festival

2011-09-05T00:04:00.001+01:00

Walker Books sponsored todays Picturebook Picnic in the People's Park in Dun Laoghaire.
Chris Judge and Steve Simpson entertained lots of young readers and 'The Lonely Beast' made a rare appearance.

Cbeebies to feature The World Champion of Staying Awake

2011-09-01T12:34:00.004+01:00

The World Champion of Staying Awake by Sean Taylor and illustrated by the amazingly talented Jimmy Lao will be read by Lee Ingleby on Cbeebies Bedtime Story programme on 12th September.

Cherry Pig, Thunderbolt the puppet mouse and Beanbag Frog refuse to go to sleep! Luckily, clever Stella has a plan...Stella really wants to go to bed and have some rest, but her three rowdy bedtime companions - Cherry Pig, Thunderbolt the puppet mouse and Beanbag Frog - are having none of it. They are full of energy, jumping all around the place each claiming to be the World Champion of Staying Awake. But Stella is very good at thinking up ways to get them to sleep. After dazzling imaginary adventures across the sea, on a train and in a Star Ship Balloon we'll see who is really the Champion of Staying Awake. In December 2007, Sean Taylor's book "When a Monster is Born", illustrated by Nick Sharratt, won a gold medal in the Nestle Prize for works for children aged five years and under.

Fantastic new look for Sarah Webb's Ask Amy Green series

2011-08-29T15:26:00.009+01:00

Ask Amy Green : Love and other Drama-ramas

Amy Green is back in her fourth book, (published Thursday Sept 1st) solving problems for pre-teens everywhere! Amy turns events organizer to plan the best hen-do ever for her mum. Meanwhile, her usually coolheaded aunt Clover is freaking out about going away to college and Amy's best friend is having major boy trouble. Just as well Amy's on hand to sort everything out! Divorce, step-parents, new babies, romance, rejection and friendship in a crisis...Ask Amy Green tackles some of the most troubling pre-teen issues.

The first three Ask Amy Green books will be republished with this fantastic new cover style.

Where's Wally Book Tokens

2011-08-16T20:40:00.004+01:00

Walker Books will provide a Where's Wally? winter scene for the Autumn / Winter 2011 Book Token card. This Book Token edition will be sold exclusively in Irish Bookshops nationwide.

National Book Tokens currently use an image by Niamh Sharkey from On the Road with Mavis & Marge on their childrens Book Token range.

Join the Picture Book Picnic

2011-08-09T00:05:00.001+01:00

Fantastic selection of new picturebooks from Walker. Can you spot the Irish bunch? A Bit Lost by Chris Haughton, Tiny Little Fly by Kevin Waldron and On the Road with Mavis & Marge (winner of the Irish Book Award 2010) by Niamh Sharkey

Mal Peet's Top 10 Books to Read Aloud (fromThe Guardian)

2011-08-05T10:13:00.008+01:00

Peepo by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
The nigh-on perfect picturebook for very young children. Memorably repetitive and rhythmical text, circular peepholes to anticipate what comes next and pictures packed with sly detail. One of the many things I admire in the Ahlbergs is that they understood that children are visually literate long before they are textually so; that simple language does not necessitate simple illustration. Janet's illustrations stimulate close observation, conjecture, discussion; thus a book of few words becomes a shared and rich reading experience.

Burglar Bill by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
My three fun-loving criminals were delighted by a character who helps himself to what he fancies and gets away with it. For quite some time, the words, "That's a nice hat/ball/fishfinger, I'll have that!" introduced various uproars in our household. In the end, of course, Bill gives everything back and goes straight. As did we, more or less.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
It's never too soon for a parable about deforestation and its consequences. Or for messing about with language. This is the tale of the regretful old Once-ler, whose capitalist greed led him to fell a fine forest of Truffula trees and use their soft tufts to knit useless Thneeds. (Very infectious, is Dr. Seuss.) Lovely, rubbery, rhythmical language, and a message you can't argue with. Good to have your children marching up to bed chanting, "I am the Lorax! I speak for the trees!"

Stanley Bagshaw and the Mafeking Square Cheese Robbery by Bob Wilson
So memorable is the rhyming text of this one that, before too long, all I had to do was hold up the book and the children would recite it.

