Best-Dressed Bears to Bring Books Alive

Best-Dressed Bears to Bring Books Alive

Dunedin Wednesday, 20 August 2014

Expect a carnival atmosphere at the Dunedin City Library this Saturday, when the Storylines Festival comes to town.

The Library will be in the hands of the Family Day Ringmaster, hosting 13 of the nation’s favourite children’s authors, illustrators and storytellers for a day packed with entertainment for the whole family.

Dunedin Public Libraries’ Events Co-ordinator Kay Mercer says Dunedin has the honour of hosting the first of this year’s Storylines Festival events, which includes an all-star line-up of writers, including Gary Crew, Melinda Szymanik, Anna Mackenzie and Gavin Bishop.

Children are encouraged to get their favourite teddy bears dressed up for the occasion and bring them along to see Diana Noonan, author of “Best-Dressed Bear”, who will be giving out spot prizes for the smartest bears on the day.

Mrs Mercer says, “This year’s Family Day truly has something for everyone in the family and a whole heap of things you never normally find in a library. There’ll be people building wakas with Keith Tonkin and even a spot of gardening with Diana Noonan!”

Visitors can expect to find some old favourites from previous years, such as Spencer Hall’s popular Zine Workshop, where young people can create their own graphic novels to take away. There’ll be storytelling, face painting and craft activities for the wee ones. And for the older kids and adults, plenty of author talks, presentations, the illustrator’s gallery with Gavin Bishop and, of course, lots and lots of books.

“Keep an eye out for a band of travelling minstrels, a big red dog, and a steampunk storytelling machine. The Ringmaster will be giving out spot prizes for people dressed as their favourite book characters, or ‘caught’ reading!”

The Storylines Festival concept began in Auckland in 1993, as a writers' initiative, and a dream to bring New Zealand children together with their favourite New Zealand authors. The Festival was expanded in 2008 to include Family Days in the South Island, and the Dunedin Public Libraries have been a part of the Festival fixture since 2011.

Storylines Dunedin Family Day
Saturday 23 August, 11am-3.30pm
Dunedin City Library

ENDS

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