Swapna Haddow wowed Woodlands Park School on the Storylines National Story Tour

Swapna Haddow is the multi-awarding winner author of the Dave Pigeon series. She also writes the Ballet Bunnies series, picture books, middle-grade fiction and is currently working on non-fiction. Swapna visited our school as part of the Storylines National Story Tour. What outstanding work you are doing at Storylines Charitable Trust  - bringing authors to schools!

"The tour is funded by Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust as part of the Storylines Festival. Storylines has run their national festival since 1993 with the aim of bringing together children's writers, illustrators, poets and storytellers with their readers and audiences, to enjoy books and reading, and to encourage literacy." - Storylines

Swapna kept the year 0 - 6 children in our school captivated - with an interactive reading of My Dad is a Grizzly Bear, followed by a demonstration on how to draw a grizzly bear. Swapna gleaned tips from the illustrator, Dapo Adeola. Soon all of the children had drawn their own grizzly bear.

There was a question and answer time - and the children asked interesting questions - like "What inspires you to write your stories."

Then, Libby, the organiser whisked Swapna on to meet up with the van, ready for the next school. There were going to be two more schools that day! I take my hat off to you all.

I was also really proud of the children of Woodlands Park, who behaved beautifully.

Thank you so much!

Kate

 

NZCYA finalists, including Kate Parker

Kōwhai and the Giants - by Kate Parker

Congratulations to all of the wonderful authors and illustrators who are finalists in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

We are especially celebrating Kate Parker's book,  Kōwhai and the Giants, because Kate is a Woodlands Park School parent. 

Kate Parker, popped into the library last term, to donate a copy of her stunning picture book. This book is the end result of Kate’s splendid light box creations which have been on display at a number of venues including Smith & Caughey and the Arataki Visitor Centre and are currently on display at Titirangi Community Library.

They are sure to provide inspiration for dioramas. This is what Kate wrote in the donated book, 

“Poipoia te kānano Kia puawai. Nurture the seed and it will blossom – Arohanui from Kowhai’s whanau to Woodlands Park School.”

Here is a story about the light boxes: Stuff 

Kate’s books are available here: Wheelers