Mercier Press would like to congratulate Nicky Phelan of Brown Bag Films for his nomination as Director of Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty in the Animated Short Film category.

Nicky has been illustrating our hugely successful Penny the Pencil books since 2005 and we are delighted to see his talent recognised at the highest level on the international stage. When she heard the news, Penny said, Super-big congratulations to my friend Nicky Phelan on his Oscar nomination for best animated short film! Now every time the pencil case zip opens, I'm hoping it's Nicky's hand - not Ralph's - coming to get me so I can join him on the red carpet in Hollywood!

The sixth Penny book is due out this June, when Penny goes on safari! (Penny on Safari, 9781856355728, €8.99)

You can watch a special Oscar message from Granny O’Grimm on YouTube!