The BFG by Roald Dahl
Like many adults, I'm ambivalent towards Dahl; like most children, mine weren't. I was leery about Dahl's lickspittle portrayal of HM the Queen in this story – was he angling for a knighthood, perhaps? – but it's a great read-aloud, largely because of the word-mangling voice of the Big Friendly Giant and the genuine scariness of the Fleshlumpeaters (described with characteristic relish). The farting is a major plus, of course. For several weeks, everything my kids drank became frobscottle and they devoted themselves to defying gravity by means of turbocharged flatulence. A book to read with the windows open.

Wolf Pie by Andrew Matthews
Food, especially mad food, always goes down well in book form. In Matthews's story (illustrated in lively fashion by Tony Ross) the king and queen, like plutocratic Hong Kong gourmands, demand continual culinary novelty. Their exhausted chefs quail. ("Quail?? Had that! Had that!") Eventually a young underchef teams up with a band of wolves to provide the fat tyrants with a bite more than they can chew. A short, taut and funny book with some splendid writing. One of my favourite bits is when a bunch of runaway chefs (what's the collective noun for chefs, I wonder?) take refuge in a tree, where they hang like sad pale fruit. "Isn't that a great image?" I'd say. To which the kids would reply, "Shut up, Dad, and get on with the story." Respect ...

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A must on any list. Grahame's masterpiece has been rerendered (and frequently travestied and cheapened) in so many forms that it's easy to forget how literary and magical a text the original is. Yes, it's occasionally arch, self-indulgent, even child-unfriendly, but this adult reader almost always found some new little nugget of irony, a felicitous phrase, an unsuspected insight to enjoy. I love particularly the immensely long sentence, recapitulating English history, that follows Toad being given an immensely long sentence for reckless driving and cheek. (How deliciously these ideas coil in upon themselves!) My children liked to challenge me to read that passage without drawing breath; I never could. Regrettably, I was usurped as a reader aloud of the book by Alan Bennett's peerless audio version. Tom fell asleep to it well into his teens. Sometimes I snuck into his bedroom to listen, to sink into the story's pillowy dangers and relish the cheek of Bennett giving Toad the voice of Tom Stoppard

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
We used the Gollancz edition with the beautiful illustrations by NC Wyeth. On the first reading I overdid the "Oooh-arr me hearties" piratical voice, on the grounds that if you can't camp things up reading to your children at bedtime there's no point going on. Then I realised that Long John was much more sinister, or sinisterly sympathetic, if you tone him down; if you make him almost kindly. This is another classic that has become overfamiliar in other media; the original is rather rich in moral ambiguities, and sometimes discussions of these took us dangerously close to the Ten O Clock News.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Yes, we did read this at Christmas for several years. It was a ritual; I make no apologies. Quite the opposite: it would be a good thing if Rowan Williams, the archbish, gave up reminding us that Christmas is about the birth of our Redeemer rather than shopping and instead urged all people of good will to gather under the Christmas tree with A Christmas Carol. Sadly, my spirited reading was supplanted by the Muppets' video version. No, not sadly, actually. The Muppet Christmas Carol is brilliant, Rowan. Honest.

Oliver Twi st by Charles Dickens
The other Dickens novel that children are most likely to enjoy. Mind you, you'll do well to get through it in under a month. I could never be an actor. I'm too easily embarrassed. I do like doing voices, though, and Dickens – an actor manqué himself – writes great voices. If time travel were an option in the Guardian travel supplement, I'd pay good money to be in an audience when Dickens was reading. I'd like to know how well he managed the myriad voices he deploys in his books. I was pretty good but inconsistent. "Dad," Lauren would complain, "this is the Artful Dodger. You're doing Nancy." The strange thing (in the sense of "not funny at all") is that Oliver Twist, a story about abandoned and unloved children resorting to street crime in order to survive, seems urgently contemporary.
This is edition available from Walker Books in October

New Picturebooks from Walker

2011-08-04T17:13:00.011+01:00

Two big Irish talents appear on this month's Walker Books list.

Gordon Snell's sequel to the King of Quizzical Island - The King of Quizzical Island Digs Through the World tells the story of the brave King's latest attempt to prove that the world is round. Told in snappy lyrical verse this is a brilliant read aloud for boys and girls aged 3+ Illustrations by David McKee, (King Rollo films- Mr Benn, Elmer)
The Whispering Witches whimpered;
The Owl got quite hysterical.
He said, "Supposing you dig through the world
And find it isn't spherical?"

