If kids made the reading rules

Good morning all round here in CBI HQ as we have just sent our new If kids made the reading rules poster to print.

Back in ‘07 when we published CBI’s Strategic Plan it contained a commitment to give children a greater role in creating wider understanding of the importance of books for children. This positioning of young readers within our advocacy strategy was a new departure for CBI and we approached it with lots of enthusiasm but also with some trepidation. Our goal for 2008 was to develop a Charter of Entitlements with children relating to books and reading. We wanted a children’s books charter written by children that could become part of CBI policy as well as something that can be shared with a wide audience.

Sneak preview of one image

The final result is beautiful A2 poster which contains 12 recommendations from kids for parents, teachers, libraries, publishers, authors, booksellers and illustrators. It will be distributed as part of the Children’s Books Festival 2008 but here’s one image as a sneak preview.

The process has evolved over the past few months – so much so that the word charter has disappeared altogether. We very fortunate that Meath Libraries, author Conor Kostick and illustrator Alan Barrett all accepted our invitation to get involved. CBI knew the members of trim Library book club, as they were one of three focus groups for the Turning the Page report. During this research project they contributed valuable insights and great energy so we were extremely confident in working with them again.

CBI’s concern was to facilitate a structure that would allow the project freedom to produce an authentic output. A loose structure was proposed to the young readers and Conor initially which they adapted as the project progressed. Illustrator Alan Barrett was added to the mix later when our initial sessions had grounded the project and we could see the rapid progress being made.

The poster will be distributed to libraries and schools next month in preparation for the Children’s Books Festival in October and you will be able to read more about the process on the CBI site in September and in Inis magazine in December

ibby Ireland conference

In case you haven’t heard Ibby Ireland are hosting a one-day conference on children’s literature and Canada on Saturday 18th October in the Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines.

Green Gables to Globalization:
Crossover, Canada and Children’s Books

The conference will examine ways in which children’s literature transcends boundaries of all kinds, focusing in particular on crossover fiction and a sense of belonging in books from Canada, a post-colonial, multi-ethnic society.

Keynote presentations
Sandra L. Beckett
Crossover Fiction and Border Crossings in a Globalized World

Irene Gammel
Looking for Anne of Green Gables: A Literary Icon at 100

Tim Wynne-Jones
Between Belonging and Otherness: The Book as Passport

Shorter presentations on ‘Perspectives on Canada and Children’s Literature’ will be given by Dr Brian O’Neill (Dublin Institute of Technology) and Dr Martina Siefert (Queen’s University).

For further details of the conference, including booking details, see the IBBY Ireland website www.ibbyireland.ie or contact secretary@ibbyireland.ie.

Fighting words in Dublin

Just stumbled across this news on the guardian blog

Roddy Doyle and Sean Love are involved in establishing new centre for writing for children and interested adults.

We have found premises, in the courtyard of an apartment/retail development, construction of which is nearly completed. The courtyard will be called Brendan Behan Square. We’re currently working with an architect, designers, the builder – getting ready to move in during the summer, and opening for writing business in January 09. We want the Fighting Words centre to be a local landmark, or ‘event’; we want the local community to feel that it is theirs.

It sounds like a brilliant idea- you can find out more here and see some more of the Projects that inspired it. In fact it seems like that staggering genius Dave Eggers got this movement started in the US.

Edited to add -

Eggers has a brilliant presentation about the projects over on TED.com. highly entertaining and inspiring. Watch out for the out-of-order slushy machine in the Time Travel store. Now there’s a sentence that I never thought I would write!

tintin tizzy

I’ve never really appreciated Tintin too much. Perhaps I haven’t spent enough time in Belgium to get it but I just don’t have any real affection for the character, unlike for example Barbarpapa who I adore. Maybe it’s a gender thing.

