Local school children invited to become published

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Subject:
Local school children invited to become published authors
Date:
Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:02:58 +1300
From:
Network PR Media
To:
undisclosed-recipients:;

24 February 2010

Local school children invited to become published authors

Local primary and intermediate school students are being offered the chance to have their very own story idea developed into a real book.

Barfoot & Thompson is inviting teachers from schools in Auckland and Northland to register their class for the third annual ‘Magic of Reading Storybook Competition’.

Teachers need to register before Friday 12 March by visiting www.barfoot.co.nz/storybook.

For the competition, children from around the region will put on their thinking caps to create a unique children’s story.

One lucky class of fledgling writers will be selected and some well-known Kiwis will lend them a hand to develop their book.

Renowned New Zealand author John Parker will help the class with their writing and rugby legend Keven Mealamu will bring the story to life through his illustrations.

Barfoot & Thompson Managing Director Peter Thompson says the competition is very popular with teachers and their budding young authors.

“More than 150 classes entered last year and the feedback from teachers and parents has been very positive,” he said.

“The children learn to harness their creativity and develop their idea into a full storybook using the same techniques accomplished authors do.

“Our hope is that the experience will help improve their reading and writing skills and foster a life-long love for books.”

Mr Thompson said the winning class would also get the pleasure of producing a book that will help other Kiwi kids.

Once published, the storybook will be sold, with every cent raised benefiting the Starship Foundation.

'Room 22 and Jumbo, the Monster Caterpillar', by the inaugural winners from Colwill School in West Auckland, helped raise $30,000 for the Starship Foundation and contributed to the purchase of a transesophageal echocardiograph (TOE) for the Starship Heart Unit.

Last year’s winners from Room 10 at Ahipara School also saw their creation, ‘The Weather Fish’, transform from an idea on A3 paper in to a book that has helped raise around another $30,000.

As part of Barfoot & Thompson’s Magic of Reading Programme, copies of the book will also be given to children who stay overnight at Starship or the Whangarei Children’s Ward.

Important information:

§         The Storybook Competition is open to all primary and intermediate classes at schools in Auckland and Northland. 

§         Registrations close on Friday 12 March.   

§         Story ideas need to be sent in by Friday 9 April.  

§         Teachers can register and find out more at www.barfoot.co.nz/storybook.

ENDS

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