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.

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).

These FREE events will feature six writers and illustrators who are finalists in the 2024 New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults: Feana Tu‘akoi, Rachael King, Rob Foote, Ruth Paul, Stacy Gregg and Steve Mushin.

Schools are welcome to book spaces in the following morning or afternoon sessions (or both):

MORNING SESSIONS - LIMITED NUMBER OF SPACES AVAILABLE IN THESE SESSIONS - please email booksalive@nzbookawards.org.nz to make a booking

Session 1 (10.30am – 11.15am), Centre Stage Theatre, 33 Don Street, Invercargill
2024 finalists Ruth Paul (Hatch and Match) and Rachael King (The Grimmelings) talk about their shortlisted books, followed by questions from the audience.

Session 2 (11.30am – 12.15pm), Centre Stage Theatre, 33 Don Street, Invercargill
2024 finalists Stacy Gregg (Nine Girls) and Feana Tu‘akoi (Lopini the Legend) talk about their shortlisted books, followed by questions from the audience.

AFTERNOON SESSION - LIMITED NUMBER OF SPACES AVAILABLE IN THIS SESSION - please email booksalive@nzbookawards.org.nz to make a booking

Session 3 (1.00pm – 1.45 pm), Centre Stage Theatre, 33 Don Street, Invercargill
2024 finalists Steve Mushin (Ultrawild) and Rob Foote (Samples from the Lab) talk about their shortlisted books, followed by questions from the audience.

Writing and illustration workshops with these amazing finalists will also be running at Southland Business Chamber (25 Don Street) and Invercargill Public Library (50 Dee Street). Please email booksalive@nzbookawards.org.nz for more details of workshop sessions. Currently all workshop sessions are fully booked, but a waitlist has been set up in case spaces become available.

Schools attending morning sessions or for the full day should arrive at Centre Stage Theatre by 9.45-10.00am. Schools attending afternoon sessions only should arrive by 12.30pm.

All events are free, and funding is available to schools to cover the cost of transporting students to these events.

Booking is essential. 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. It is made possible thanks to grants and support from Mātātuhi Foundation, Community Trust South, ILT, and ILT Foundation.