We are pleased to welcome Liz Canning, Northern Ireland Booktrust Manager who joins us as a special guest blogger to report on Julia Donaldson’s Laureate visit to Dublin and Derry last weekend.
The first stop on Julia’s Laureate visit to Ireland was Dublin, where Children’s Books Ireland hosted a wonderful event featuring Julia alongside Siobhan Parkinson, the Irish Children’s Laureate (Laureate na nÓg), at the Royal Irish Academy on Friday.
The inspiring conversation event was led by Dr Amanda Piesse, and centred on the particular interests of each of the two Laureates. As the inaugural Laureate na nÓg, Siobhan is taking a particular interest in supporting school libraries, as well as making international links. Julia of course, as the seventh UK Children’s Laureate, is focusing on performance and drama, and supporting public libraries, as well as remaining mindful of continuing projects started by her predecessors. Throughout the discussion, the vision of the two women shone through, making it clear exactly why they had been chosen to be Laureates.
After the event, Julia and her team headed on to Derry, where a busy Saturday began with the official opening of The Illustrators’ Exhibition at Derry Central Library. Trisha Ward of Libraries NI and The Lord Mayor of Derry welcomed Julia, who spoke to children and families of her love of libraries, and the important role they play. The children were especially excited to meet, and have photographs taken with a very special guest – none other than the Gruffalo himself.
The Illustrators’ exhibition includes original artwork by some of the leading children’s book illustrators who have created the wonderful illustrations for Julia’s books, including Emily Gravett, Lydia Monks, David Roberts, Axel Scheffler, Nick Sharratt, Pam Smy, Joel Stewart and Charlotte Voake. As well as finished illustrations, the exhibition includes sketches, ideas and a unique display of illustrated envelopes by Axel Scheffler, who always decorates his letters with his distinctive illustrations whenever he writes to Julia. The exhibition will be at Derry Central Library throughout January, before it moves on to Belfast (The Crescent Arts Centre) and Co Kildare (The Riverbank Centre in Newbridge).
Derry families were in for a treat on Saturday afternoon, as they had the chance to come along to an official Children’s Laureate event at the Millennium Forum. The sell-out performance was funded by Arts Council NI, and organized in partnership with Dog Ears, Booktrust, Libraries NI, Verbal Arts Centre, Digital Derry and City of Culture 2013. Children enthusiastically joined Julia on stage to help enact favourite stories such as The Highway Rat and A Squash and a Squeeze and joined in every word of The Gruffalo, who joined in the event too in his first ever visit to Derry!
The 800 strong audience included children and families who are part of the Letterbox Club a personalized book gifting programme for children in care run by Booktrust in partnership with Fostering Network NI. They were joined by families from The National Deaf Children’s Society who recommended Deirdre, the brilliant signer who provided BSL interpretation throughout the show.
The afternoon concluded for many families with a visit to a Waterstones pop-up shop in the foyer. What better memento of a wonderful day than a picture book signed by Julia Donaldson herself?
Finally, Julia’s day concluded with an informal in conversation event at the Verbal Arts Centre, bringing Julia and Siobhan Parkinson together once again to discuss their Laureate roles for an enthusiastic Derry audience. BBC presenter Marie-Louise Muir, who had previously brought her two young daughters to sing along with Julia at the Millennium Forum, skillfully chaired the event. The two Laureates discussed the big issues surrounding children’s books and reading today – from digital publishing to library cuts – and the challenges they face as Laureates. The many questions from the floor gave a deeper insight and understanding into the experiences of the two women, their work, and their role as Laureates across the UK and Ireland.
Thanks to Julia and Siobhan for an amazing weekend!
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