New storybook for Starship hot off the press

Media release
13 October 2010


New storybook for Starship hot off the press

Young school students head to printing press to celebrate debut in book publishing
Books on sale from today, all proceeds benefit the Starship Foundation
Children’s book features illustrations by rugby’s Keven Mealamu

Students aged 11 and 12 years old from Waiau Pa School in Franklin today watched their very own book roll off the printing press and celebrated their new status as published authors.

Their book, Paul and the Magic Pencil, is the culmination of nearly a full school year of hard work by the students of Room 15 as part of the Barfoot & Thompson Magic of Reading Storybook Competition. It goes on sale from today, with every cent raised benefiting the Starship Foundation.

The children won the competition after their story idea entry, about a young boy who discovers his potential at school with the help of mysterious characters and a magic pencil, was chosen out of more than 150 submissions from Auckland and Northland.

“This is a heart-warming and fun story that will have relevance for school children of all ages and help encourage their own confidence in the classroom,” says Peter Thompson, Managing Director of Barfoot & Thompson, which fully funds the programme.

“The purpose behind the competition is to inspire children to explore storytelling, reading and writing and hopefully help foster a life-long love of books.

“It is also a very special opportunity for the winning writers, as their creative idea and hard work enables them to raise funds to help other young people in Starship Children’s Hospital.”

Previous titles, Room 22 and Jumbo, the Monster Caterpillar by Colwill School in West Auckland, and The Weather Fish by Ahipara School in Northland, helped raise $60,000 for Starship.

In a once in a lifetime experience, the students of Room 15 were also assisted on their literary journey by some big names in writing and rugby.

Paul and the Magic Pencil was developed into a final manuscript in a series of classroom workshops with renowned children’s author John Parker, and then the story was brought to life with illustrations by rugby star Keven Mealamu.

“This is Keven’s third storybook with us and, as always, we have been very excited by the style and flair he has brought to the pictures,” says Mr Thompson.

Mealamu paid a surprise visit to the students at the special launch today held at Oliver Young printers in West Auckland, taking a quick break from a busy training schedule to congratulate the students and sign the first of the published books.

Copies of Paul and the Magic Pencil can be purchased from today for $10 at any Barfoot & Thompson branch or online at www.barfoot.co.nz/storybook.

Special-edition signed books and one-off original illustrations by Mealamu are also on sale on Trade Me at www.trademe.co.nz/storybook.

Every cent raised from all sales will be donated to the Starship Foundation to support the purchase of a new ultrasound machine. Copies of the book will also be donated to the Barfoot & Thompson-funded Magic of Reading programme, for children that stay at Starship Children’s Hospital and Whangarei Hospital Children’s Ward to read and take home.

ENDS

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