Jack Lasenby Award results

The WCBA is delighted to announce the results of the 2013 Jack Lasenby Award.


Winner: 'A choice to make' by Ben Espiner

Highly commended:

'Bird flyers' by Emma-Kate Coleman

'The old man' by Eva Albiston

'In the garden' by Ella Underhill

'Luna' by Niamh Vaughan and 'Rocky' by Mia Yule


We thank judge Eirlys Hunter. Her judge's report is here.

Come along to the annual WCBA Quiz Night!

You're invited to WCBA Club Night ...

Margaret Mahy Nationwide Read - 11 August

Children's literature enthusiasts around the country are participating in this wonderful tribute on 11 August. See:

http://mmnationwide.blogspot.co.nz/

Coming up …

The Wellington Children’s Book Association Inc. 

Annual General Meeting

When: 7pm,  Tuesday 24 July 2012

Where: Turnbull House, 
Bowen Street, Wellington

Followed by panel discussion:  Publishing – I’ll do it myself!

Johanna Knox (The Flytrap Snaps), Gay Hay (Fantail’s Quilt), and Kevin Boon (Kezia) talk about their successful self-publishing journeys: how they did it, what worked for them, and what they learned along the way.
Chaired by author and WCBA convenor Maureen Crisp.

Entry: Free
Wine and nibbles provided.

All welcome - members, non-members, and prospective members!

Congratulations ...

This is a belated congratulations to the shortlisted writers and illustrators in the LIANZA Children's Book Awards announced last month! 

The WCBA is very well represented by members including: Jack Lasenby (also our patron), David Hair, Fleur Beale, Barbara Else, Johanna Knox & Sabrina Malcolm, Gay Hay & Margaret Tolland, Moira Wairama, and Juliette MacIver.

The full list of finalists - and more info -  is here at the LIANZA site.  The winners will be announced on Monday August 6 at Caffe L'affare.

The Frankfurt Book Fair Demystified

New Zealand is gearing up to be guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair - the biggest book fair in the world. But what does it mean for each of us - and exactly how is it all working?

Come along and find out from Sarah Ropata, Manager Books and Literature Programme NZ @ Frankfurt 2012.

Sarah will talk to us in the cosy, informal, environment of Meow Cafe in central Wellington, and will be happy to answer your questions. We are thrilled to have her along to kick off the first of the WCBA's winter club nights.

With an opportunity to break for supper, this promises to be a very informative and enjoyable evening.

Christopher Paolini - Wellington - June 28th

Teenage writer Christopher Paolini, whose dragon series - Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance - took the fantasy world by storm, will be speaking at an evening event in Wellington on Thursday, June 28th. Christopher will be happy to sign copies of his books after his talk and they will also be for sale at the event.

Venue: Scots College Hall, Monorgan Rd, Strathmore, Wellington
Date: Thursday, June 28th, 2012
Time: 6pm (until approximately 7.30pm).
Tickets are  $5 each and are now on sale only through:
The Children's Bookshop
Shop 26 Kilbirnie Plaza
Kilbirnie
Wellington

t 04 3873905
f 04 3873288
e books@thechildrensbookshop.co.nz

www.thechildrensbookshop.co.nz
www.facebook.com/thechildrensbookshop

The Nature of Ash launch

You are warmly invited to the launch of Mandy Hager's new novel, The Nature of Ash,

When: Thursday 14 June @ 6pm

Where: The Children's Bookshop, Kilbirnie Plaza, Kilbirnie

Ash McCarthy thought he finally had it made: away from home and all its claustrophobic responsibilities, he's revelling in the freedom of student hostel life. But life is about to take a devastating turn, when two police officers knock on his door. Their life-changing news forces him to return home to his Down Syndrome brother Mikey, and impels him into a shady world of political intrigue, corruption, terrorism and lies ...so many lies. As if this isn't bad enough, the whole country is imploding, as the world's two greatest super-powers start a fight that leaves New Zealand 'piggy-in-the-middle' of their deadly games. While trying to protect Mikey, along with strangers Travis and Jiao, his fight to uncover the truth turns into a nightmare race to save their lives and stop the destruction of all the principles he holds dear. 'The Nature of Ash' is a fast-paced thriller that also explores love and loss, assumptions and prejudices, truth and fiction, and the many faces of 'family'.

