Photos and Events

We held the book launch for Trina Saffioti's Stolen Girl on 12 April. Stolen Girl, published by Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation, is a story of Australia's Stolen Generation. It is a fictionalised account of Trina's grandmother, who was taken from her family as a young child.

Trina was born in New Zealand and lives in Wellington. She is descended from the Gugu Yulangi people of Far North Queensland.

Wellington City Councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer launched the book and led a waiata in celebration.

Trina has also written another family story, The Old Frangipani Tree at Flying Fish Point, based on her mother's experiences when she entered a school fancy dress carnival.




As part of NZ Book Month, the Wonky Donkey man, Craig Smith, entertained 170-plus children and adults at a 'concert' in the bookshop on Friday March 4th.

Craig's books The Wonky Donkey (which won the Children's Choice award in the 2010 NZ Post Children's Book Awards) and Willbee the Bumblebee have been Nielsen BookData's top-selling books in NZ for months.

You can see more photos from Craig's visit on our Facebook page.

From left: the Maidstone Intermediate Kapahaka group welcomes Michael Grant; Michael signs at the Children's Bookshop.

Michael poses with a friend.

Michael Grant visited Wellington on November 9. He spoke at Maidstone Intermediate in Upper Hutt, where the Kapahaka group gave him a traditional welcome. He was "very impressed and honoured". Michael also signed in-store at the Children's Bookshop that afternoon. Michael Grant is the author of the Gone series. The third book, Lies came out in September. He has also started a new series for younger readers called The Magnificent 12 and the first book, and the first book, The Call, came out in November.

Marmaduke Duck window display
Juliette with her pots of marmalade at the book launch	Juliette signing a copy of her book
We held the launch of Marmaduke Duck and the Marmalade Jam by first-time author Juliette MacIver and illustrator Sarah Davis in our store on 21 October. Juliette made a hundred tiny pots of marmalade specially for the occasion, to give away with the book. Marmaduke Duck is a rollicking rhyme with vibrant illustrations, about a duck whose friends all want a taste of his marmalade jam, which will appeal to ages 3 and up.	Marmaduchess Juliette making her marmalade jam

Andy hands over the cheque to Gai Kidd from the Save the Children Fund.

Andy entertains a crowd of 650 children.

Andy's friend Killer Koala.

Australian Andy Griffiths, author of the 'Just' series, the 'Bum' series, The Bad Book and The Very Bad Book, was in store on Tuesday 19 October. He also spoke to an audience at Evans Bay Intermediate that night, at which $520 was raised to give to the Save the Children's Pakistan Flood Relief Appeal. Andy also spoke at Adventure School on Wednesday 20 October, to a crowd of 650 children from 12 different schools.

	2010 was Spot's 30th birthday. On 6 October we had a birthday party for him at the Children's Bookshop. Our storyteller, Marie Murdoch, read Spot stories, and there was a spot prize draw. Spot then made a grand appearance to blow out the candles on his birthday cake. Everyone got a piece, and it was most delicious. You can see more pictures from Spot's birthday party on our Facebook page.

Charlie Higson, author of the Young Bond series, was in Wellington on May 14th. He visited Heretaunga College and Hutt International Boys' School, where he spoke to around 400 students. Charlie is an accomplished speaker, who entertained the students by speaking of his love for zombies, which inspired his new series, which begins with his latest book, The Enemy.

From left to right: The crafts table; Joy Cowley reading from Mrs Wishy Washy
The Children's Bookshop held our Puffin Party on Saturday, 8 May, complete with cake and party bags. Our special guest was Joy Cowley, who read some of her Mrs Wishy Washy stories. Our regular storyteller, Marie Murdoch, also read, and lead a penguin dance. After reading Where's Spot, there was a visit from Spot himself. Then it was time for the cake, when everyone sang happy birthday for Puffin's 70th. This was followed by a prize draw, with lots of Puffin books and soft toys given out, courtesy of Penguin NZ. Children were then able to get their books signed by Joy, have their photo taken with Spot the dog, and make their own puffin beaks outside and the crafts table. The party lasted just over an hour, and a great time was had by all.	Spot the dog with a new friend
Our storyteller Marie Murdoch entertains the hordes.

Derek Landy, with Skulduggery and Valkyrie look-alikes

Following the release of Dark Days, the latest book in his hilarious, action-packed Skulduggery Pleasant series, Derek Landy visited New Zealand at the end of March. About 100 people turned up for his book-signing session at The Children's Bookshop at 4pm on March 30th and Derek was busy signing and chatting to his fans for about an hour and a half.

Patrick Ness' visit to Wellington

Patrick Ness, the award-winning author of the tense dystopian series, Chaos Walking - The Knife of Never Letting Go #1 and The Ask & the Answer #2 - thrilled an audience of about 150 at Scots College in early March. Patrick spoke about his writing career, the genesis of his books and his childhood.

A gold coin donation entry fee for members of the public collected $100 and all the proceeds went to the Haiti earthquake relief fund.

Patrick's books have won the 2009 Costa Children's Book Award, the 2008 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the 2008 Booktrust Teenage Fiction Prize and he was shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009.