Storylines Wellington 2015 Reporting Back

STORYLINES WELLINGTON 

Sunday August 23^rd 2015 

Reporting Back

Philip Webb in action illustrating a story

Donovan Bixley helps create a medieval gauntlet

Ruth McIntyre  The Children's Bookshop

From the moment I walked into the compact but roomy Shed 6 down on the Wellington waterfront where Storylines 2015 was being held, it was obvious it was a success. It was midday and there were children everywhere (accompanied usually by adults) but this was no aimless moving about - children were all totally engaged in activities. There was much to be involved in and it was nearly all based on recent children’s books.  Gillian Candler’s nature series about the ocean, the rocky shore and the beach provided the stimulus for a magnificent marine display, which had children and adults crowding around it all day. There were activities based on Kyle Mewburn’s Dinosaur Rescue and medieval series, a Book Nook where children could listen to or just look at recent picture books and what Storylines would be complete without the portly red figure of Clifford padding about and waiting to be hugged and photographed. My favourite part of the day was to be sitting in the audience of children who helped Philip Webb and Kyle Mewburn create and illustrate a new story – it was complicated and involved a flying Swiss cheese, a black dragon called Edith, a pack of evil Teddy Bears and a dragon-catching fishing net.

Eileen Mueller (the coordinator) and her large team of volunteers should have gone home happy although totally exhausted with the thought that all the weeks (and weeks) of work
had culminated in such an enjoyable experience for everyone who came down to Shed Six on Sunday. Congratulations.  And good luck to the Storyline events still to happen next weekend. 

Three Days to go to the Wellington Storylines Event

Only three days to go! This year the venue has changed. It is being held in Shed 6 on the Wellington wharves almost opposite the Academy of Fine Arts but if you feel lost I am sure the crowds of children will give a clue about which way to go.
I was very involved in Storylines Wellington for many years (well actually from the beginning) and the committee meetings were held at my home in Ngaio. Last year I had  carelessly broken my arm so wasn't really able to participate with much enjoyment but this year I seem to be all in one piece and intend spending the day really looking at what is happening. I have lent the group my picture book collection of abut 250 books so it will be 
 interesting to see what is popular. Often they are not the titles I think they will be. Without any responsibility for anything  I am looking forward to the day! See you there?  Barbara M.

The following information came from Storylines, Auckland.

Storylines 22nd Annual Festival brings together children and authors

New Zealand’s largest children’s book festival gets under way 22-30 August with more than 60 leading authors, illustrators and storytellers appearing at six venues around the country, from Dunedin to Kerikeri. 

The annual Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators was the brainchild of author Joy Cowley, with the first held in Auckland in 1993.

Among the authors appearing at the free Family Days are Kate De Goldi and Jennifer Beck (in Dunedin), Gavin Bishop and Stacy Gregg (Christchurch), Kyle Mewburn and Mona Williams (Wellington), Tessa Duder and Ruth Paul (Kerikeri), Fifi Colston and Melinda Syzmanik (South Auckland), and Leonie Agnew, Philippa Werry, Norm Heke, Paula Green and Sandra Morris (Auckland).

During the week the Story Tours will also take four authors to primary and intermediate classrooms in Northland and a further four around the greater Auckland area.

Among the invited authors are many who have recently appeared on Storylines’ prestigious Notable Books (in 2014) List or are finalists for the Book Trust’s New Zealand Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards.  

Auckland children will be able to meet the recent winner of the LIANZA Esther Glen award, rising star Leonie Agnew, while illustrator Paul Beavis, winner of the Russell Clark Award, will be visiting schools in the Auckland area. 

A new feature of this year’s Festival week is the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal, which will be presented to internationally acclaimed literacy educationalist and author Jill Eggleton at a public function on Thursday 27 August at the University of Auckland Epsom Campus.

Festival Dates:
FAMILY DAYS
Dunedin at the Dunedin City Library           Saturday 22 August
Christchurch at Upper Riccarton Library     Sunday 23 August
Wellington at Shed 6                                   Sunday 23 August
South Auckland at Mangere Arts Centre     Saturday 29 August
Kerikeri at The Turner Centre                      Saturday 29 August
Auckland at the Aotea Centre                      Sunday 30 August

STORY TOURS
Auckland area                                         Monday 24 to Friday 28 August
Northland area                                        Thursday 27 and Friday 28 August

EVENING EVENT
Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and
Address, University of Auckland (Epsom)   Thursday 27 August 

For more information about the events and authors visiting your region, please contact the Festival Manager: Vicki Cunningham events@storylines.org.nz

Storylines Wellington Free Family Day 2015

The Wellington Storylines Committee have asked me to post this material about Storylines 2015 and this I willingly do. It's a fun thing (if somewhat exhausting ) to be involved with. I worked with it every year until 2014 so I speak from experience. Barbara M

A message from the Wellington Storylines Committee

Storylines Free Family Day

Wellington, Sunday 23 August 2015

Are you passionate about helping kids read?

Read Aloud Corner MFC 2014
Image: Barbara Murison

Would you like to make a difference to children’s literacy?

Do you enjoy having fun?

We have 5 weeks until Family Day and need your help!

Storylines Free Family Days help kids meet New Zealand authors and illustrators and have fun with their books. Crafts, live performances, face-painting, competitions, and activities help Kiwi books come to life for Kiwi kids. Join us as a volunteer - we need you.

Unlock the child within! 

Encounter weird and wild creatures!

Run amok with aliens and astronauts!

Fling a medieval insult and help kids create medieval stories!

Meet 'Monkey Boy' and help kids cook creatively!

Fish up something from beneath the surface in the underwater corner.

Dare to dress up! Shape-shifters welcome! Cool costumes rewarded!

Over 4,000 Wellingtonians attended  Family Day in 2014! This year we are at Shed 6, on Wellington waterfront, next to the TSB Arena. Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of this special rewarding day.                               

If you’re interested in helping as a volunteer on the day, please contact, Nikki Geeson, the volunteer coordinator for the Wellington Free Family Day. Email nikkigeeson@xtra.co.nz and let her know how you are able to help, or for more information, phone her on 022 0104373.

For information about Storylines in other parts of New Zealand just Google

Storylines Free Family Day 2015