You're invited to the launch of Red Rocks

Rachael King, Random House, and The Children's Bookshop invite you to the launch of Red Rocks.

When: Thursday 7 June @ 5.45pm
Where: The Children's Bookshop, Kilbirnie Plaza, Kilbirnie

While holidaying at his father’s house, Jake explores Wellington’s wild south coast, with its high cliffs, biting winds, and its fierce seals. When he stumbles upon a perfectly preserved sealskin, hidden in a crevice at Red Rocks, he’s compelled to take it home and hide it under his bed, setting off a chain of events that threatens to destroy his family. Red Rocks takes the Celtic myth of the selkies, or seal people, and transplants it into the New Zealand landscape, throwing an ordinary boy into an adventure tinged with magic. With its beautiful writing and eerie atmosphere, junior readers will be thrilled and moved by this captivating story.

Little Witch launch for children

Congratulations to WCBA member Juliette MacIver on the publication of 'Little Witch' (Walker Books). This delightful chapter book for younger readers is launching today (Saturday 26 May)!

You and your children are welcome to come along at 2pm to the Titahi Community Chapel, 25 Mana Ave, Titahi Bay, where there will be delicious food and Juliette will give a children's reading.

Books are $14 and no eftpos is available, so if you would like a signed copy, coinage is required. 

Congratulations Jack Lasenby, Barbara Else, and all!

Those of us who went along had a great time at the NZ Post Children's Book Awards last night. NZ Post and Booksellers NZ know how to throw a party!

We're thrilled that WCBA Patron Jack Lasenby won the Young Adult Fiction award for his book Calling The Gods (HarperCollins).

We are also delighted for WCBA member Barbara Else, who took home an honour award for The Travelling Restaurant (Gecko Press).

Other Wellingtonians who did the region proud last night include Chris Szekely who won the top award in the picture book category for Rahui (published by Huia, with illustrations by Malcolm Ross who passed away some years ago), and Ant Sang who won an honour award for Shaolin Burning (HarperCollins).


It's also wonderful to see the Wellington publishers doing well in the awards - Huia and Gecko.

Congratulations to all winners and finalists, here in Wellington and around the country!

See the Booksellers press release here.

Panel Discussion: Children, Grief and Literature

The Museum of City and Sea is hosting a fascinating and important free panel discussion, as part of the 'Death and Diversity' programme of events.

The discussion, chaired by John McIntyre of the Children's Bookshop, aims to explore how to guide children through dealing with grief, funerals, and bereavement, with a strong emphasis on the value of literature.

Panelists: Tricia Irving-Hendry (Skylight);  Alex Collins (Editor, Learning Media); Chris Szekely (author of Rahui); Mandy Hager (author of Tom’s Story).

When: 
Sunday April 22 @ 2pm

Where: 
The Museum of City and Sea,
3 Jervois Quay,
Queen's Wharf, Wellington

Free entry.

More information:
http://www.cablecarmuseum.co.nz/assets/PDFs/Media-Releases/2012/DD-events-April.pdf

Discover the world of paper engineering (from 'The Titanic' to 'Spot')

Book Fair Bargains!

Ngaio Townhall,
1 Ottawa Rd.

Saturday 24 March

9am to 1pm


All proceeds will go to Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation (www.bluedragonz.org.nz), a charitable trust working with Vietnam’s poorest children to break the poverty cycle


Here are two ways you can contribute to this fantastic cause:
* Donate any unwanted books, DVDs or CDS.
* Come to the book fair and buy some books, DVDs or CDs.


For more information, please contact one of the Blue Dragon NZ trustees:   
Iona (Ngaio) - ionam@clear.net.nz
Sue (Wadestown) - simonsue@xtra.co.nz
Dinah (Kelburn) - dobbies@xtra.co.nz
Alison (Thorndon) - alison.kember@gmail.com

True Stories Told Live

Cupboard Love - Christmas book buying night!

This was a lot of fun last year - so we're doing it all again. Complementary wine, local author signings, 10% discounts  for WCBA members AND any friends they bring - plus a warm, convivial, book-loving atmosphere!

Congratulations!

A big congratulations to all winners of the LIANZA Children's Book Awards. Read all about it here.

We're also excited to see the number of children's books selected for the Frankfurt Book Fair Rights Catalogue  ... more about that soon!

You're invited ...

Your invitation to our AGM evening