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.
Book news from Aotearoa
If you’re wondering how to get through another week of school holidays, and you’re in the wider Wellington area, don’t forget about the excellent Beyond the Page children’s literature festival. Two more upcoming events for children’s book-lovers are this in the Bay of Plenty on 29 July, brought to you by Bookrapt, and this double book launch in Auckland on 18 August (two winners of recent Storylines Awards launch their debuts)!
It’s one month today until the winners are announced for the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. You can buy a ticket to the awards ceremony! Or read about some of the finalists … Four finalists (Juliette MacIver, Toby Morris, Mary-Anne Scott and Lisala Halapua) talk about how they write (and illustrate). Two first-time book-makers write about their inspirations. And here’s the story behind two other writers and illustrators. And here’s Leonie Agnew talking about her impossible boy.
Christchurch City Libraries has spotted all the literary films in NZIFF this year, including films of A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Ethel & Ernest by Raymond Briggs, and Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome.
Here’s the amazing story of how mums in prison can still read their kids a bedtime story. And another amazing story: the RNZAF Base Commander who uses Dr Seuss as a training tool! And another: celebrities have signed copies of their favourite books, to auction in support of women in refuges.
And holy Cookie Jar, Batman! The winners of the Barfoot Thompson writing prize have been announced.
And cool stuff from the farthest reaches of the globe (and internet)…
Who doesn’t love a good list? Here’s some (Northern Hemisphere) summer reading for your woke kid. And ten really odd kids’ books. And 33 little things you might not know about J.K. Rowling.
Some interesting gender-related articles: ‘Right now, he’s a little boy who loves sparkly, glittery, shimmery things. My opinion is that he should be allowed to be that’ and ‘Our children are listening, and reading and playing. And they want toy makers, authors and publishers to do better. Remember the girls. And the genderqueer. And the boys.’
Later in the year we’ll see some new books from some big names. A fully complete unpublished picture book by Maurice Sendak has just been discovered lying around. In the UK, the new Phillip Pullman is being heavily discounted by big retailers in the pre-sale period, pushing indie bookshops out of the market. And actor Neil Patrick Harris has a new series coming in time for Christmas.
Speaking of Lemony Snicket, here’s author Daniel Handler on the difficulty of adapting A Series of Unfortunate Events into a Netflix show.
And lastly, some fantastic pictures of ‘book benches’ designed by children in Manchester.