Sunday, July 29, 2012

The World United new exhibition

On show will be original published artwork by Satoshi Kitamura from Japan, Shaun Tan and Robert Ingpen from Australia, Gennady Spirin from Russia, and Anglo-Indian born Nilesh Mistry. Closer to home we feature a host of truly great talent with Jan Pieńkowski of Polish origin, and both Val Biro and Victor Ambrus from Hungary.

Other Eastern European countries, with their strong and graphic illustration traditions, include Tomislav Tomic from the Czech Republic and Iassen Ghuiselev of Bulgaria. From Italy is work by Eva Montanari, Nicoletta Ceccoli from San Marino, Axel Scheffler of Germany, as well as Brian Wildsmith, long term resident in France.

Dick Bruna’s silk screens of Miffy bring strong Dutch colour to the mix.

The USA is represented by Maurice Sendak, Anita Lobel and Bagram Ibatouilline, and also by Lord of the Rings art director, Canadian born, John Howe. The highlight of the show is Niamh Sharkey from Ireland. Niamh has recently been crowned the Laureate na nƠg, (the children’s Laureate for Ireland), and we will be displaying a selection of her stunning paintings. This diverse exploration of the international artworks for illustrated books is educational as well as entertaining, and will appeal to a younger audience with an interactive display of the new e-book and

APP recently launched at the gallery by England’s Joseph Theobald.

First edition signed books from £5.99

Entrance is free and families are welcome.

Exhibition open from 26 July to 11 August at 22 Bury Street (just off Piccadilly), London SW1

Online preview: www.illustrationcupboard.com

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Margaret Mahy

Children's book author Margaret Mahy, one of New Zealand's most acclaimed literary figures, has died at the age of 76 after a brief illness.

Ms Mahy, who wrote her first story when she was 7, has won numerous awards and honours for her contribution to New Zealand and children's literature.

She has written more than 120 books which have been translated into 15 languages. She has also won many of the world's premier children's book awards, including the Carnegie Medal (twice) for The Haunting and The Changeover and the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Annabel Pitcher and Fiona Kennedy take home Award for their Mantelpiece

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher, edited by Fiona Kennedy and published by Orion Children’s Books has won the 2012 Branford Boase Award, given annually to the author and editor of the most outstanding debut novel for children.

They were awarded the prize at a ceremony at Walker Books last night, Thursday 5 July, by former children’s Laureate and long time supporter of the Branford Boase Award Jacqueline Wilson and last year’s winner, Jason Wallace.

Queen of Teen: Maureen Johnson clinches the title as thousands vote!

Queen of Teen is royally delighted to announce the winner for the fiction world’s most glamorous award. Author of the Name of the Star and 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Maureen Johnson rallied her fans and followers to vote her in as Queen of Teen 2012!

Maureen will be officially sworn in as Queen at a glittering award ceremony on Friday 6th July 2012 surrounded by fans, invited journalists and not to forget the marvellous nine other shortlisted authors, Cathy Cassidy, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Webb, Joanna Nadin, Cathy Hopkins, Samantha Mackintosh, Chris Higgins, Hayley Long, S.C. Ransom and our first ever male, James Dawson.

New York based Maureen has, like the other shortlisted authors, enlisted the help of twitter to gain support for the title. Noted as “one to follow”, Maureen has campaigned for the title with series of hilarious award and Queen related tweets. James Dawson’s twitter campaign also raised a few smiles with his adaptations of film and music posters.

On receiving her crown Maureen said “I am thrilled to be crowned Queen of Teen UK. I look forward to bringing some American blood to your royal line.   It is true we rebelled against the very idea of a crown, but I am prepared to put that aside and rule with a fair and temperate hand, and not to fire a few triumphant rounds in the air during the ceremony. And as my first official words as Queen, I would like to say, YEEEEEHAAAAW! ”

The ceremony is to be held at Queen of Teen HQ in leafy Surrey and will be superbly pink and sparkly – a truly majestic celebration of this thriving and important genre!

Brian Wildsmith Exhibition: Paintings, Graphic Artwork and Costume Designs

This summer sees Illustrationcupboard's third single artist exhibition for Brian Wilde Smith, and a further celebration of this artist's fascinating oeuvre. Regarded as one of the great 20th century book illustrators, Brian's superb draughtsmanship and exquisite use of colour heralded a revolutionary change in picture books in the early 1960s when he was first published by innovative editor Mabel George at Oxford University Press.

As well as exhibiting a selection of stunning original paintings, we will be showcasing the black ink graphic artwork from this period. Never exhibited before this incisive artwork shows Brian Wildsmith at his most inventive and skilful. Technical mastery of pain and ink produces strong confident line of unparalleled expressive quality, providing further insight into the foundation and structure behind many of his more complex and often monumental paintings. Alongside, there will also be a first showing of Brian's superb, original, theatrical costume designs for the Hollywood film The Blue Bird directed by Charles Cukor and which starred Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardener

Artwork will be available for purchase from £250 upwards, as well as a selection of artists' editions and rare out of print signed books. Preview on our website at www.illustrationcupboard.com

Monday to Friday 9:30 am to 6 pm
Saturday 11 am to 5 pm

Entry is free. Families are welcome.

22 Berry Street,
St James's,
London,
SW1Y 6AL

Sunday, July 01, 2012

The Tear Thief

A Little Angel Theatre Production in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre
Adapted from the book written by Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy

Each night, in the hours between supper and bedtime, the Tear Thief carries her waterproof, silvery sack as she steals the tears of every child who cries. But what does she do with all those tears?

“Your tears are the most precious tears of all. They are worth more than diamonds.”

A heart-warming modern fairy tale of a magical world perfectly brought to life by Little Angel’s stunning puppetry. Directed by Little Angel Theatre’s Artistic Director, Peter Glanville.

Suitable for minimum age 3.

Performance Dates and Times:
Wednesdays to Sundays, 22 September to 4 November 2012
Weds & Thurs 10am & 1pm (11am & 2pm in half term)

Fridays 1pm & 5pm (11am & 2pm in half term)

Saturday & Sunday 11am & 2pm

*Baby Friendly Performances are at 11am on Sundays

Tickets: £5 to £12 (£12 adult/£10 children and concessions; £5 Friday Fives at 5 pm shows)

Family Gala performance: Sunday 14 October, 3pm

 Running Time: Approx 45 mins
Public booking opens 28 August

Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture

The fifth Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture will be held at Homerton College, Cambridge on 6th September, 2012.  Malorie Blackman will deliver the lecture and has chosen to speak about
21st Century Storytelling: Will the advent of new technology create a paradigm shift in the writing and reading of children's literature?

Free 'tickets' become available in July 2012. (Kevin Crossley Holland will give the lecture on September 5 in 2013.) For further information and to read or view Philip Pullman's 2011 lecture, please see www.pearcelecture.com

PHILIPPA PEARCE died in 2006, but respect and affection for her writing is as strong as ever. In her memory, a series of lectures is now underway, each intended to celebrate excellence in writing for children and to emphasize its continuing vital importance.