Book heaven for the young (and young at heart)

If you have children who love books, reading and being read to, then you’ll love the Storylines Festival.

It’s run by people who, when they were kids, would read or draw while eating and walking and by torchlight under the blankets at night. Now that they’re all grown up, they work as librarians and teachers and lecturers, editors and publishers, writers and illustrators and storytellers and booksellers, and yes – some of them still read while eating and walking and too late into the night, and once a year they volunteer to help with the Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators.

More than 50 celebrated local children’s book authors, illustrators, storytellers and performers star in the Festival this year and they’re joined by two international guests; Babette Cole, of ‘Princess Smartypants’ fame and Carole Wilkinson author of the ‘Dragonkeeper’ series. 

2008 sees the Storylines Festival in its 15th year of activities. Workshops, seminars, family days and story tours are hosted around the country every June. Wellington based activities this year include:

30 May – 30 June: Exhibition at Capital E

Illustrators taking part in the Storylines Festival display their work for sale at the Capital E gallery space. Artists featured include Ruth Paul, Bruce Potter, Gavin Bishop and Scott Tulloch. Free entry.

Wednesday 4 June: School Journal Stories Performed

Sarah Delahunty’s teenage drama group First Gear Productions presents ‘Child’s Play: Performing the School Journal’. Stories adapted for the stage include Sir Edmund Hillary’s ‘The Summit’ and Margaret Mahy’s ‘The Lion in the Meadow’. Wednesday 4 June, National Library Auditorium, 7 – 8pm. Entry by koha. Please RSVP for catering to the New Zealand Book Council, email: reception@bookcouncil.org.nz or phone: 499 1569

Sunday 8 June: Free Family Day in Newtown

Children’s book authors, illustrators and storytellers will be performing in a jam-packed schedule for kids and their caregivers at the Storylines Festival Free Family Day. Special guests include Joy Cowley, Mrs Wishy Washy and Hairy Maclary. Activities change every 30 minutes. Sunday 8 June, 10am – 3pm, Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre, Hutchison Road, Newtown. Free fun for all the family.

Thursday 12 June: Evening Seminar at National Library

Join children’s authors Babette Cole and Carole Wilkinson for a glass of wine and conversation, ‘From Factual to Fabulous’, an evening seminar at the National Library Auditorium, Thursday 12 June from 6.30pm. Bookings essential. Email festival@storylines.org.nz or phone The Children’s Bookshop: 04 387 3905 Tickets $35 and $25