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

Art Techniques for Teenagers

UK Writer and Illustrator Teal Triggs, illustrated by Daniel Frost The School of Art Allen & Unwin 2015, $32.99hb 96pp ISBN 978 1 8478 0611 6 Themes: Art techniques

In this handsome and large book with its zany illustrations, the five 'professors' at The School of Art set out, in 40 ‘lessons’, to give the reader the skills to create some great pieces of art of which they will be proud.  Basic design elements, experimenting with ideas and materials and how to use the new skills are covered in a fun and practical way.

A great book to whet the appetite of a student who is not quite sure whether they are really interested in art  - or not. It could also be used successfully in a classroom setting. 

Year 8 up/ Age 12 up

Professor Teal Triggs is an educator, historian and writer whose research focuses primarily on graphic design history, design research methods, self-publishing and feminism. She has led interdisciplinary research teams within the broader field of information environments exploring the role of information in public spaces and community-based learning.   

Source: Royal College of Art, London

Fantasy, Conservation and a Ship-in-a-Bottle

Available Now – Launched last Saturday at the Raglan Readers and
Writers’ Festival 2015 

Shortlisted for the 2013 Kobo/NZ Authors E Publishing Prize

 

NZ Writer and Illustrator

Sarah Johnson, illustrated by Deborah Hinde

The Bold Ship Phenomenal

Flat Bed Press PO Box 131 Raglan 3265 2015 $19.99pb 240pp

(Also available from Sarah Johnson at www.sarahjohnson.co.nz or on-line retailers)

ISBN 978 0 4733 1314 2

Themes: Conservation/ Fantasy/ Pigs/ Pirates

Life in Malachi’s house has been dull, dull, dull since his mother died and somehow school (especially science) doesn’t seem much better. Then, down on the seashore Malachi finds a bottle. A bottle with a fully rigged ship inside it smelling of salt and tar and – adventure.  Malachi’s mother had been the sort of person who could ‘find adventure in a supermarket carpark’ but even she would have been surprised at what was about to happen to her son when he stowed away in the back of a truck heading for the Waipoua Forest.  On board the truck is the bottle with the ship on which much activity is taking place as it prepares to sail with its load of cargo and in a corner of the truck tray sits a very clean looking, slightly grumpy pig with compelling and sad eyes. The story sparkles with unexpected events and happenings and yet Malachi remains a typical if rather lonely 11-year-old in whom it is easy to believe. A great read-aloud to boys and girls that could easily be finished in two sessions although you might feel yourself compelled to read it at a sitting as I did.

Year 4 up/ Age 8 up

 

Sarah with a copy of her new book (Photographer not sourced)

A Night for Young People

New Zealand Book Awards For Children and Young Adults 2015

THE AWARD CEREMONY August 13th 2015 
Held in the ballroom Government House Wellington 
 

Alas, the best laid plans sometimes come to nothing as I thought I would get this up straight after I arrived home from the Book Awards last Thursday but here it is Monday four days later and by now all the news is old news but here we go with a few quick thoughts. And of course, the ‘list’ (with which I have struggled with book jackets ect. but this Blog has a mind of its own) . We always think about the writers and the illustrators in connection with the Awards but  - think too about the publishers without whom…

It was a night of youth from the MCs, Adam Sangster from Scots College and Clara van Wel from Queen Margaret College to the wonderful Youth Orchestra from Porirua to the sparkling collection of books created for children and young people by the talented finalists in the 2015 New Zealand Book Awards.

The chandeliers shone brightly on the people who had come together for the ceremony held in the elegant ballroom at Government House Wellington hosted by The Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae and his wife Lady Janine Mateparae.

After all the weeks of planning for what was not an easy event to arrange after the loss last year of the principle sponsor, New Zealand Post, the organizers should be very pleased indeed at the success of the evening and the preceding events up and down New Zealand.   

As always there were smiles and some well-hidden tears although of course all writers and illustrators who made it though the doors with their book (or books) were already Winners. 
 A ‘shortlisted’ sticker on a book even if it didn’t make it to the Final Final is a wonderful thing to have.

