New Zealand Children’s Book Week: Reading Around Aotearoa starts TODAY!
Led by Read NZ Te Pou Muramura, this inaugural nationwide celebration brings together children, whānau, schools, libraries, bookshops and communities for a week of reading, storytelling, authors, activities and, of course, plenty of books.
Kete will be celebrating children's literature in the way we do best: with reviews, interviews, giveaways and all things kids' books!
Here's what's happening across the week:
Saturday 15 August – Bookshops get things started
Bookshops around the country will be celebrating with special events and activities, including Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, Time Out Bookstore, Wardini Books, The Children’s Bookshop in Wellington, The Next Chapter in Wānaka, Books & Co in Ōtaki and Scorpio Books.
Monday 17 August – Aotearoa reads together
At exactly 11am, thousands of tamariki around the country are joining in the inaugural National Read Along, with Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan reading Dazzlehands / Ringakoreko, alongside te reo Māori translator Kawata Teepa.
Tuesday 18 August – Books on Board
Preschoolers will board the Wellington Kāpiti train line for a live storytelling adventure, a collaboration between Read NZ, Metlink/Transdev, Porirua Libraries and Huia Publishers. A lovely visual story for media!
Wednesday 19 August – Books Alive + NZCYA Awards Ceremony
Hundreds of students will meet finalists from the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults at Books Alive in Wellington. That evening, the annual awards ceremony will celebrate New Zealand's outstanding children’s and young adult books.
Friday 21 August – Book Parade Day
Schools around the country will finish the week with colourful book parades, with tamariki bringing their favourite books and characters to life.
And that's just the highlights! Libraries, schools and bookshops throughout Aotearoa are hosting storytimes, workshops, author events, family activities and more.
As Read NZ Chief Executive Juliet Blyth puts it: 'If you’re looking for a sign to go hard for reading: NZ Children’s Book Week is it.'
Check out what's on, join the National Read Along, celebrate at a bookshop event, and love your reading. More information on events is available on the Read NZ site here.
