Tubridy Show Childrens Book feature

Grainne Clear joined Ryan Tubridy this morning to discuss some of the best Children's books for Christmas 2013.  It was a great piece with lots of chat about how picturebooks with no text (Journey by Aaron Becker) can challenge both parents and children to really 'look' at art and allow lots of interactive storytelling.  Grainne spoke about The Powers which will be the Unesco/Dublin City Libraries 'One City One Book' for Children from January to March 2014.  John Greene's 'Fault in our Stars' met rave reviews (movie adaptation release date- June 2014) as did Patrick Ness' 'More Than This' - I've always said that this is a difficult book to review but Grainne nailed it when she insisted that it is essentially a beautiful story about relationships.
Here's the full list.

Journey  by Aaron Becker (this is getting so much review coverage)
The Dark by Jon Lassen and Lemony Snicket
The Powers by Kevin Stevens illustrated by Sheena Dempsey
Oliver and the Seawigs By Philip Reeves and Sarah McIntyre
The Boy Who Swan with Piranhas by David Almond, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan
After Tomorrow by Gillan Cross
Prim Improper by Deirdre Sullivan
The Fault in our Stars by John Geene
More than This by Patrick Ness
The Dark Satanic Mills (Graphic Novel) by Marcus and Julian Sedgwick

Walker Eireann on TV

The Walker Eireann picturebooks will very soon be featured on TG4.

Here are the transmission times although I'm sure they will be repeated.

Ar Strae Beagán (A bit Lost)- 20/12/2013 @ 15:30

Stiúcaí Stiúgtha (Ravenous Beast)- 13/12/2013 @ 15:30

Ulchabháin óga (Owl Babies) - 09/12/2013 @ 15:30

Tomhais méid mo ghrá duit (Guess how much I love you)- 05/12/2013 @ 15:30

Mící Meabhrach (Baby Brains)- 11/12/2013 @ 15:30

For the moment you can still listen to these stories read by Gabriel Rosenstock here 

New York Times Best Illustrated Books 2013

The winners of the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books Awards for 2013 were announced earlier this week. Since 1952, the Book Review has convened an independent panel of judges to select picture books on the basis of artistic merit. Each year, judges choose from among thousands of picture books for what is the only annual award of its kind.
The judges for 2013 were the Caldecott medalist Brian Selznick, who has twice won Times Best Illustrated awards, for “Walt Whitman: Words for America,” by Barbara Kerley, and “The Invention of Hugo Cabret”; Betsy Bird, a children’s book specialist at the New York Public Library and the author of the picture book “Giant Dance Party”; and Steven Heller, longtime art director at The Times, co-chairman of the M.F.A. Designer as Author and Entrepreneur program at the School of Visual Arts, and Visuals columnist for the Book Review.

Click Here to see the winning books.

Picturebooks in the Media

Well after an evening in Smock Alley Theatre discussing the lack of regard in the Irish Media for children's books and in particular, picturebooks,  the Irish Times printed a full page on Niamh Sharkey, her success with Brownbag film and Disney and also a piece on the Pictúir exhibition at IMMA.  I'm off to find some humble pie!!!

Walker Éireann launches second phase of publishing

Following the huge success of last years publishing programme,Walker Éireann has launched four new Irish language titles this week featuring Laureate na n-Og Niamh Sharkey, Kevin Waldron, Sam McBratney and Martin Waddell.  Hodges Figgis, Dublin installed this window display today.

Available from Bookshops across Ireland and from Walker Books here
To listen to audio versions of the Walker Éireann books visit the Walker Eireann Soundcloud page
If you cannot find these books in your local shop, click here to request information regarding your nearest stockist

Mortal Instruments: City of Bones No.1 in Ireland

 

We've seen a steady increase in sales of all of Cassandra Clare's books since the beginning of 2013 but the release of the Mortal Instruments movie last week has caused a surge in sales.
This week in the Irish Childrens and Young Adult chart, Cassandra is now No1...and No.2...and No. 3...and No.4...and No. 7...and No.8!!!!
That's Chart Domination !!

1	City of Bones:Mortal Instruments	Clare, Cassandra	Walker Books Ltd
2	City of Ashes:Mortal Instruments	Clare, Cassandra	Walker Books Ltd
3	City of Glass	Clare, Cassandra	Walker Books Ltd
4	City of Bones:Mortal Instruments	Clare, Cassandra	Walker Books Ltd
5	Gone	Grant, Michael	Egmont Books
6	Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Cabin Fever:Diary of a Wimpy Kid	Kinney, Jeff	Puffin Books
7	City of Lost Souls:Mortal Instruments	Clare, Cassandra	Walker Books Ltd
8	City of Fallen Angels:Mortal Instruments	Clare, Cassandra	Walker Books Ltd
9	Will Grayson, Will Grayson	Green, John	Penguin Books
10	Billionaire Boy	Walliams, David	HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks