Every two weeks we compile, for your browsing pleasure, cool children’s book happenings (and peripherally related news) from around Aotearoa, the world and the internet.
Cool stuff from New Zealand…
An amazing kids’ lit festival is happening soon in Upper Hutt: Beyond the Page – Children and Youth Literary Festival, 8–23 July 2017.
Tessa Duder writes about her feminist classic character and book, Alex on The Spinoff, and our editor Sarah has an essay there, too, about why we should value kids’ authors.
Kiwi YA superstar Rachael Craw has had her next novel accepted for publication by Walker Books Australia and it sounds AMAZEBALLS.
Booksellers NZ published a fabulous article about bookshops around the country that hold children’s storytelling sessions, and how to make sure they’re successful.
There have been a couple of great interviews lately – one with debut YA novelist Eileen Merriman and the other with Dame Wendy Pye about how she’s spreading literacy to remote areas of the world.
Some of the biggest news, of course, has been the announcement of the finalists in the 2017 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
… And the other biggest, saddest news was the death of John McIntyre, bookshop owner, children’s literature and literacy champion, and our very own Dear John. Here’s a piece about him on Stuff and a gorgeous tribute by Julia Marshall of Gecko Press. The Wellington Children’s Book Association have launched a #buyabookforjohn campaign. And you can honour his family’s wishes by making a donation to Kidney Health NZ.
And cool stuff from the farthest reaches of the globe (and internet)…
Here is a FANTASTIC guide on how to raise a reader from the New York Times. It’s so good you’ll want to print it out and laminate it.
‘The new James Bond should be a middle-aged cartoonist,’ says Chris Riddell, while talking about his day, having just stepped down as UK Children’s Laureate. And here’s Lauren Child, discussing becoming the new Laureate. And more from the UK: behind-the-scenes in illustrating a picture book; and Harry Potter turns 20!
There’s an amazing-sounding new book out in America about Maurice Sendak, his work and preoccupations. The Sapling editors are drooling.
‘“Stories are safety nets, are anchors,” she said, “Stories make us feel less alone. Stories taught me that there is always something worth fighting for.”’
Book Expo has some tips on great upcoming kids’ books and YA books.
And in wonderful news, a rubbish-man in Bogota, Colombia has created a library out of 25,000 rescued books, saying, ‘The whole value of what we do lies in helping kids start reading.’