Round ups, Browne and McGann

David has beaten me to it with a great round up of all things book related, particularly the Guardian award. Go Read

Also worth noting – good review of Anthony Browne’s new book, Little Beauty, over on Independent site

A tomato is taken for a walk instead of a dog; a dog is put in a pram instead of a baby – and everything is portrayed in a touching and graceful way.

Although the balance of commentary between the text and the images seems a bit off. It is always tricky when reviewing picture books to talk about text and images and all to often text seems to win out and the art work gets just a brief nod.

No such issues with Sarah Webb’s review of Strangled Silence by Oisin McGann in this weekend’s Irish Independent. She has concerns about the plot but recognises that

McGann is a terrific storyteller, unafraid to tackle weighty, important subjects, always moving forwards and stretching himself and his craft. He is to be commended for this exciting, worldly read.

Library visits up 17% since 2002

New stats about library usage  were released today by the Library Council. The second nationwide survey of public library users reveals that there are over 14 million visits to public libraries each year, an increase of 17% since the previous survey was carried out in 2002.

According to MInister Kitt who launched the report there have been fifty new libraries, a 30% increase in opening hours, and a 151% increase in spending on books and other materials during the last decade 

You can access the summary report and the related press release over on library.ie. The youngest library users surveyed were 15 years old and although overall the statistics are healthy the 15-34 year old age group is underrepresented in library users in comparison to census figures.

A bit of  a disconcerting read for VHG though as I recognised two of the people in the photographs – very very random!

Malachy Doyle Q&A

Monster Kid’s Rampage has a quick Q&A with Malachy Doyle – a good reminder of the sheer range, quality and volume of Malachy’s output

go here

If Kids Made the Reading Rules – all done

If Kids Made the Reading Rules is finished and winging its way around the country to libraries and schools. Official launch is next week in Trim Library, with the kids involved and Norma McDermott, Director of the Library Council doing the launching honours. So far its been getting a great response. You can download the poster and read more background to the project over on the CBI main site

You can catch the young participants talking about the project news2day site over on rte.ie/news2day or it has found it’s way to youtube aswell.

 

 

 

 

Leading London Lights – Sharkey and Colfer

Two bits of London news

First up – Niamh Sharkey has an upcoming show in The Illustration Cupboard in London.

It will feature work particularly from her new title, Cinderalla. The illustration is a great spot that features illustrators original artwork.

The show will be available to view online too at www.illustrationcupboard.com It will run for two weeks 2-18 Oct in Illustration Cupboard, 22 Bury street. Niamh will also be presenting an adult workshop on 4th October at 12pm and a family signing with Max Eilenberg on 2.30pm on Sat 4th October.

Also announced in London this week – Eoin Colfer is to write the sixth book in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy ‘trilogy’ . There is a great run down about the business end of things on the Penguin Blog and some more over on the Guardian site too. Irish Independent and David also picked up on it.

Jeffers(on) Airplanes

Oliver Jeffers will be in residence in the Ark on FRIDAY evening for culture night. He’ll be making paper planes with anyone who wants to drop in between 5.30 and 7pm.

More details over on http://www.ark.ie and http://www.culturenight.ie

(sorry posted Sunday as day originally – doh!)

happy birthday Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak celebrated his 80th birthday this weekend and like the Dahl focus it means there are some interesting mentions of him about the internet and media.

NPR have rerun an interview with him from a few years ago, available here.
There is also an interview with him here, in the Herald Tribune.

Truly excellent if downbeat interview in The New  York Times here – highly recommended 

I’m truly excited about the prospect of Where the Wild Things Are on screen, due next year from Director Spike Jonze.

Some information about the film and James Gandolfini reading The Night Kitchen over here 

More positives for Creature of The Night

Nicholas Tucker heaps praised on Creature of the Night over on The Independent online.

Already the winner of many prizes, she continues to get better, with Creature of the Night a memorable addition to her previous achievements. 

He catches Thompson brilliantly well when he concludes

Whatever Thompson writes about, and her themes have ranged from genetic mutation to experiments with time, there is always that sense of urgency and total belief. Here, another unpredictable but convincing story winds its way towards a resolution that’s never quite final, but always within the teasing spirit of what has gone before.

Roald Dahl day (ok I know I’m late)

Saturday was Dahl day- It’s great to have an excuse to talk about Dahl and his legacy. As a child some of his titles (Danny the Champion of the World) I read over and over, others (The Witches) absolutely terrified me. Any celebration of Dahl is a great chance to talk about him and his work.

Over on the Guardian – Ben Myers has a nice piece 

bookwitch is interesting about coming to Dahl late via her son

and David found a big red button

David Donohue Diversifies

sorry VHG has been a bit quiet lately – blame the Consultation symposium on Friday and the looming Children’s Books Festival.

Writer David Donohue has certainly been busy- here’s a record of his recent exhibition of paintings and burnt paper at Cafe Formenti as part of the Eigse Carlow Festival. The accompanying song is called She’s Sleeping Now, a David Donohue song with Brian Crosby and Matt Lunsen from One day international.

The burnt paper exhibits are still available to commission.

More links below

http://www.myspace.com/thefloorsireland <http://www.myspace.com/thefloorsireland>  – for more music
http://www.speazlebud.com <http://www.speazlebud.com>  – for backwards spelling