On Wednesday 7 August, Invercargill will host Books Alive events for primary and intermediate schools, featuring a selection of the finalists in the 2024 New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults.

These events will be FREE to attend, and will run from 9.45am-2.00pm on Wednesday 7 August.

Books Alive events will take place at venues in central Invercargill, including Centre Stage Theatre (33 Don Street), Southland Business Chamber (25 Don Street) and Invercargill Public Library (50 Dee Street).

The 2024 finalists who will be at the Invercargill Books Alive events are:
• Feana Tu‘akoi – Lopini the Legend
• Rachael King – The Grimmelings
• Rob Foote – Samples from the Lab
• Ruth Paul – Hatch and Match
• Stacy Gregg – Nine Girls
• Steve Mushin – Ultrawild

The Books Alive programme will include finalist talks, writing and illustration workshops, and opportunities for your students to meet these inspiring writers and illustrators.

Funding is available to help cover the cost of transport to these events from the wider Southland region.

To register your interest in bringing your school or class to these exciting events, please email booksalive@nzbookawards.org.nz with your school name, contact details, the number of students you would like to bring.

We encourage you to register your interest as soon as possible to secure places for your school.

The 2024 Books Alive finalist event programme in Invercargill is being organised for the New Zealand Book Awards Trust by Pauline Vaeluaga Smith, in collaboration with the Invercargill City Libraries team.