Fan mail

This fan is looking into new and interesting ways to read Mad Cap...
(The hair, I'm told, is not an imitation of Madgie's. Some say it's the other way round.)

Alexis and me

This past weekend saw the return of that exciting, unequalled and highly inspiring event: the Children's Books Ireland conference. As always, the speakers were brilliant and it was great to wander among the delegates with free hands (thank you, childminders of this world!) and meet known and new faces.

The particular highlight for me, I must admit, was writer-illustrator Alexis Deacon's talk on the Sunday. It was one of the typical conference sessions where I'm mentally going 'yes, exactly' every two sentences and that make me want to go home and read, read, read and write, write, write.

So what a great honour and bonus it was to spend the next hour interviewing the man himself!

More on that once the paper is written (and published).

I leave you in his extremely capable hands in the meantime. 

(and for those French speakers out there, yes, his books are available en français from l'Ecole des Loisirs et Kaléidoscope)

Book Spine Poetry

This is getting slightly addictive. Had I any time at all, I'd be assembling improbable piles of books myself. Instead, I'm looking at those posted on 100scopenotes. Fabulous!

Artistry in Newbridge

Check out this brand new, super splendid exhibition at the Riverbank arts centre in Newbridge. It's called The Illustrators, is curated by the UK Children's laureate, Gruffalo creator, and general kidlit megastar Julia Donaldson, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. 

"This fantastic exhibition curated by author Julia Donaldson featuring over 50 original artworks by illustrators Axel Scheffler, Emily Gravett and Nick Sharratt, to name but a few! This is your chance to see The Gruffalo, Stickman and Zog as never before, alongside many other wonderful pieces created by the artists who have collaborated with Julia on her best-selling picturebooks over the past two decades... A complementary programme of family events will also run throughout April, including a double-bill screening of the award winning animated short films The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child animated short films (featuring Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, and John Hurt) and puppet shows by master puppeteer Martin Cahill, bringing some of Julia Donaldson’s most popular titles to life."


There's also a GRUFFALO DISCO!!!
More info over here. 

Fantabulous bookshops

No, I mean, seriously. Head over to flavorwire for an amazing tour of the most beautiful/incredible/mad bookshops on the planet. Here are two examples from Portugal, plus my own addition from Scotland. None listed around these parts, but if you can think of any...

What do you with your old books? | The death of the printed word

That's what Nick Georgiou does with his. Mad or what?



"My art is inspired by the death of the printed word. Books and newspapers are becoming artifacts of the 21st century. As a society we're shifting away from print consumption and heading straight towards full digital lives. "

Amazing paper sculptures

Only in Edinburgh can you have a mysterious paper artist leaving a trail of masterpieces around the city. Anonymously. Check this brilliant article, it's got all the photos.

You've got to love Chris Haughton

Aren't they wonderful? Chris Haughton has created those two posters for bookshops and libraries and he's making them available for free! More here and here.

Tidying up the Hobbit mess

The Guardian is running a story about the recent discovery in Tolkien's papers of a number of early, unpublished illustrations and sketches he made for the Hobbit. Click for the slideshow.

Quentin Blake's new baby

Thinking of redecorating your local maternity hospital? Then ask the specialist! The Centre Hospitalier d'Angers (yes, in France) has just unveiled Quentin Blake's paintings on its glass façade and delivery suites inside. Talk of a good start in life...

More here.

It's September, but don't panic

The lunch boxes still look fresh and inviting, the school bags still have their shape, it's raining and windy and grey, so this must be September. Worry not, however, dear reader! The Squeaky Door has reopened just for you and to give the autumn a colourful kick-off, here are some cool pics just for you.
First off is the water-colour on the top left corner by young French illustrator Solenn Larnicol who is truly, truly wonderful. No surprise she was selected to be part of the Bologna exhibition last spring. (click on pic to see it in big and be amazed)

Next, is this slightly envy-inspiring article from the Accredited Online Colleges blog on some celebrities private libraries. Some are suspiciously tidy, but still, impressive. (Here's Karl Lagerfeld's; doesn't strike me as a terribly practical way to store books if you ever want to find one in particular, but that's only me)

And finally, for those of you who are looking for inspiration for the next Edible Book Festival or are just feeling a bit peckish, look what I found on Chris Haughton's blog!

How do you draw love? | A Shaun Tan interview

I just saw this on Kim Harte's blog and I had to share it. Shaun Tan has given Der Spiegel an interview and has answered all their questions... without words. Go have a look.
(Above is Shaun Tan's answer to ''How do you draw love?")

Stunning

Some stunning re-imaginings (literally) of some old favourites by Spanish illustrator and publisher Juanjo G. Oller (Milimbo is the publishing company). Follow the links to get to the slideshows for Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel.

Even though I never liked Snow White...

... one must admit that Angela Barrett's vision of She of the Apple is quite fabulous. Check out the feature on this and her other works in the Guardian. It's here.

Wizardly stamps

The Royal Mail has just released its new series of stamps, inspired by the great witches and wizards of British folklore and literature. Merlin, Morgan Le Fay, Dumbledore, Aslan and the like will now help postmen the world over in their daily deliveries. Magic!

On the wing…

Remember that Tandem Fair I was talking about some months ago? Well, I’ve been working hard on not one, but two projects, and I’m happy to announce that my bit is done for both (for the moment). I’ve written two texts, for two very different picture books and one of them involves the motley crew of the Flying Taxi, which will look something like this, or so the illustrator Captain Jelly tells me…

Tandems on the road



Sailor, by Leila Brient

  So this is it, all the contributions I received for the ''tandem fair'' have gone live on my French blog. Go have a look and don't hesitate to scroll all the way down (there's over 35 texts or images!!!). There's some deadly pics in there... (stories too, of course, but I guess you'll just have to take my word for it!). It's over here, but here's a wee sample...









Morine, by Captain Jelly





Monseigneur Lapin, by Madama Prope





Pic by Robin



Something fun

That should bring in a bit of sunshine on this liquidy-wet Thursday...
The pics are by Raphaelle Laborde, a French illustrator with as much talent as sense of humour. Raphaelle recently did the pictures for my Sardine Tin Fairy. Since then, she's been working on a Bollywood adaptation of the Perrault tales! Here's Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Sari! Head over to her blogpost to see a couple more.