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.

You're invited to WCBA Club Night ...

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.

Next Club Night!

Next Club Night coming up ...

April Club Night

Captivating your audience - the report from Club Night 3

Another great evening at the Library Bar began with Holly extolling the value of Toastmasters, and how it can help you become a better presenter. (More details here if you are interested: http://www.toastmasters.org.nz/index.cfm/About_Us)

We then talked about what makes a good school visit – or a bad one!

How do you introduce yourself? What happens if the kids misbehave, and the teacher takes no notice?
What is the ideal number and length of sessions? How do you run a workshop? These were just some of the questions covered as we discussed the best way to captivate everyone from New Entrants to bored 14 year olds. We even got tips on how to handle the staffroom situation!

Lastly, we heard from Elizabeth Craker from CORE who talked to us about Booktalks: how it is
developing, and what plans are ahead. (http://www.booktalks.org.nz/)

This was an entertaining and incredibly useful evening for anyone who does school visits, or talks in public about their work. Thanks especially to Fifi, Maureen, Fleur and Ruth for sharing their expertise and a few helpful hints on useful activities. And none of us will ever forget Fifi’s story of the welcoming powhiri that went wrong!

Next Club Night - 'Captivating an Audience'

Our next WCBA Club Night, on Tues November 16, is for authors, illustrators and anyone else who presents to school groups - or may be interested in doing so. Hear anecdotes and learn tips from seasoned practitioners!

Here are the details:

Club Night Classics

Club Night last Tuesday was another lovely, cosy evening, with a relaxed group of us sharing one or more classic books from our own childhoods.

Here are the picks of this group on this particular night - each linking to a different  relevant site where you can buy the book, read a bit of commentary, or see covers from various editions:



Youngest readers

Phoebe and the Hot Water Bottles
The King, the Mice and the Cheese
The Elephant and the Bad Baby
Little Grey Rabbit's Christmas
The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate
Dogger
The Great White Man Eating Shark
Amelia Bedelia
Washday at the Pa
A Child's Christmas in Wales
Petunia
Borka

Annie's Rainbow 

Waltzing Matilda

The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek

The Three Robbers

Older children and teens
The Tim Books
The Swish of the Curtain
Pippi Goes Abroad
A Little Princess
Five on Treasure Island
Stig of the Dump
The Silver Thimble Storybook
The Faraway Tree
White Boots 
I Capture the Castle
The Blue Castle

We have another fun and informative club night coming up soon.

Stand by for more details!

WCBA Club Night 2: It's A Classic!

 

Children's literature enthusiasts and their friends are warmly invited to our next Club night - all details above.

Our last Club Night was a big success. You can read about it here.

Any queries, feel free to email us at the.wcba@gmail.com

New WCBA Club Night a success

Last Tuesday, around 25 WCBA members and friends gathered the Library Bar for a cosy and fun storytelling session.

A couple of comments from the night:

'It was wonderful to greet new members and see long established members at this event. The storytelling by everyone was superb, with each person bringing a different feel and style. Club night looks set to be a wonderful addition to our member events every 3rd Tuesday of the month.' 

'... lots of positive feedback about the lovely room and the conviviality. I'm so pleased - it's nice to have a less formal way to gather that requires less planning and means people mix and mingle more. ...'

Others commented that it was great to chat to members they hadn't met before - and everyone enjoyed the five storytellers.

We loved the offerings from those who were billed. They included veteran storytellers Marie Murdoch and Moira Wairama, plus - making her storytelling debut - Holly Gooch. And it was awesome to have two more people add their names to the blackboard on the night and tell enthralling tales: Carol Jenkins and Jean Lloyd.

Pencil in Tuesday 19 October for the next WCBA Club Night. This time our theme will be: What makes a classic children's book?  Everyone is encouraged to bring their own contenders.

More details soon ...

Come to the WCBA Club Night

Club Night is a new initiative from the WCBA. It will be held on the third Tuesday of the month for the next 3 months, and if successful, will become an ongoing event.

WCBA Club Nights are in the Reading Room at The Library Bar  - above the Natural Health Centre on Courtney Place.

Each Club Night will have its own theme or focus. For our first session on Tuesday 21 September we have a blackboard storytelling evening which features Moira Wairama, Marie Murdoch and Holly Gooch in our line up.
 

WCBA members and their friends are invited to come along with their own stories, or just relax with a drink and listen.

Club Nights are free for WCBA members and $5 for non-members. (But everyone pays for their own drinks and food.  Serendipitously - Tuesdays are two-for-one dessert night at Library Bar!)

We look forward to seeing you!