Anyway there is a small piece in The Irish Times today about a new Spanish book which Herge’s estated have persuaded the publishers to withdraw as apparently it was creating a new racier older version of Tintin – more tabloid hack than intrepid fresh faced investigator. I can’t really see what all the fuss is about! It reminds me of that recent issues that David and Achuka both picked up on about children’s books writers been offered contracts which penalise them if their personal lives damage their book sales. It’s that age old debate about whether you can separate art from artist and perhaps when I’m a ripe old age I’ll be able to figure that one out!

Q102 considering doing a related piece about 5.15pm on Wednesday – Listen in, you might hear a certain caterpillar……

A new ‘fizzy’ book festival for Dublin

Just heard about new literary festival for Dublin in September. Organised by Sunday Independent it features both writers for adults and children.

Madeleine Keane, literary editor of the Sunday Independent explains how Books 2008 is different. “I know that there are other festivals, but I wanted something that would reflect the Sunday Independent … I wanted intellect and froth. If you look at the books page, we cover everything from chick lit to serious writers. I wanted something for all readers that’s city- centre based and very accessible to everyone.” She enthuses, “I wanted a big, bright buzzy festival that would capture the imagination … “

The children’s programme (sept 6th) features Anthony Horowitz, Pj Lynch, Niamh Sharkey, Derek Landy, Marita Conlon McKenna and Judi Curtin. Tickets and Line up available here -

There are also writing seminars on Sunday 7th – more details on the site www.bookevents.ie though site does seem to be on the temperamental side!

Leonard Cohen (again) and storytelling

Lucy Guest has a  nice if slightly sentimental piece over in the UK independent about the impact of stories – she mentions laughing len and john hegley among others.

Now things are different: books come with a battery life measured in units of War and Peace and stories can come with you everywhere except in the bath or the rain. But the storytellers haven’t gone away.

I noticed this for the first time this summer as I sat cross-legged in the mud at the Big Chill festival’s Words in Motion tent and John Hegley told a story about a dog. This year’s festival was a real treat for the kind of gig goers who like to listen to the words. It was Leonard Cohen (right) – an old-fashioned troubadour in a big black hat – who blew us all away. But I noticed that his audience and Hegley’s listened with the same expression. Sprawling on the ground or swaying in front of the main stage, their faces were those of children listening to stories, with the same wonder as if they were hearing all about the princess and the pea.

ps also a piece on the Independent about Tomi Ungerer (see below) apparently he has a museum dedicated to him in his home town of Strasbourg – The The Tomi Ungerer International Centre for Illustration opened last year.

Amnesty International’s – We are all Born Free

Amnesty International have just published new illustrated hardback featuring work by tonnes of brilliant illustrators. The book celebrates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Artists and illustrators from all over the world, including Marie Louise Fitzpatrick, offer their personal interpretation of the Articles, making them easy to understand for young readers. Forwards by David Tennant and our own John Boyne. More details on the book and slideshow of some of the work available here. Amnesty intend touring an exhibition of the art work in October as part of Children’s Book Festival.

Incidentally CBI team member got a sneak preview of Boy in Striped Pyjamas movie on Monday morning – they can’t say much yet as it was an advance advance screening but they did like it. World Premier will be in Dublin in September. Trailer for Boy in Striped Pyjamas below

Adrienne Geoghegan – New course for picture book writers and artists

Illustrator Adrienne Geoghegan will be working with Independent College this year to present a course all about picture book writing and illustrating. ~Running for twelve weeks from October to December it is divided in writing and illustrating or you can opt to do both parts.

INTRODUCTION TO CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS:
Lecturer: Adrienne Geoghegan is an artist and illustrator who has written and illustrated children’s books. Location: Independent College, Dawson Street

Course Description and Purpose:
Part One – Picture Book Writing – Suitable for aspiring, beginner or emerging children’s writers and those with a love of children’s literature, and enthusiasm to learn more.
Part Two – Picture Book Illustration – Either follow on from writing, or do this course seperately.
Requirements: Some basic drawing skills and ability with at least one colour medium.