Mary Murphy's Utterly Lovely One is a beautiful celebration of a Mother's love for her little one. Brimming with affectionate language, positivity and with such energy too, it is a perfect read-a-loud for the very young (and Fathers can read it too!) There is a freshness to Mary Murphy's illustrative style that is unparalleled and the design and production quality of this book show off the talents of Walker Books' art department.

Sam Mc Bratney

2011-08-02T10:00:00.003+01:00

Guess How Much I Love You, written by Irish author Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram has sold in excess of 26 Million copies since its publication in 1994.
Disney has just announced that they will broadcast 52 x 11minutes episodes of Guess How Much I Love You; The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare on its Disney Junior network in Australia and New Zealand from September 2011.
To date, the animated series has been picked up for broadcast in Germany, Canada, Finland and Sweden. The series will also be seen on Disney Junior in the United States.

Full details here

Dubray Books moves Childrens section to front of store

2011-07-26T20:18:00.003+01:00

Irish Bookseller chain, Dubray Books has moved its childrens department to the front of store in Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre.

As part of their moving the Dubray owned SWALK gift shop from the groundfloor mall to a dedicated section of the bookshop, the childrens section has moved to the front giving the shop a vibrant and welcoming new look. Dubray has installed a small bookshop in the unit vacated by SWALK opening on to Georges' St.

Tired of hearing about the imminent death of bookstores?

2011-07-26T09:14:00.002+01:00

Christine Onorati, the owner of WORD, Brooklyn, N.Y., is tired of hearing about how bookstores are doomed. "Half of all restaurants that open close," she said during a panel of New York independent booksellers who gathered last Friday at Greenlight Bookstore to celebrate the reissuing of Andrew Laties's Rebel Bookseller (Seven Stories). "But nobody says restaurants are dying." This was not an academic question for Onorati: her first bookstore never clicked with the Long Island community where it was located and she closed it before opening WORD. "People usually like the idea of a bookstore and what it represents to have one in their neighborhood," she said, but they don't always take the next step of actively shopping there. That's not a problem at WORD though: "We've grown every year since we opened, and our clientele is young."

READ MORE...

Irish Times Reviews PJ Lynch, Paula Leyden and Jean Flitcroft

2011-07-23T18:02:00.003+01:00

Summer Roundup Chldrens Book reviews in todays Irish Times.

From Walker Books;
Pj Lynch's No One But You
Paula Leyden's Butterfly Heart
Maya Soetoro Ng's Ladder to the Moon
Jeanne Willis' Mole's Sunrise

From Little Island
Jean Flitcroft's Cryptid Files; Mexican Devil

The reviewer describs Chris Van Allsburg's (Jumanji & The Polar Express) work as 'pencil plodding art' ? oops!

Weekend Review
23 Jul 2011

The E Reader; Technological Contrivance at its worst!

2011-07-21T15:32:00.004+01:00

Ruth Burke-Kennedy suggests an ebook reader, such as the Kindle, is technological contrivance at its worst. At last, some sense about these annoying gadgets!

http://www.irishtimes.com/

Niamh Sharkey Illustrates for Childrens Books Ireland Book Festival

2011-07-21T09:42:00.004+01:00

Niamh Sharkey has been commisioned to illustrate the CBI (Childrens Books Ireland) Book Festival Guide and Poster for 2011.
There will be considerable book eating during the whole month of October in Bookshops, Libraries and Schools nationwide.
For information contact CBI

Niamh recently won the Irish Book Award (2010) for 'On the Road with Mavis and Marge' and previously won the Bisto Book of the Year and The Mother Goose Award

Niamh's Website Here

PJ Lynch Interview - Sunday Times

2011-07-20T14:20:00.006+01:00

Full text of Sunday Times feature on PJ Lynch
PJ's new book 'No One But You' is available now. Click Here for details.

Barefoot Books Full catalogue

2011-07-18T16:17:00.004+01:00

The Barefoot Books Full Catalogue is now available to view on line.

