Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators 18 August – 26 August 2012

Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust and over 180 volunteers around the country are gearing up for the 19th annual Storylines Free Family Days, to be held in Whangarei, Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch, and Auckland in the second half of August. With a focus on the very best in New Zealand literature and book illustration for children, each day has guests, events and activities that are sure to attract big crowds. In Whangarei, storyteller and author Moira Wairama will join writers Lucy Davey, local writer Catherine Foreman along with illustrator Fraser Williamson, USA based nature photographer Nic Bishop and International Guest Sally Rippin to make a magic day. In Wellington, Mark Sommerset and Juliette MacIver are amongst a strong contingent of authors, illustrators, storytellers and performers who will entertain and delight audiences young and old at The Michael Fowler Centre. Local illustrators’ Jenna Packer and David Elliott feature in a strong line-up of illustrators, authors and storytellers in Dunedin while Christchurch guests include Sandy MacKay, Jenny Cooper and Sarona Aiono-Iosefa along with a North Island favorite Tim Tipene. In Auckland, the Storylines Free Family Day will feature more than 25 authors, storytellers, performers and illustrators who provide the focus for a huge range of activities, including creating a badges or creating comic books, book marks or your own book illustrations. All-day performances from schools and professional drama companies bring new and favourite books to life. The Puffin Short Story Writing Awards Prizegiving will feature along with International Guest, Sally Rippin. Each Family Day offers book launches, the chance to meet favourite authors and illustrators and the opportunity to hear favourite books read aloud – or just to share with others the joy and magic of stories.       Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators Programme: Storylines Dunedin Free Family Day, Dunedin City Library, Saturday 18 August 2012, 11am-4pm Storylines Wellington Free Family Day, Michael Fowler Centre, Sunday 19 August 2012, 10am-3pm Storylines Christchurch Free Family Day, Catholic Cathedral College, Sunday 19 August 10am-3pm Storylines Special Event – Meet the Authors and Illustrators, Tuesday 21 August and Wednesday 22 August, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, Auckland Storylines Northland Free Family Day, Whangarei Central Library, Saturday 25 August 10am-3pm Storylines and Piha Library – Guest appearance by Tessa Duder, Saturday 25 August, 2pm – 3pm Storylines Adult and Children’s Workshops in writing and illustration, National Library Centre, Parnell, Saturday 25 August. Age limits apply to each workshop. Dunedin City Library, Dunedin, Saturday 18 August Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, Sunday 19 August Storylines Auckland Free Family Day, Aotea Centre, Sunday 26 August, 10am-3pm