NZ Children's Book Week

We’re leading the first ever NZ Children's Book Week, working with other bookish groups, sponsors and friends on digital and in person events, and resources celebrating reading.

There are lots of ways to get involved no matter where you are in the country. Host your own event, join one of ours, spread the word, or use our online resources.

We encourage you to do something fun (whether low-fi or hard out) to celebrate and spread the word.

If you’re looking for a sign to go hard for reading, NZ Children's Book Week is it.

In person events

This page will continue to be updated as details are confirmed.

• Books on Board: a fun an interactive event taking place on the Wellington Kāpiti train line with live storytelling for pre-schoolers (Tuesday 18 August)
• Bookstore launch events: Saturday 15 of August, bookstores around the country are celebrating. Participating stores include Dorothy Butler Children's Bookshop, Time Out Bookstore, Wardini Books (more on this below), The Children's Bookshop in Wellington, The Next Chapter in Wānaka, Books & Co in Ōtaki  and Scorpio Books.
• Books Alive: run by The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, this is a large-scale, immersive event that brings hundreds of students in touch with award finalist authors and illustrators (Christchurch 13, 14 August; Wellington Weds 19 August, book here)
• The annual New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults: award ceremony run by the Book Awards Trust (19 August, more here)
• School Book Parade day: schools around the country are holding book parades on Friday 21 August
• A National Library of New Zealand children's reading panel chaired by Te Awhi Rito Kate De Goldi, with noted bookish experts in Wellington on Tuesday 18 August (more here)
• Treasury Tales at Tauranga City Libraries - the tīma here are running four events throughout the week, culminating in an event on Friday 21 August to celebrate the launch of Bookrapt's Treasury 
• Puke Ariki Writer in Residence Book Week events in New Plymouth - creative time with Steph Julien for some themed events (details)
• Waiheke Children's Book Festival: a whānau friendly day of workshops and book week activity on Waiheke (event)
• In association with WORD: there's a free family day at Te Ara Ātea in Selwyn: featuring Giselle Clarkson, Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan and a Reading Rave at Tūranga (details)
• The Katherine Mansfield House & Garden are running an event with award-winning author Elaine Bickell where she will read her books and answer kids' questions on Saturday 15 August (details here)
• Dunedin Public Libraries Book Week panel event discussing the importance of reading with Kate De Goldi on Sunday 16th of August (details)
• Drop in and read: head to the National Library in Wellington to explore vintage books from the 1940s to the early 1980s as part of the National Children’s Collection. Happening Tuesday 18 August (details)
• Wardini Books is having Dr. Suess bingo Saturday 15th of August for young kids (event), A Writing Workshop of 8-12's Sun 16 August (event) and YA book club on Thursday the 20th (event)
• The Coalition for Books symposium for children's publishing professionals: this is happening 13 and 14 of August with various sector experts (details here)

Looking for something near you and not seeing an option here? Get in touch with your local bookstore or library.

Digital

• A national read along: let's all read together (sign up)
• Digital Writers in Schools sessions: happening in a computer near you (times and dates to come)
  
• Book recs and guest blogs: from authors, readers and miscellaneous bookish folk
• Costume making workshop with Fifi Colston with support from Spotlight NZ
• Author Sonya Wilson is running a writing competition: inviting young readers across Aotearoa to tell us a true story about a book that changed something in their life. Open to children 9-18, there are cash prizes up for grabs and winning stories will be published on The Sapling (more here)
• Palmerston North City Library's online reading challenge: read and review and win bookish prizes (more here)

Email us to be added to this list

We can also support you with posters, resources or messaging to dress up your event.

Graphics, messaging and more

• Key message document - this covers what's what and who's who
• Social media assets - plus some more assets, message us if you need the pro files
  
• Let's yap about Book Week on social media - here are all our links
• Video coming soon