Mysterious Traveller Shortlisted for the CBI Book of the Year Awards

It's an honour to be shortlisted for the 24th CBI Book of the Year Awards for my illustrations to "Mysterious Traveller" by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham.

Mysterious Traveller Long Listed for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

I'm delighted to be on the 2014 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal long list for my work on Mysterious Traveller by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham, published by Walker Books.
I was lucky enough to win the Kate Greenaway twice in the 1990s for The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and for When Jessie Came Across the Sea. 
There are some great illustrators long listed with me but fingers crossed for the shortlist anyway!

The Story of Britain is shortlisted for the ALCS award

I was delighted to hear that The Story of Britain, by Patrick Dillon with illustrations by me has been shortlisted for the The Society of Authors ALCS award.

Obviously the shortlisting is primarily due to Patrick's wonderful prose, but I am hoping I might tag along next month to the prize giving event which is at the Houses of Parliament in London.
Our publisher, Walker Books, has another title among the four short-listed, so the chances of a celebration are good.
Above is the cover of the paperback version of The Story of Britain which is due out next year.

Congratulations to Chris Judge, winner of the Irish Children's Book Award.

Congratulations to my pal, and studio neighbour, Chris Judge, whose wonderful first book "The Lonely Beast" was awarded the Irish Children's Book Award last Thursday evening.
I was delighted to be the guest presenter who announced his win.
The full ceremony will be shown on RTE TV next Thursday evening.
Very well done Chris!

The Bord Gáis Irish Book Awards

This Thursday I'll be dusting off the old tuxedo as I have been asked to present the Specsavers Irish Children's Book of the Year Awards at the Irish Book Awards Gala dinner in Dublin.
A few of my pals are shortlisted in various categories but I have no idea who has won any of the prizes. I will be as surprised as anyone when the envelopes get opened.
It will all be on the TV a week afterwards, so I'll hopefully be able to post a link.

Cheeky Lee Babcock

This is the third illustration I did for Ten Golden Years.
As you can see, the author Michael McHugh, autographed this page in my copy of the book.
It's quite an untypical subject for me, but in those days I was still trying out different styles, and I had fun with it.
But the idea of having to paint flying baked beans......

Oppenheim Platinum Award.

Walker Books and Candlewick Press have brought together three glorious Christmas stories that I have illustrated ,"The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey", "A Christmas Carol" and "The Gift of the Magi" in a wonderful three volume slipcase, lavishly packaged and produced.

Andwe have just heard that the PJ Lynch Classic Christmas Collection has won an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award.

Enter the DAA Children's Short Story Competition

Here is a chance for one of you younger budding writers out there to match your storytelling talents to my illustration work.
The Dublin Airport Authority, who sponsor the Irish Book Awards, asked me to do a picture which contains all sorts of fantasy elements for their Children's Short Story Competition
.
I had a lot of fun with this one, using digital and traditional techniques and bringing in various bizarre characters that I hope might tickle your imaginations.
All you have to do is write a short story, in not more than 250 words, based on the themes suggested by my painting.
Come on! Download an entry form here, and let your imaginative juices flow.

The two winning entrants will receive all eight titles shortlisted for the Award and will be invited to join a panel of expert judges who will decide the winners of the Dublin Airport Authority Children’s Books of the Year Award for 2009. A donation will also be made to the school libraries of the winning entrants.

iBbY Ireland announces their nominees for iBbY’s Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2010

Thanks to everyone who congratulated me for getting on to the Bisto shortlist.
I can also announce that iBbY Ireland have once again honoured me with their nomination for the Hans Christian Andersen Awards. I am nominated for the Illustration award, and Eoin Colfer is nominated for the Authors' prize.
I am very chuffed to be put forward for this prize by iBbY Ireland as it really is the most prestigious award in the world of children's books, and just to be nominated is a very big deal indeed for me.
My old pal Anthony Browne won it recently for the UK, and of course we are hoping that Eoin can follow in the footsteps of the great Martin Waddell, who won the writers' prize in 2004 representing Ireland.