When We Wake is the fantastic new YA futuristic thriller from New Zealand author, Karen Healey. Cryogenics, questionable morals and ethics, government secrets, and a kick-ass character are only some of the things that make When We Wake stand out.
When We Wake by Karen Healey is available now at libraries and bookshops from Allen and Unwin.
February 14th is only a couple of days away, which means that International Book Giving Day is nearly here. Instead of giving flowers and chocolates to show your love, why not show your love of books and give books to a child who needs them the most. Here are some ways you could get involved in International Book Giving Day:
Celebrate International Book Giving Day by giving a child a new, used or borrowed book.
Choose a waiting room where kids are stuck waiting and there are few to no good books available. Purchase a good book, and deposit your book covertly or overtly in your waiting room of choice. The goal here is to spread the love of reading to kids, so choose a fun book, nothing controversial.
Wrap up a box of children’s books that your kids have outgrown and get them in the hands of children who could really use a book or two. See my posts about donating to New Zealand charities KidsCan or Duffy Books in Homes.
I’ve cleaned out my bookcases of books I no longer need and bought a heap of new books to send to these charities on they day. Along with my library colleagues I’ll also be donating some nice new picture books to the doctor and dental surgeries in our community.
If you’re a school you could hold a special mufti day to raise money or gather books to send to Beckenham School in Christchurch, who recently lost their school library in a fire. A Free Post address is being set up for schools who would like to send books for Beckenham School free of charge.
Whatever you’re planning on doing for International Book Giving Day it would be great to hear all about it. You can join the International Book Giving Day Blog Hop to share your plans.
Let’s get books into the hands of the children in New Zealand who need them the most.
One of the many ways that you can be involved in International Book Giving Day on 14th February is to support KidsCan, one of our wonderful local charities who get books into the hands of the children who need them most. The wonderful folks at KidsCan have written a post all about the amazing work that they do.
KidsCan was founded in 2005 and today supports the education of over 46,000 disadvantaged New Zealand children in 265 low decile schools, nationwide.KidsCan delivers targeted programmes which remove the physical barriers preventing children from getting the most out of their education. These tangible initiatives are ensuring New Zealand children living in poverty get through the school gate in a better position to learn. Simple, things – food, shoes and raincoats – can make a powerful difference to a child’s start in life.
The causes of poverty can be debated but there is almost universal agreement on the value of education. Children who grasp the power of learning have the power to change their future.
International Book Giving Day is a great initiative that is dedicated to getting as many new, used and borrowed books into the hands of as many children as possible. KidsCan is very pleased to be a recipient of these books that we can then pass on to children at our partner schools.
See our website http://www.kidscan.org.nz/ for more info on how to get involved in other ways to support these children.
If you would like to donate books to KidsCan you can send them to:
38F Apollo Drive
Mairangi Bay
Albany
AUCKLAND
Attention: Natalie Vincent
You will also need to send them your contact details and a book list with an approximate value as they must register them as in-kind donations.
Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil
Sam Kinnison is a geek, and he’s totally fine with that. He has his horror movies, his nerdy friends, World of Warcraft – and until Princess Leia turns up in his bedroom, he doesn’t have to worry about girls.
Then Sam meets Camilla. She’s beautiful, friendly and completely irrelevant to his life. Sam is determined to ignore her, except that Camilla has a life of her own – and she’s decided that he’s going to be part of it.
Sam believes that everything he needs to know he can learn from the movies … but now it looks like he’s been watching the wrong ones.
Night School: Legacy by C.J. Daugherty
In the last year, Allie’s survived three arrests, two breakups and one family breakdown. The only bright point has been her new life at Cimmeria Academy. It’s the one place she’s felt she belongs. And the fact that it’s brought the dreamy Carter West into her life hasn’t hurt…But far from being a safe haven, the cloistered walls of Cimmeria are proving more dangerous than Allie could’ve imagined. The students, and faculty, are under threat and Allie’s family – from her mysterious grandma to her runaway brother – are at the centre of the storm. Allie is going to have to choose between protecting her family and trusting her friends. But secrets have a way of ripping even the strongest relationships apart.
Back to Black Brick by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
Cosmo’s brother Brian died when he was ten years old. His mum hides her grief and Cosmo lives with his grandparents. They’ve been carefree days as Granddad buys him a horse called John and teaches him all he knows about horses. But the good times have to come to an end and although he doesn’t want to admit it, Cosmo knows his Granddad is losing his mind. So on one of the rare occasions when Granddad seems to recognise him, Cosmo is bemused that he gives him a key to Blackbrick Abbey and urges him to go there. Cosmo shrugs it off, but gradually Blackbrick draws him in… Cosmo arrives there, scared and lonely, and is dropped off at the crumbling gates of a huge house. As he goes in, the gates close, and when he turns to look, they’re rusty and padlocked as if they haven’t been opened in years. Cosmo finds himself face to face with his grandfather as a young man, and questions begin to form in his mind: can Cosmo change the course of his family’s future?
