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.

Farewell to Maurice Sendak

Tributes have flowed for Maurice Sendak, the brilliant author and illustrator of so many loved classics. Above is the beautiful window that the Kilbirnie Children's Bookshop's resident Sendak fan, Imogen Wilson, made to honour him.

Other NZ tributes are from children's author Raymond Huber,  Helen Lowe, The University of Auckland, and Auckland Libraries. Maureen Crisp also dedicated her most recent blog post to Sendak.