And On the Night the Prize Winners were (and are):

2015 Margaret Mahy Book of the Year & Young Adult Fiction Award

     

Mandy at the Children's Bookshop Kilbirnie 2014

Non-fiction Award

                                                                         Junior Fiction Award

Donovan Bixley

     




 Picture Book Award                                                          

Jenny Cooper Illustrator

Maori Language Award

Best First Book Award                                           

Ella West

Young Adult Award

Photo acknowledgements:  

Ma

Children's Choice Awards

In this year's newly revamped Children's Choice Award, nearly 16,000 votes were cast by children to select the winners from the finalists' list which they themselves had created..

The 2015 Children's Choice winners are:

• Picture book: The Anzac Puppy - Peter Millett and illustrated by Trish Bowles.

• Non-fiction: The Letterbox Cat & Other Poems - Paula Green and illustrated by Myles Lawford

• Junior fiction: Island of Lost Horses - Stacy Gregg

• Young adult fiction: Night Vision - Ella West

 

I didn’t take any photos at all (I was so busy catching up with people and trying to find them all before the magic curfew hour of 7.15pm at which time we all had to leave.) 

But go to Booksellers  NZ Children and Young Adult Book Awards 2015  Photos for an amazing album of professional pictures of the event.

God Defend New Zealand - How New Zealand Got its National Anthem

Available Now

NZ Writer and Illustrator

Tania Atkinson, illustrated by Christine Ross

John Joe’s Tune - How New Zealand Got Its National Anthem

Duck Creek Press 2015 $15.99pb / $30.00hb 24pp

ISBN 978 1 9273 0506 5 (pb)

Themes: Competitions/ National anthem (New Zealand)/ Stories in rhyme

When John Joseph Woods, the principal of a school in Lawrence, Central Otago around 1876, saw there was to be a competition to put the music to Thomas Bracken’s words of God Defend New Zealand he felt this was something he would like to do. And, with the help of some animal friends he wrote the music  - and won the competition. This is a charmingly put together book and we learn so much about the times from Christine Ross’s detailed illustrations  - the post office/ clothing/ the ‘front parlour’/ the wool store/ the wintery Otago nights… Background information about John Joseph Woods, Thomas Bracken and Sir George Grey are included plus the words (in Maori and English) and music for the anthem.  This will be a useful resource at several levels as well as being a book to share with much younger listeners – just for fun.

What will Tania Atkinson turn her creative hand to next? Maybe the saga of the new (or not new) New Zealand flag.  

Pre-School up/ Age 4 - up plus ESOL

Pet Care (puppies) for younger children (and their adults)

Now Available

UK Writer and Illustrator Helen Piers, illustrated by Kate Sutton How To Look After Your Puppy Pet Cadet Series Quarto Group 2015 $14.99hb 32pp ISBN 978 1 8478 0650 5

Themes: Pet care (dogs)

A basic run down on how to care for a new puppy but used, I would hope, in conjunction with a supportive adult who actually wants this addition to the family. The book includes information on buying the new puppy, exercise, feeding and a good section on games to play with him or her. Digitally created illustrations in black and red and a good index.  Helen Piers is well known for her writing for children having over 60 books in her name – many of them are pet care guides.

Year 4 up/ Age 8 up

And – only three more sleeps to the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2015.  I will try to get the winners up on this Blog on Thursday night – depending on what time I get back up The Coast after the ceremony.  

Piri Weepu All Black - a picture book for very young readers

Published 1^st August 2015 –Now Available

UK Writer (grew up in NZ) and Illustrator (grew up in the Argentine – lives in Singapore) Jared Bell, illustrated by Jimmy Diaz

Piri’s Big All Black Dream Puffin 2015 $19.99pb 32pp ISBN 978 0 1435 0701 7

Themes: All Blacks/ Being positive/ Piri Weepu/ Rugby

A true story in basic picture book form for very young readers (and probably to be enjoyed by some not so young) about Piri Weepu, All Black who was born and grew up in Wainuiomata, Wellington – the same place as the writer.  The simple text emphasises all the positive things that go to making a great sport’s star – practise, eating your veggies, holding on to your dreams. With its comic book type illustrations and large smiling photo of Piri himself I can see this book being worn out very quickly. Maybe a case for buying two copies?

Piri in action. Image: www.express.co.uk

NE up / Age 5 up (Also useful for ESOL)