Laureatenanóg Heads Back to School in His Home City
LaureatenanÓg heads back to school in his home city
Children’s laureate PJ Lynch made a return to school and his home city this week to host a special illustration workshop with pupils at Lagan College, supported by Booktrust NI.
6thFebruary 2017- Well known for his detailed illustrations, many inspired by traditional stories, myths and legends, year 10 and 11 pupils had the opportunity to explore drawing techniques with the award-winning illustrator P J Lynch, as part of an event to promote creativity and reading for pleasure.
Appointed as Laureate nanÓg in May 2016, PJ Lynch is the fourth artist to hold the prestigious title. An initiative of the Arts Council with the support of Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Children’s Books Ireland and Poetry Ireland. The honour was established to engage young people with high-quality children’s literature and to underline the importance of children’s literature in our cultural and imaginative lives.
Liz Canning, BookTrust Northern Ireland Manager said: “Reading for pleasure has a huge impact on children’s lives, helping them to develop social skills, aid educational development and encourage emotional growth. A love of reading does not need to stem purely from academic, text heavy books. Books that are full of words and illustrations are equally as important if they help inspire a love of reading. We are delighted pupils of Lagan College have the opportunity to take part in an illustrations masterclass by the current Laureate nanÓg,helping them understand the important role illustrations play when drawing individuals into books and stories.”
The event is one of a series of author visits to secondary and primary schools, funded through the National Lottery by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Damian Smyth, Head of Literature and Drama at the Arts Council, commented: “Introducing children to high quality literature at a young age can inspire a life-long love of reading and introduce them to a world of creativity. It has been a pleasure to meet with PJ today and see the impact that his work has had on students here, an experience which I am sure will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
Speaking at Lagan College, PJ Lynch, said: “It’s a great thrill for me to be back in Northern Ireland in my role as Laureate nanÓg. From CS Lewis to Oliver Jeffers and with people like Martin Waddell, Anita Jeram and Sam McBratney in between, Northern Irish authors and illustrators have made a huge contribution to the world of Children’s Books. I see it as my job to remind our children of that and maybe to encourage a few budding picture book creators from the next generation."
PJ Lynch is currently based in Dublin andhas worked as a children’s book illustrator since leaving Brighton College of Art in England in 1984, and has illustrated over twenty books, including modern editions of classic books such as Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol and The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen.
ENDS.
Press Contacts: Sarah Coburn, Arts Council NI, Communications and Media Officer, 028 9262 3506,
Notes to editors:
The ACNI Lottery Fund distributes a share of the money raised by The National Lottery for good causes. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland awards around £9m per year to projects across NI that support artists, arts organisations and community groups - helping people to access the arts and use the arts as a tool for combatting racism, sectarianism, isolation and loneliness while promoting health and wellbeing.
About PJ Lynch
PJ Lynch has worked as a children’s book illustrator for over 30 years and has illustrated over twenty books. PJ has been awarded the Christopher Medal three times, and he also won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal on two occasions. Lynch’s first illustrated book was A Bag of Moonshine by Alan Garner a collection of folklore tales from England and Wales, which was published in 1986. For that work he won the Mother Goose Award given to the most exciting newcomer to British children’s book illustration. Since then folklore – traditional stories, legends, and fairy tales – have been a recurring subject of his work.
About BookTrust
BookTrustis the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. We work to inspire a love of reading in children because we know that reading can transform lives.Each year we reach 2.5 million children across the UK with books, resources and support to help develop a love of reading, because we know that reading can transform lives. Our books are delivered via health, library, schools and early year’s practitioners, and are supported with guidance, advice and resources to encourage the reading habit. Reading for pleasure has a dramatic impact on educational outcomes, well-being and social mobility, and is also a huge pleasure in itself. We are committed to starting children on their reading journey and supporting them throughout.