NZ writers to visit Manukau libraries

Seven New Zealand writers will visit Manukau libraries during the 2003 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Festival, which starts Monday 31 March.

The Festival aims to encourage New Zealand children to read and enjoy books and culminates with the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards on Tuesday 8 April.

“The New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards and Festival is a great opportunity to get our children excited and interested in reading quality New Zealand children’s books, “ says Linda Bown, Children's Co-ordinator. “This year we are fortunate to have seven top New Zealand children's authors visiting our libraries, talking to children about their books and inspiring young writers.”

“We are also running a new event for 2003 alongside the festival, where we have ‘secretly coded’ a number of New Zealand children’s books in libraries across Manukau. Children simply have to borrow any New Zealand children’s book before April 30 and they could be in to win a number of prizes,” says Ms Bown. "Prizes have been kindly provided by New Zealand Post, Bookworks, Raeco, Whitcoulls Queen Street, Books & More Manurewa and Highland Park PaperPlus.”

More than one million children's books were borrowed from Manukau Libraries, and 5,300 children joined a Manukau library last year.

The New Zealand Post Children’s Book Festival and Awards are sponsored by New Zealand Post, supported by Creative New Zealand and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd and are administered by Booksellers New Zealand. New Zealand Post has sponsored the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Festival and Awards for six years, working closely with Booksellers New Zealand to encourage New Zealand children to read and enjoy books. New Zealand Post is committed to building literate communities through its sponsorship of the Festival and Awards.

Visit your local Manukau library or http:// http://www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz for more information and for a copy of the programme of events.

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