Click here to view

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen - Book Trailer

2011-07-15T10:27:00.001+01:00

Publication date UK & Ireland is October 2011. Hardcover £11.99

Judy Moody Movie

2011-07-13T11:21:00.002+01:00

It now official! Universal Pictures has just confirmed that the UK and Ireland release date of the Judy Moody movie is now set for October 21st.
The Judy Moody books have been hugely succesful in Ireland over the past 10 years and fans will be delighted ot hear that the author, Megan McDonald has also written the screenplay for the movie.

Full list of Judy Moody Books Here

National Book Tokens to feature Irish Illustrators

2011-06-30T20:13:00.005+01:00

Electronic gift cards to launch in Ireland this week

National Book Tokens will launch the Euro Gift Card in the Republic of Ireland for the first time this Friday (1st July).
Irish Illustrators Niamh Sharkey and Oliver Jeffers will feature on the card and packaging. Click HERE

Patrick Ness Wins the Carnegie Medal

2011-06-23T13:25:00.007+01:00

Wonderful News!

Patrick Ness has been awarded the CILIP Carnegie Medal today for Monsters Of Men

Ferelith Hordon, chair of the 2011 judging panel comments: “By any stretch of the imagination – and this is a book which profoundly stretches exactly that – “Monsters of Men” is an extraordinary achievement. Within its pages, Patrick Ness creates a complex other world, giving himself and the reader great scope to consider big questions about life, love and how we communicate, as well as the horrors of war, and the good and evil that mankind is capable of. It’s also an enthralling read that is well nigh impossible to put down. Reviews on the CILIP shadowing site bear out our conviction that despite being part of a remarkable trilogy, this is a novel that both stands alone, and stands out”.

Listen to Patrick's acceptance speech here

Press Release Here

Where's Wally World Record Broken AGAIN !

2011-06-20T00:32:00.005+01:00

The Street Performance World Championships held two Where's Wally? record attempts on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday's gathering of 3,657 Wallys broke Cork City's record last week. Click here for Irish Independent report and video on Saturday's event.
BUT the organisation held another record attempt on Sunday and the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of Where's Wallys? is now 3,872.

The money raised from the sale of the Where's Wally costumes will go to the charity Africa Aware

Oliver Jeffers and David Almond

2011-06-13T19:19:00.009+01:00

More Great News!
Walker Books has just confirmed that it has commissioned Oliver Jeffers to lllustrate David Almond's next book. Format will be illustrated fiction but I'm told there will be plenty of Oliver's work throughout. Here are some pics from Oliver's studio in New York where Deirdre McDermot from Walker Books met up him late last week.

Where's Wally World Record - Cork

2011-06-12T22:57:00.002+01:00

As part of the Street Performance World Championships today, the World Record for the most Where's Wallys in one place was indeed broken. 2,563 Wallys gathered today in Cork.
Next week sees two more attempts in Dublin.
Well Done Cork!

Laura Carlin wins V&A Illustration Award

2011-06-09T15:17:00.004+01:00

Laura Carlin has won the V&A Illustration Award 2011 for Best Illustrated Book with Iron Man

Laura was presented with her prize at an awards ceremony at the V&A Museum on Monday
Laura’s artwork, along with the other winners, will be on display at the V&A until December.

Part modern fairy tale, part science fiction myth, The Iron Man describes the unexpected arrival in England of a mysterious giant "metal man" who wreaks havoc on the countryside by attacking the neighbouring farms and eating all their machinery. A young boy called Hogarth befriends him and he and the extraordinary being end up defending and saving the earth when it is attacked by a fearsome "space-bat-angel-dragon" from outer space. This children's classic, with its message of peace and hope, is known and loved all over the UK and is here presented as part of an exciting new collaboration between Walker Books and Faber and Faber.

Mo Willems new Picturebook for 2012

2011-06-08T12:00:00.002+01:00

The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? is scheduled for publication in April 2012. Duckling asks for a cookie—and gets one! Pigeon, who has been unsuccessfully asking for things for years, is not pleased.

“The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? is probably my most research-heavy book to date,” said Willems. “As the creator, I had to ask tough questions, like ‘What kind of cookie?’ ‘How would the cookie taste?’ and ‘How would another one of the cookies taste?’ This hard work was not done by an assistant; I have the belly to prove it.”