The Book of Doom by Barry Hutchison
There’s panic up in Heaven. They have mislaid the BOOK OF DOOM – the most important object in existence. Oopsy.
They think Satan might have stolen it, the sneaky little devil, so to save the world – plus, you know, quite a lot of embarrassment, fifteen year old Zac and his angelic guide Angelo are sent to retrieve it.
Sadly directions aren’t Angelo’s strong point and they soon find themselves just as lost as the book, wandering through Afterworlds such as Valhalla and Hades and encountering some colourful characters along the way…
Can the hapless pair make it to Hell and back?
N.B. Released 23 March in New Zealand
The Phantom of Terawhiti by Des Hunt
It’s the school holidays and Zac thinks he might go crazy with boredom. He’s living in exile with his disgraced father on the remote Terawhiti Station on Wellington’s wild southwest coast. Then Zac and his dad witness a boat sink during a storm. Investigating further, Zac finds a set of unusual animal prints on the beach. Whose boat is it? And what creature could have made the prints? Soon armed men are prowling the coast, and threatening Zac, his friends and his family. He must do all he can to protect the Phantom of Terawhiti from those intent on hunting it down.
Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Mallory’s life is falling apart. Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can’t remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear …When Mallory’s parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There’s the hand that touches her shoulder when she’s drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory’s name is on their lips. Her past can be forgotten but it’s never gone. Can Mallory live with that?
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison–even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.
Joseph Delaney, the author of the Spook’s Apprentice series, is one of my favourite authors. The Spook’s books are dark, spooky and creepy, and are full of witches, boggarts and creatures of the dark. If you like spooky stories, with a bit of history, mystery and adventure you’ll love Joseph’s Books. The movie based on the series, Seventh Son, is due out later this year and I’m sure it will be fantastic.
I’m excited to announce that Joseph Delaney is coming to Christchurch on Wednesday 20 February. You can come and meet him at Upper Riccarton Library, from 7:00-8:00pm on Wednesday 20 February. He’ll talk about his books, you can ask him questions, and even get your book signed.
It’s a free event but you need to book a space. Just call Christchurch City Libraries on 03-941-7923 to book.
To find out more about Joseph Delaney and the Spook’s Apprentice series, visit www.spooksbooks.com
One of the many ways that you can be involved in International Book Giving Day on 14th February is to support Duffy Books, one of our wonderful local charities who get books into the hands of the children who need them most. Duffy Books General Manager, Linda Vagana, has written a lovely post all about Duffy Books and the amazing work that they do.
We’re very happy to be associated with International Book Giving Day on February 14.
It’s great to see an initiative that aligns so closely with what we’re trying to achieve here in New Zealand.
Duffy Books in Homes gives free books, three times a year, to over 100,000 New Zealand children in 529 lower-decile schools and 217 Early Childhood centres. These schools and centres are spread from the Far North to Bluff.
We currently give away an average of more than one book every minute of every day of the year. In the last year alone the programme has given away more than 600,000 books.
Since 1993 over 8,000,000 books have been given to hundreds of thousands of students from low income homes.
A combination of schools, sponsors and the Government has made it possible to give away so many books. Each pays approximately a third of the total cost of the programme, equating to around $13.50 per child, per year.
The programme was founded by Alan Duff, author of ‘Once Were Warriors’ and philanthropist Christine Fernyhough who saw that many homes in New Zealand were ‘bookless.’
Our vision is to break the cycle of booklessness in New Zealand homes by inspiring a love of books in Duffy children so they become adults who inspire a love of reading.
We give children a minimum of five brand new books of their choice each year at no charge. In addition, children can earn weekly ‘Caught Being Good’ book awards as well as other awards for effort and attitude. Prominent New Zealand Role Models present the books and spread the message ‘It’s Cool to Read and Cool to Achieve!’ Sponsors enjoy the opportunity to hand out books at these special assemblies.
Other features include two travelling theatre groups which perform to schools each year, awards for parents and grandparents and books for preschool siblings on their birthdays
Schools in the programme notice an improved attitude towards books and reading. Changes include less theft, vandalism and bullying within schools.
Past research has shown improvements in reading scores of up to 35% for schools joining the programme. Current research shows that kids in ‘Duffy’ schools show decreased signs of a drop in reading achievement over the summer holidays – an issue which schools have traditionally struggled with.
We’re most proud of becoming an integral part of so many schools’ literacy programmes and giving children something of their own to treasure. As the original ‘Duffy kids’ are now beginning to have children of their own one of our greatest rewards is to see how they are passing on their love of reading to their own children.
