Friday, July 04, 2014

Stories come to life in August - Storylines Festival of NZ Children's Writers and Illustrators 2014


Dyslexic wombat-tamer and Australian Children’s Laureate Jackie French (Diary of a Wombat, Gorilla Grab) and adventure fiction writer Gary Crew (The Lost Diamonds of Killiecrankie, the Sam Silverthorn books) join a stellar line-up of 70 local authors and storytellers in the upcoming Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators.

The Storylines Festival Family Days swing into cities across New Zealand from 23 to 31 August to bring our stories to life for and with, New Zealand children and their families.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2014 winners Vasanti Unka (The Boring Book), Rachel Stedman (A Necklace of Souls) and Joy Cowley (Dunger) and finalists Juliette MacIver, Brian Lovelock, Melinda Szymanik and Philippa Werry are amongst the homegrown participants.

The Festival also welcomes a whizzbang group of performers to the Family Days: former APRA Children’s Song of the Year winner Mr Roberelli, swashbuckling pirate Captain Festus McBoyle, children’s musical play expert Julie Wylie and storyteller Kaitrin McMullan.

 “The Family Days are about sharing with Kiwi kids and their parents the magic of books and reading,” says Storylines Executive Officer Amy Mansfield. “In the digital age children from early childhood to intermediate age still get a real kick out of meeting authors and illustrators in the flesh, seeing them at work, and asking them questions. Our events and activities are designed so the kids can be active and creative while engaging with the stories and growing a lifelong love of words and pictures -  there’s really something for all kids in our programme and it’s a great day out for the family.”

As well as appearing at selected Family Days during the Festival, Jackie French and Gary Crew will run seminars in Auckland and Wellington.
Budding authors and illustrators from young to old can get stuck in to the craft of writing and drawing with workshops held in Auckland at regional libraries and schools.
 

Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators - 23-31 August 2014

Dunedin Family Day Sat 23 August, 11am-3.30pm, Dunedin City Library
Christchurch Family Day Sun 24 August, 10am-3pm, Upper Riccarton Library
Wellington Family Day Sun 24 August, 10am-3pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Whangarei Family Day Sat 30 August, 10am-2pm, Whangarei Central Library & The Old Library Arts Centre
South Auckland Family Day Sat 30 August, 10am-3pm, Vodafone Events Centre Manukau
Auckland Family Day Sun 31 August, 10am-3pm, Aotea Centre
Workshops and Seminars: Auckland and Wellington, various locations – see storylines.org.nz for details
LINKS to performer websites: www.mrroberelli.co.nz, www.juliewyliemusic.com, www.festusmcboyle.co.nz
 
CONTACT:
Website: www.storylines.org.nz
Twitter: @StorylinesNZ #StorylinesFest14
Facebook: Search ‘Storylines’ for regional Family Day pages.
Support: Check out our crowdfunding campaign on boosted.org.nz from 10 July.
Contact: Festival Manager Vicki Cunningham events@storylines.org.nz

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