Allan Alberg & Bruce Ingman on CLPE shortlist

2011-06-03T12:39:00.003+01:00

Everybody was a Baby Once by Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman has been shortlisted for the CLPE Poetry Award 2011.The award is presented annually for a book of poetry for young people; previous winners include John Agard, Grace Nichols, Roger McGough and Jackie Kay.
The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday 5^th July and the judges will be Carol Ann Duffy, Andrew Lambirth and Fiona Waters. The judging panel will be chaired by Julia Eccleshare.

Kevin Waldron wins Major Illustration prize

2011-06-02T14:01:00.003+01:00

Kevin Waldron wins the Bull-Bransom Award.

“Kevin Waldron's illustrations for Tiny Little Fly are a perfect example of how engaging illustrations can bring the printed word to life. He gave personality to creatures ranging in size for the tiny little fly to a great big elephant - on the same page!” said National Museum of Art Curator of Art Adam Harris, who served as one of the judges for this year’s award. “Waldron’s work exemplifies excellence in contemporary wildlife illustration, making him a wonderful choice for this year's Bull-Bransom Award.”

PJ Lynch Artwork for The Examiner

2011-06-01T19:23:00.006+01:00

Pj Lynch has completed this painting for a campaign to run in 'The Examiner' newspaper. Keen eyes with notice some member of the Irish Childrens Bookseller Mob! ie; David O Callaghan, David Maybury, Eamon Nolan and yours truly, Conor Hackett.
It will appear in the newspaper soon and also on billboards around Cork.
Click here to go to PJ's site for more information.

Mal Peet's 'Life an Exploded Diagram'

2011-05-27T00:47:00.008+01:00

Hodges Figgis Celebrate the Bisto Book of the Year 2011

2011-05-25T22:02:00.006+01:00

Hodges Figgis Dawson St. installed a big Bisto Book of the Year Window today.
The Winner of the Book of the Year Prize and the Eilis Dillon Award, A Bit Lost by Chris Haughton is the centre of a display featuring all of the wonderful books on the shortlist

Clockwork Prince Cover Revealed

2011-05-25T19:02:00.004+01:00

Here it is, at last we can see the cover for the forthcoming (December '11) book 2 of The Infernal Devices, Clockwork Price

Helen Oxenbury & John Burningham at the CBI Summer Conference 2011

2011-05-23T00:53:00.006+01:00

Helen Oxenbury and John Burnigham enthralled the audience at the CBI Summer Conference on Saturday 21st. David Lloyd, Walker Books assumed the role of moderator, starting on a high note with the phrase, Ta Leanabh ag teacht!! John assured the audience that there was no plans for another baby before they discussed in depth the genesis and process of producing this bestselling picturebook.

CBI Summer Conference 2011

2011-05-23T00:48:00.004+01:00

Sheena Wilkenson, Judy Curtain, Garret Carr and John Newman in discussion at the CBI Summer Conference

Patrick Ness interview in The Irish Times

2011-05-21T08:38:00.004+01:00

Magazine
21 May 2011

Eason Illustrators Night

2011-05-19T23:14:00.011+01:00

Niamh Sharkey, Chris Haughton, Chris Judge & David Melling appeared at Eason Bookshop, O Connell St today.
The audience learned to draw characters from the books and the later had an opportunity to ask questions and look through the artists' notebooks and early sketches and drafts.

2011-05-19T11:26:00.003+01:00

Inis 35 is out now featuring the Bisto Childrens Book of the Year Prize and a big piece on Patrick Ness' A Monster Calls.
Online sampler available here But the real (printed) edition is a thing of beauty!!!

Eason hosts event for Irish Illustrators

2011-05-17T14:41:00.000+01:00

Chris Haughton in The Irish Times

2011-05-17T08:51:00.002+01:00

Illustrator takes scenic route to prize
KITTY HOLLAND
The Irish Times
17 May 2011

A FIRST book by a young, new author has been named Bisto Children’s Book of the Year. A Bit Lost, written and illustrated by Chris Haughton (32), tells the story of an accidentally orphaned owl, who has fallen out of his nest and needs to find his way...read more...

Tech Tags: The Irish Times newspaper HOME NEWS

Chris Haughton Wins Bisto Childrens Book of the Year 2011

2011-05-16T21:05:00.001+01:00

Chris Haughton won both the Eilis Dillon Award and the Bisto Chisldrens Book of The Year in Dublin today, 16th May 2011. This is the first time an author or illustrator has won both Awards.
The Honour Award for Fiction and the Childrens Choice Award went to Sheena Wilkinson for Talking Flight
Full details of the Awards can be found on the Childrens Books Ireland site

Robert Dunbar reviews A Monster Calls and Bruised (Irish Times)

2011-05-14T15:02:00.003+01:00

And if the Bisto books aren’t for you . . .

