The 2019 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalists attending free Books Alive events in Dunedin, Christchurch, Hamilton and Wellington have been confirmed, and schools in these regions are invited to book in as early as possible for sessions.

The full schedule by date and venue follows. Please confirm your booking by emailing booksalive@nzbookawards.org.nz with the following:

• Name of school
• The sessions you would like to book for
• Your confirmed number of students
• Phone number contact
  

DUNEDIN - Primary and Intermediate Schools

DATE: Thursday 1 August
VENUE: Dunedin City Library, 230 Moray Place, Dunedin
EVENTS: The following events have been designed so that schools can attend both sessions. Thanks to Dunedin Public Libraries for their support

Session 1
9.30am - 10.15am: James T Guthrie (Bullseye Bella) and Barbara Else (Go Girl: A Storybook of Epic NZ Women) OR 9.30am - 10.15am: David Elliot (Oink) and Vasanti Unka (Who Stole the Rainbow?)

Session 2
10.50am - 11.35am: James T Guthrie (Bullseye Bella) and Barbara Else (Go Girl: A Storybook of Epic NZ Women) OR 10.50am - 11.35am: David Elliot (Oink) and Vasanti Unka (Who Stole the Rainbow?)

DUNEDIN - Secondary Schools
DATE: Thursday 1 August
VENUE: Dunedin City Library, 230 Moray Place, Dunedin
EVENTS: The following events have been designed so that schools can attend both sessions. These events are suitable for ages 13-17 years. Thanks to Dunedin Public Libraries for their support.

Session 1
12.30pm - 1.15pm: Rachel Craw (The Rift)

Session 2
1.30pm - 2.15pm: Eileen Merriman (Invisibly Breathing)

CHRISTCHURCH - Secondary Schools
DATE: Friday 2 August
VENUE: Tūranga Library, 60 Cathedral Square, Christchurch
EVENTS: The following events have been designed so that schools can attend both sessions. These events are suitable for ages 13-17 years.Thanks to Tūranga Library for their support.

Session 1
10am - 11am: Eileen Merriman (Invisibly Breathing)

Session 2
11.30am - 12.30pm: Mandy Hager (Ash Rising)

CHRISTCHURCH - Primary and Intermediate Schools
DATE: Monday 5 August
VENUE: St Margaret’s College, 12 Winchester St, Merivale, Christchurch
EVENTS: The following events have been designed so that schools can attend both sessions. Rachael King from WORD Christchurch will host both events.

Session 1
9.30am - 10.30am: Sarah Pepperle (Art-Tastic), Eirlys Hunter (The Mapmakers’ Race) and James T Guthrie (Bullseye Bella)

Session 2
11.30am - 12.30pm: Steph Matuku (Whetū Toa and the Magician), Josh Morgan (The Bomb) and Gavin Bishop (Cook's Cook: The Cook who Cooked for Captain Cook)

HAMILTON - Primary and Intermediate Schools
DATE: Monday 5 August
VENUE: Hamilton Central Library, 9 Garden Place, Hamilton
EVENTS: The following events have been designed so that schools can attend both sessions. There are morning and afternoon options so you can choose to bring your school to either. Thanks to Hamilton City Libraries for their support.

MORNING SESSIONS
Session 1
10am - 10.30am: Miriama Kamo and Zak Waipara (The Stolen Stars of Matariki and Ngā Whetū Matariki i Whānakotia)

Session 2
10.45am - 11.15am: Ruth Paul (Mini Whinny: Happy Birthday to Me)

AFTERNOON SESSIONS (repeat of morning)

Session 3
12.30pm - 1pm: Miriama Kamo and Zak Waipara (The Stolen Stars of Matariki and Ngā Whetū Matariki i Whānakotia) give a fun and fabulous presentations on their shortlisted books, followed by questions from the audience.

Session 4
1.15pm - 1.45pm: Ruth Paul & Stacy Gregg (Mini Whinny: Happy Birthday to Me)

HAMILTON - Secondary Schools
DATE: Monday 5 August
VENUE: UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts - Playhouse Theatre, Gate 2b, Knighton Road, Hamilton
EVENTS: The following events have been designed so that schools can attend both sessions. These events are suitable for ages 13-17 years.

Session 1
10am - 10.45am: Des O’Leary (Slice of Heaven) lets you in on the secrets to creating the world of a novel in relation to his latest, lively and funny, shortlisted book for teenage readers.

Session 2
11.15am - 12.00 noon: Acclaimed writer Stacy Gregg gives a masterclass in creating stories that keep her readers coming back for more.

WELLINGTON - Primary and Intermediate Schools
DATE: Wednesday 7 August
VENUE: Te Papa - Te Marae (Level 4), 55 Cable Street, Wellington
EVENTS: The following events have been designed so that schools can attend more than one session. These events are suitable for ages 7-12 years.

Session 1
10am - 10.45am: Eirlys Hunter & Kirsten Slade (The Mapmakers' Race) and Bren MacDibble (The Dog Runner)

Session 2
11.15am - 12 noon: Ned Barraud (New Zealand's Backyard Beasts), Stacy Gregg & Ruth Paul (Mini Whinny: Happy Birthday to Me), and Gillian Candler (Whose Home is This?)

Session 3
12.30pm - 1.15pm: Donovan Bixley (Te Hīnga Ake a Māui i Te Ika Whenua), Steph Matuku & Katharine Hall (Whetū Toa and the Magician), and Josh Morgan & Sacha Cotter (The Bomb)

Press Conference (Te Papa, Te Marae)
1.30pm - 2pm: Five finalists take to the stage to answer questions from you, their readers! Come armed with the hard questions (there will be cameras and reporters awaiting …)

WELLINGTON - Secondary Schools
DATE: Wednesday 7 August
VENUE: National Library Auditorium, Molesworth Street, Wellington
EVENTS: The following events have been designed so that schools can attend both sessions. These events are suitable for ages 13-17 years. With thanks to the National Library of New Zealand for their generous support.

Session 1
11am - 12 noon: Des Hunt (Search for a Kiwi Killer) and Brin Murray (Children of the Furnace)

Session 2
12.30pm - 1.30pm: Ant Sang (Helen and the Go-Go Ninjas),Rachel Craw (The Rift) and Philippa Werry (The Telegram)