Part One – Writing
In this course you will receive an overview of the many components of children’s literature.
You might have a great idea. But how do you actually go about writing a children’s picture book? Part lecture, part workshop, this course will take you through the process of writing, editing, and submitting a children’s picture book. There will be weekly writing assignments to keep you on track.

Syllabus
Brief introduction to the ‘Golden Age’ of Childrens Literature
-How to ‘write in pictures’ -Readability
-Brainstorm for your initial idea -Settings and Fantasy
-Story Framework -Techniques for hooking readers and editors
-Character development -Dialogue
-How to develop a premise into a plot -The science of making language sing
-The right language and vocabulary -Why editors like to choose their own illustrators
-Picture Book Genres & Themes -Cultivate the habit of revision and editing
-Point of view/voice -The nuts and bolts of marketing a manuscript

By the end of this class you will have:
A completed picture book manuscript, along with a cover letter for sending it out

Part Two – Illustrating
This course will appeal to people with a professional or general art background who enjoy picture making. A good understanding of the relationship between image and text is vital to success in creating children’s picture books. It is important to feel comfortable with drawing, as this is our chief means of communicating when we create picture books. The approach will emphasize sequence, pace, continuity, design, layout and the actual working of a picture book. Please note that this course does not explore mediums or focus on techniques. Although some guidance may be offered in these areas, the course concentrates on molding your existing technique to fit the children’s book market. The course will encourage students to develop their own individuality and imagination. Student can continue on from the writing course with their own unique story, or bring along a well-loved classic to illustrate. Poems, Rhymes and Alphabet books are also welcome. The aim is to increase both experimentation and professionalism.

Syllabus
-Notable illustrators – contemporary and historical -How to create a layout and paginate a text.
-Physical structure of a picture book -Creating thumbnail sketches
-Planning your book -Deciding on a medium/personal style
-Visual continuity and the sequential image -Interaction, composition and content
-Character development, keeping sketchbooks -Cover design
-Picture space and composition -Endpapers
-How to break down and interpret a text and create dynamic images specifically oriented for the picture book market. -Creating a complete Book Dummy.

By the end of this course you will have:
Created a Book Dummy ready for presentation to prospective publishers, or to include in your portfolio as a demonstration of your capabilities.

For Further Details
Contact David Slattery, Head of the Faculty of Arts, Independent College 60-63 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. admissions@independentcolleges.ie, www.independentcolleges.ie , phone 016725058

2.5 hours a night for each part 1. Writing and 2. illustration,or just chose one part if you wish. €795 for each course,
12 weeks from Oct to Dec

Or for more details about the course itself contact Adrienne Geoghegan, 087 9919211, 016776032

A river of good information

I’ve been impressed by Stony River Farm blog since I happened upon it and that’s not just because she says some nice things about CBI!

Recently there has been a lot about the business of writing and keeping solvent and sane while doing it. There is a brilliant series of posts about grant and bursary applications. There is also some equally valuable stuff about submissions etc. When aspiring children’s writers contact us we always recommend the Children’s Writers and Artists Yearbook – I think perhaps Susan on stony river farm should consider producing an Irish version of it…….

Part One – Finding relevant grants is here

Part Two – Completing the application is here

Part Three – What to do after the application is sent is here

If you’re are inspiring writer I recommend printing them off and framing them – they are succinct, relevant and totally honest. Writers may not like this part of their role but it’s vital if you are going to survive.

Uncovering Tomi Ungerer

A colleague mentioned illustrator Tomi Ungerer to me recently and I think I met the mention with a blank stare.

Jump forward to France  a few weeks later and I encounter a full display of his work in one of the many bookshops I was poking around in  and I’m smitten. Only the Barbarpapas could distract me (but that’s a whole other story!) According to this NYTimes article, (via Scamp.ie) he’s now living in Ireland.

‘The Three Robbers‘  will be rereleased this October.  In 1998 he published a memoir of living as a child in Nazi occupied France.

Off to research more about the man and his work – I really like what I’ve found so far