Weekend Review
14 May 2011

THE FACT that childhood is not necessarily an unbroken idyll for everyone is demonstrated yet again in Siobhán Parkinson’s (Hodder, Â�5.99), where at one point its 14-year-old hero, Jono, reflects, “Life is much better as you get older. The younger you...read more...

Tech Tags: Weekend Review newspaper Arts & Books

CLICK PIC FOR A 'MONSTER CALLS' REVIEW

Race for the Bisto prize hots up (Irish Times)

2011-05-14T14:56:00.003+01:00

Anna Carey considers the excellent 2011 Bisto shortlist

Race for the Bisto prize hots up

Weekend Review
14 May 2011

FANTASY, TRAGEDY, humour, little owls falling out of trees: there’s something for everyone in this year’s Bisto Children’s Book of the Year shortlist, which celebrates the best in Irish children’s literature. The Bisto awards, open to writers and...read more...

Tech Tags: Weekend Review newspaper Arts & Books

CLICK PIC FOR BISTO REVIEW

A Monster Calls Window Display at Hodges Figgis

2011-05-12T00:44:00.002+01:00

Finn Throws A Fit

2011-05-10T18:30:00.001+01:00

Finn Throws a fit from Walker Books ISBN

9781406322545

Scorpia Rising

2011-04-21T09:12:00.002+01:00

Scorpia Rising has regained the No.1 spot this week.
City of Fallen Angels is No. 2

Floor to Ceiling Books

2011-04-18T13:35:00.006+01:00

Nice review of Patrick Ness' Monsters of Men.
Review of Ask and the Answer features further down the page.
Lots of fantasy writting covered here too

Floor to Ceiling Books: "Monsters of Men is the third and final novel in the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness, and has been shortlisted for the Arthur Clark awa..."

Michelle Gayle on Tom Dunne Show

2011-04-16T21:06:00.003+01:00

Michelle Gayle will be on The Tom Dunne Show, (Newstalk) on Monday 18th April 2011 at 11.05am
Walker Books ISBN 978-1406330885

Upcoming publicity for A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

2011-04-16T20:56:00.003+01:00

Patrick Ness will visit Dublin on Thursday 12th May.
There will be a public event in Eason, O Connell St Dublin at 6.30pm on 12th after which Patrick will sign copies of A Monster Calls and his best selling Chaos Walking series.

Publicity on the way for A Monster Calls
The Irish Times Magazine.
Review in Irish Times
The Green Room with Orla Barry - Newstalk.
More updates to follow.

Ladder to The Moon on Tubridy (2FM)

2011-04-16T20:50:00.007+01:00

Ryan Tubridy interviewed Maya Soetoro-Ng, sister of President Barak Obama on Friday Morning 15th April 2011
Click here for link. Interview starts 80 minutes into show.

Walker Books ISBN 978-1406333381

Little Island reviews in Irish Times

2011-04-16T02:47:00.002+01:00

Both Flick and Thin Ice from Little Island are reviewed today in the Irish Times by Robert Dunbar

Weekend Review
16 Apr 2011

Ireland Top 10 Childrens Book Chart 11/4/11

2011-04-12T23:25:00.005+01:00

No. 1 City of Fallen Angels

No. 2 Scorpia Rising

A first for Walker Books in Ireland - both No. 1 & No. 2 positions!

Anthony Horowitz Straight to No. 1 in Ireland

2011-04-06T13:47:00.004+01:00

With only half a week sales, Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz has stormed to the top of the Irish Bestseller charts. Scorpia Rising is the final book in the International Bestselling Alex Rider series published by Walker Books.

Earn your stripes: The Irish Times, 02 Apr 2011

2011-04-03T11:06:00.003+01:00

This Where's Wally? flashmob made headlines in all Irish media including the RTE 6 and 9 o'clock news. The world record attempt will happen in June when we will also run a huge month-long Wheres' Wally? promotion in bookshops across Ireland.

