Aotearoa NZ Children’s Book Week: 15 – 21 August
Read NZ is 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 theirs, 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.
Part of the book week is the National Read Along – learn more here.
Key activities and events!
Saturday 15 August – Bookshops get things started
Bookshops around the country will be celebrating with special events and activities, including Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, Time Out Bookstore, Wardini Books, The Children’s Bookshop in Wellington, The Next Chapter in Wānaka, Books & Co in Ōtaki and Scorpio Books.
Monday 17 August – Aotearoa reads together
At exactly 11am, thousands of tamariki around the country are joining in the inaugural National Read Along, with Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan reading Dazzlehands / Ringakoreko, alongside te reo Māori translator Kawata Teepa.
Tuesday 18 August – Books on Board
Preschoolers will board the Wellington Kāpiti train line for a live storytelling adventure, a collaboration between Read NZ, Metlink/Transdev, Porirua Libraries and Huia Publishers. A lovely visual story for media!
Wednesday 19 August – Books Alive + NZCYA Awards Ceremony
Hundreds of students will meet finalists from the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults at Books Alive in Wellington. That evening, the annual awards ceremony will celebrate New Zealand's outstanding children’s and young adult books.
Friday 21 August – Book Parade Day
Schools around the country will finish the week with colourful book parades, with tamariki bringing their favourite books and characters to life.
And that's just the highlights!
Libraries, schools and bookshops throughout Aotearoa are hosting storytimes, workshops, author events, family activities and more.
As Read NZ Chief Executive Juliet Blyth puts it:
“If you’re looking for a sign to go hard for reading: NZ Children’s Book Week is it.”
And the invitation is deliberately broad: “We want Children’s Book Week to belong to everyone – children, whānau, schools, libraries, booksellers and communities right across Aotearoa.”