Duffy kids who have gone on to success in later life include World BMX champion and Olympic Silver medallist Sarah Walker and 2010 Miss World New Zealand Cody Yerkovich.
You can help us give even more books to New Zealand children by making a donation. As little as $5 will buy one book for a child while $50 will give a child all the services and benefits of the programme for a whole year.
You can even Donate Your Desktop space to us and help to sponsor a Duffy kid at no cost whatsoever.
For more information please visit the Donations Page of our website.
I can testify to the amazing work that Duffy Books in Homes does for the children of New Zealand. I’ve visited schools when they’ve had their Duffy assembly to give them one of their books for the year, and I’ve seen their hugely entertaining travelling theatre performance that visits schools all over the country. When you see how excited the children are to receive their books or you see them singing along about books and reading, it’s clear that Duffy Books in Homes are achieving their goals and helping to give children a love of books.
Support Duffy Books in Homes this International Book Giving Day on 14th February.
February 14th is not only Valentine’s Day. It is also International Book Giving Day — a day dedicated to getting new, used, and borrowed books into the hands of as many children as possible.
Well known children’s authors from around the world including Mem Fox, Chris Haughton, Ed Emberley, Ed Vere, Peter H. Reynolds, Sandy Fussell, Priya Kuriyan, Janeen Brian, Barney Saltzberg, Hazel Edwards, and many of our brilliant local authors are giving books to children on February 14th and are encouraging others to do the same.
Here are some of our wonderful New Zealand authors and illustrators who have pledged their support for International Book Giving Day.
To acknowledge their support I think it would be great to buy some of their books to give to children on International Book Giving Day.
For more information about International Book Giving Day and how you can be involved you can read my post all about it.
Check out the gorgeous poster for International Book Giving Day 2013! This poster was designed by Indian children’s author Priya Kuriyan and does, we think, an excellent job of conveying what International Book Giving Day is all about to those who are learning about International Book Giving Day for the first time.
You can download and print the poster from the International Book Giving Day website. To find out more about International Book Giving Day and how you can support this fantastic cause, read my Celebrate International Book Giving Day this February 14th post.
February 14th is not only Valentine’s Day. It is also International Book Giving Day — a day dedicated to getting new, used, and borrowed books into the hands of as many children as possible.
Well known children’s authors from around the world including Mem Fox, Chris Haughton, Ed Emberley, Ed Vere, Peter H. Reynolds, Sandy Fussell, Priya Kuriyan, Janeen Brian, Barney Saltzberg, Hazel Edwards, and many of our brilliant local authors are giving books to children on February 14th and are encouraging others to do the same.
There are 3 simple ways that you can get involved:
1. Giving a Book to a Friend or Relative.
Is there a child in your life who would enjoy receiving a book on February 14th? In lieu of or in addition to a card or box of chocolates, choose a good book from a bookstore or public library to give to your child, grandchild, friend, or neighbor.
2. Leaving a Book in a Waiting Room or Lobby.
Choose a waiting room where kids are stuck waiting and there are few to no good books available. Purchase a good book, and deposit your book covertly or overtly in your waiting room of choice. The goal here is to spread the love of reading to kids, so choose a fun book, nothing controversial.
3. Donating a Book.
Wrap up a box of children’s books that your kids have outgrown and get them into the hands of children who could really use a book or two. Donate your books to your local second hand store, library, children’s hospital, or nonprofit organization working to ensure that all kids have access to books.
International Book Giving Day is helping to bring books to the children all over the world that need them the most. Organisations, including Books for Africa, Room to Read and Reach Out and Read, work to get books into the hands of children in need, and every donation counts, whether it is monetary or giving new and used books.
Here in New Zealand we have two wonderful charities that help to get books to the children who need them most – KidsCan and Duffy Books in Homes. To find out about what they do to help children you can visit their websites:
KidsCan – www.kidscan.org.nz
Duffy Books in Homes – www.booksinhomes.org.nz
Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting more information about International Book Giving Day and the ways in which you can support this wonderful cause.
At bookgivingday.com you can register t0 support International Book Giving Day, download a gorgeous IBGD poster and print book plates to put in the books you give on the day, and find out about some of the authors and illustrators who have already pledged their support.
A couple of weeks ago I reviewed two wonderful new DVDs about Margaret Mahy. Margaret Mahy’s Rumbustifications takes us inside Margaret’s home in Governor’s Bay as she reads 5 of her stories and 11 of her favourite poems to her grandchildren and pets, and A Tall Long Faced Tale is an incredibly interesting and detailed documentary about Margaret Mahy that’s aimed at adults.
Thanks to Production Shed.TV I have a copy of both DVDs to give away. All you have to do to get in the draw is enter your name and email address in the form below. The competition closes on Wednesday 19 December (NZ only).
Thanks to everyone who entered. This competition is now closed.
My Best Friends Are Books 