Children’s story book launching soon
A book of children’s stories set in Kāpiti will be launched at a Friends of the Libraries’ event at the Paraparaumu Library on October 30.
Shortz is a collection of 21 stories by local authors, compiled and edited by the Kapiti Children’s Writers Group.
One of the writers, Anne Ingram, says the idea behind the book is to give Kapiti kids stories they can relate to, as well as showing the work of local writers.
She says: “We had about 50 submissions, many of high quality. The selection represents a diverse range of subjects, and locations on different parts of the Kāpiti Coast. We have a rescue at sea, a taniwha, a mermaid, mystery and more. There is also plenty of humour.”
The book, the group’s first project, has been published with the help of a Creative Communities grant.
“We are a collective of six local writers with editing and production skills, but publishing our own book has been a new experience. We are delighted with the result — and hope the writers and readers will be too,” Mrs Ingram says.
“The book will be a perfect Christmas present for 8 to 12-year-olds and features stories that will appeal to both boys and girls.
“Children love reading stories set in places they know; and I think they will be amazed and surprised about what can happen in Kāpiti.”
Shortz showcases the work of 15-year-old illustrator Celeste Fontein. Celeste, a year 10 student at Newlands College, says she was raised on the Kāpiti Coast and so knows the places featured in the stories. She says it’s the first time her work has been published and working to a brief has been a new experience.
Celeste says: “The stories are all so different. Some are realistic, others mystical so I had to come up with a variety of styles. I tried to capture the essence of the story in each of my drawings.”
Celeste will join the authors at the launch of Shortz, hosted by the Friends of the Kāpiti Coast Libraries, in the Children’s section of Paraparaumu Library at 7.30pm on Tuesday October 30.