A group of Kiwi authors will visit Kawerau on August 11 as part of the 2017 Storylines National Festival Story Tour.

Kawerau locals will be familiar with award-winning author/illustrator Nikki Slade Robinson’s books. Ōpōtiki-based Nikki has written children’s books such as Ruru’s Hangi and The Little Kiwi’s Matariki. She will be joined by Kiwi writers David Hill, Dawn McMillan and Gareth Ward.

David is an award-winning author who has written more than 40 books and is known for his outstanding contribution to New Zealand literature. Dawn writes entertaining picture books and readers for children, and Gareth (aka the Great Wardini) is a magician, hypnotist, storyteller, bookseller and author whose first children’s book was published recently.

Kawerau is one stop on the annual national tour, which celebrates and promotes writers and illustrators of New Zealand children’s literature and extends Storylines’ reach to more metropolitan and regional centres. By bringing New Zealand writers and illustrators into schools, homeschool groups, early childhood centres, community groups and libraries, Storylines aims to get kids excited about books and increase literacy.

Kawerau Library assistant librarian Jacqueline Godfery says the Storylines event is guaranteed to appeal to local children.

“It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to get Kawerau included on this nationwide tour to give our children a chance to meet their literary heroes.”

The four authors will be in Kawerau from 9am – 12 noon on Friday, August 11. Locations have yet to be finalised but Jacqueline says the likely stops will be the library, concert chambers, Tarawera High School and Putauaki School.

For more information contact the Kawerau Library, phone (07) 306 4032 or email jacqueline.godfery@kaweraudc.govt.nz, or visit http://storylines.org.nz/