Earn your stripes:
Photograph: David Sleator
The Irish Times
02 Apr 2011

Where’s Wally? Announcing details of a bid to break the world record for the most “Wallies” in one place, a flash mob of 150 Wallies hit the streets of Dublin yesterday. The bid will be attempted as part of the Street Performance World Championships...read more...

Tech Tags: The Irish Times newspaper Home News

Let's write a story - Polly Dunbar

2011-03-28T18:00:00.002+01:00

Polly Dunbar explores the structure behind short story writing particularly for picturebooks.

One of the most common questions I get asked as an author is ‘Where do ideas come from?’ and ‘How do you write a story?’ In Ideas Everywhere I set out to write a story about how to write a story. Quite a challenge! It is based on the idea that scraps of paper can become ideas and then stories. I have used this method in classrooms, the children have very quickly come up with brilliantly inventive, daft and yet rounded stories. Here’s how…

Click Here

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

2011-03-28T17:40:00.004+01:00

The Sky is Everywhere paperback release - June 2011.

The Butterfly Heart

2011-03-15T10:22:00.003Z

Paula Leyden's The Butterfly Heart was launched in The Book Centre, Kilkenny on Saturday evening 12th March.
Before a reading by Paula's daughter, Siobhan Parkinson Childrens Laureate gave a speech in praise of Paula's writing and of Walker Books.

Arthur C Clarke Award

2011-03-14T08:49:00.003Z

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness has been shortlisted for the Arthur C Clarke Award.
2011 is the 25th anniversary of this, the most prestigious award for Science Fiction in the UK.

The full shortlist is

• Zoo City – Lauren Beukes (Angry Robot)

• The Dervish House – Ian McDonald (Gollancz)

• Monsters of Men – Patrick Ness (Walker Books)

• Generosity – Richard Powers (Atlantic Books)

• Declare – Tim Powers (Corvus)

• Lightborn – Tricia Sullivan (Orbit

The winner will be announced on Wednesday 27th April 2011 at an award ceremony held in partnership with SCI-FI-LONDON Film Festival.

Irish Winner of Doodle 4 Google competition

2011-03-09T08:03:00.001Z

Congratulations to Layla Karpuz who won the Google 4 competition from Mary, Mother of Hope Junior National School, Co. Dublin. Layla’s doodle will appear on www.google.ie for 24 hours on Wednesday, March 9th 2011.

Failure to restore school book grant to schools and libraries challenged

2011-03-08T09:17:00.003Z

Failure to restore school book grant to schools and libraries challenged
KITTY HOLLAND
The Irish Times
08 Mar 2011

IT WAS a “major concern” that the new programme for government made no commitment to reinstate the school book grant to schools and libraries, the director of Children’s Books Ireland (CBI) has said. Mags Walsh, who was speaking at the announcement of...read more...

Click on Image for print edition.

Tech Tags: The Irish Times newspaper Home News

2011-03-07T17:12:00.002Z

The Bisto Childrens Book of the Year shortlist was announced today.
Click here for the list and details of each author / illustrator.
We are delighted to see Chis Haughton and Kevin Waldron on the list for their first works with Walker Books.
Also new Irish Publisher, Little Island makes two appearances with Prim Improper by Deirdre Sullivan and Taking Flight by Sheena Wilkinson.

Scorpia Rising Trailer !!!

2011-03-07T12:35:00.002Z

Publication date 31st May 2011

Hodges Figgis Window Display

2011-02-23T21:12:00.002Z

The Walker Books Illustrated Classics promotion started in Hodges Figgis today. As the poster says "The Classics Never Looked So Good"

Scorpia Rising Dublin Poster Advertising Campaign

2011-02-22T00:22:00.003Z

The Scorpia Rising Poster Campaign will commence soon
Dublin sites are as follows;

1.St Stephens Green Shopping Centre, 2.Frascati Shopping Centre,
3.Jervis Shopping Centre, 4.Bloomfields Shoping Centre, Dun Laoghaire
5.Tescos Shopping Cente, Greystones, 6. Omni Park Shopping Centre, Santry
7.Charlesland Shopping Centre, Finglas, 8.Swan Centre Rathmines
9.Artane Castle Shopping Centre, 10.Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock.
11.Malahide Shopping Centre. 12.Donaghmede Shopping Centre
13.Kilbarrack Shopping Centre 14.Orwell Shopping Centre Templeogue
15.Cromwellsfort Road, Crumlin 16.Mill Shopping Centre Clondalkin
17.Liffey Valley Shopping Centre 18. Dundrum Town Centre Carpark.
19.Beacon Sth Qtr, Shopping Centre carpark

Big Picturebook News!!!!

