Books Alive and Virtual Storytimes - New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults
Aotearoa is celebrating the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults with Virtual Storytimes and Online Events. Check out what's happening at Christchurch City Libraries.

Virtual Storytimes
Monday 27 July
10am
Amy Chiles and Emilie Rogers read The Day the Plants Fought Back written by Belinda O'Keefe, illustrated by Richard Hoit, and published by Scholastic New Zealand.
Finalist for Best First Book Award
Wednesday 29 July
10am
Nameeta Shekhar reads The Gobbledegook Book written by Joy Cowley & illustrated by Giselle Clarkson, published by Gecko Press.
Finalist for Picture Book Award
Friday 31 July
10am - For teens and young adults
Jan-Hai Te Ratana reads Afakasi Woman by Lani Wendt Young, published by One Tree House.
"Reading Lani Wendt-Young’s collection of sixteen short stories about the experience of a young afakasi woman in Samoa was both confronting and heart-warming. The collection is so engaging – my eyes slurped every word off the page and when I was done I just wanted more!" Read Jan-Hai's review of Afakasi Woman.
Finalist for Young Adult Fiction Award
Monday 3 August
10am
Lindsey Melchers reads Mini Whinny: Goody Four Shoes written by Stacy Gregg & illustrated by Ruth Paul, published by Scholastic New Zealand.
Finalist for Picture Book Award
Friday 7 August
10am - for teens and young adults
Ray reads Ursa written by Tina Shaw, published by Walker Books Australia.
Finalist for Young Adult Fiction Award
See the full list of Virtual Storytimes.
Monday 10 August
10am
Bronwen Knowles reads Song of the River written by Joy Cowley and illustrated by Kimberly Andrews, published by Gecko Press.
Finalist for the Russell Clark Award for Illustration
See the full list of Virtual Storytimes.
Books Alive Author Events
Wednesday 5 August
Librarians from Hutt City Libraries and Christchurch City Libraries talk to Gavin Bishop about his book Wildlife of Aotearoa and Kimberly Andrews about illustrating Joy Cowley’s book Song of the River. What are the joys and challenges of being an illustrator today?
- Written and illustrated by Gavin Bishop
- Published by Puffin, Penguin Random House
- Finalist for Russell Clark Award for Illustration
- Written by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Kimberly Andrews
- Published by Gecko Press
- Finalist for Russell Clark Award for Illustration
Friday 7 August
Students at Puke Ariki and Community Libraries, New Plymouth and Christchurch City Libraries Tūranga talk with author Melinda Szymanik about her book Time Machine and other stories.
Time Machine and other stories
- Written by Melinda Szymanik
- Published by Ahoy! The Cuba Press
- Finalist for Wright Family Foundation Award for Junior Fiction
Monday 10 August
Ross Calman discusses his book Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi and answers some questions from two host librarians from Christchurch City Libraries, Tūranga.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi
- By Ross Calman and Mark Derby, illustrated by Toby Morris, Translated by Piripi Walker
- Published by Lift Education
- Finalist for Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction
See the full list of Books Alive events.