Storylines Wellington 2014

I had hoped to bring you some really sparkling photos from yesterday’s Storylines Family Day here in Wellington but once more I was doomed to disappointment. However, the day itself was far from disappointing. One of my favourite areas (and of many of the children’s) was the War Zone where Janet McFadden (National Library) and Pippa Werry (writer of several books on World War One and recently returned from the ANZAC commemorations in Gallipoli) were in charge. In this area children could (helped by members of the NZ Army) dress in real battledress, try out a sleeping tent for size, and eat real hard tac. A little further along they could visit the craft area where amongst other activities could make a realistic looking medal or a brilliant red poppy. 

I went to a marvellous session with one of the librarians from Wellington Public Library, Adrienne Hannan, on Choosing Good Books for Children. I have been in the business of choosing books for nearly 60 years and sometimes mistakenly think I know it all. I don't! There is so much to learn - often from much younger people.  There was a great hand-out to go with the session which included several book lists on popular subjects among which I was pleased to see some older titles included and a title by Enid Blyton (Stuart Perry, City Librarian in the days when I was buying the books for the children's and young adult's collection at Wellington Public, will be turning in his grave!!)
I hope this session will be repeated somewhere before the end of the year. It was really worthwhile. 

This is the favourite picture I did manage – taken in the Scholastic Read Out Loud area where the children are listening to Karen Larkindale reading Melinda Szymanik’s The Were-Nana. They began by sitting sedately on cushions but as the story took hold they crept closer and closer, some even standing up to share the words.  Look ----

 

 

 

And running in connection with Storylines Wellington is:

 

The Seminar Series Wellington with Gary Crew

The Children’s Bookshop, 26 Kilbirnie Plaza, Kilbirnie, Wellington

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Tel - 64 4 387 3905 Fax - 64 4 387 3288
Email: books@thechildrensbookshop.co.nz

Tickets Storylines members $15.00  Non-members $20.00

So that is Storylines Wellington for another year. 

A really warm congratulations to chairperson Eileen Mueller and the committee but  most of all to the children who liked what was planned, who participated so enthusiastically and without whom there would be no Storylines...

Storylines 2014

The Australians Are Coming! – 

So is Storylines 2014

Storylines Committees up and down the country are already well ahead with their planning for this year’s Family Days for 2014.

The actual dates for The Day are:

Dunedin Family Day, Saturday 23 August.
Christchurch Family Day, Sunday 24 August.
Wellington Family Day, Sunday 24 August.
Northland Family Day, Whangarei, Saturday 30 August.
South Auckland Family Day, Saturday 30 August.
Auckland Family Day, Sunday 31 August.

And as usual there is the excitement of overseas writers and  illustrators who visit as part of the festival.

This year we welcome two amazingly prolific writers from Australia:

Jackie French and Gary Crew

Photo: Australian Writers’ Centre

Photo: From Dr. Gary Crew’s collection

Jackie will be at the Family Day for Storylines in Auckland then heading to Christchurch for the Writers’ Festival. She will have come from the Melbourne Writers’ Festival then, after Christchurch, heads to Brisbane for yet another festival. Gary (who will be equally busy, I just don’t have the details,) will be attending the Wellington Family Day.

Jackie was here a couple of years ago for the Wellington Storylines and I remember well, to my great embarrassment, that I managed to lose her at Wellington Airport where I had gone to meet her. In spite of making contact on our mobiles she eluded me as we went up and down on escalators and planned meeting places in the cafes, and finally took a taxi to her hotel.  

Storylines Wellington 2014

CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT STORYLINES, WELLINGTON REGION

Last night most of the ‘old’ committee of Storylines, Wellington met at National Library’s Happy Hour in the amazing Home Café and talked to the incoming chairperson Eileen Mueller.

We had such a convivial time and made so many suggestions for Storylines 2014 some of us almost began to wonder why we were standing down! Plus one of the group has decided to 'stay on'. 

The old committee (missing is Clare Forrest)  - Sue Jane, Barbara Murison, Katrina Young Drew and Sarina Hutton (retiring chairperson).

Photo: Steve Drew

Eileen Mueller (new chairperson)

(Google her name for lots of interesting information, details of her books etc.)

Photo: Acknowledgements to New Zealand Society of Authors