2011-02-18T19:57:00.003Z

Spent the last three days with Walker Books for the Spring 2011 Sales Conference.
Where do I start? So many brilliant books coming later this year but some really big news is that Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny Free will be published in the UK & Ireland in the Autumn.

This, the third tale of Trixie and Knuffle Bunny sees the family travel to Holland to visit Oma and Opa but Knuffle Bunny is left on the plane! Agggghhhhhh!
You'll have to wait and see if a certain pigeon makes a discreet appearance!

Michael Morpurgo

2011-02-17T00:04:00.003Z

Michael Morpurgo gave this years Richard Dimbleby Lecture from Kings College, London.
He explored the issue of Childrens Rights and spoke specfically about the inspiration for his book The Kites are Flying (Walker Books)
Readers in the UK can view the programme on the BBC Iplayer. Click Here . I'll post the Youtube link for Irish and other international territories as soon as it is loaded.

Jim Kay

2011-02-11T00:31:00.002Z

This is the wraparound cover art for A Monster Calls (pub May 2011) by Jim Kay.
Jim also illustrated Dragonborn for Walker Books and you can read up on his work HERE.

Quote from Jim regarding A Monster Calls,

"Now I’m obviously biased, but believe me, it is a remarkable story. I warn you it doesn’t hold back, if you’ve read any of Patrick’s books before you’ll know what you are in for. Get hold of a copy, hide yourself away, and throw yourself between the rollers of an emotional grinder."

A Place Called Home

2011-02-09T15:19:00.004Z

Walker Books will publish A Place Called Home in May 2011.

Written by Alexis Deacon ( Beegu, Slow Loris, While You Were Sleeping) and illustrated by Vivian Schwarz (There Are Cats in This Book, There Are No Cats in This Book) this is the very funny story of a band of seven furry brothers.
They live in a nice, safe, warm home – a very small hole. Yet as they grow up they become too big for the tiny space and are forced out into the world. And so their adventure begins – a quest for a new place to call their own! This determined little unit tackle the elements: crossing the sea, climbing a mountain, trawling across the desert and surviving a labyrinth until, finally, they reach the edge of the world... What will they see here and will they ever find a place they can call home?

The Butterfly Heart

2011-02-07T14:39:00.006Z

The Butterfly Heart by Irish Author Paula Leyden will be published by Walker Books in March '11.

Paula has published a website and Blog click here.

"I decided to write The Butterfly Heart for many reasons – but the initial idea came to me through a memory that has haunted me. While I was at primary school in Zambia a school friend of mine was taken out of school and married off to an old man. At the time this upset me deeply and I felt helpless to do anything about it.

So in some ways I wrote the story for her, and for young girls in many parts of the world that this has happened to and continues to happen to. These children, and they are children, are robbed of their childhoods, condemned to a world of pain, premature childbirth, HIV/AIDS and death. This is not something that should happen to anyone, anywhere, ever."

Long Reach

2011-01-20T17:51:00.002Z

“I finished my copy of Long Reach last night. I have no words. It blew me away… this has to be one of the best contemporary young adult/cross-over novels I've ever read in five years”

myfavouritebooksatblogspot

Thin Ice

2011-01-19T11:59:00.003Z

This is the proposed cover design for the new March 2011 publication Thin Ice from Michael Engstrom. Published by Little Island.

Childrens Book reviews on MONCRIEF

2010-12-15T23:31:00.003Z

Mags Walsh, CBI and David O Callaghan, Eason were on The Moncrief Show today reviewing;

A Bit Lost
There's a Bird on My Head
Tiny Little Fly
Judy Moody Series

Mags reminded us that the New York Times compared Mo Willems with Beckett!
Book review slot HERE. 34 mins into Part 2 on Wednesday 15th December

Sarah Webb's reviews in The Irish Independent

2010-12-15T11:15:00.003Z

Sarah Webb picks an excellent Top 10 Click HERE

Sarah's review of the Best of 2010 Click HERE