Book Feast - Children's Book Festival

Aotearoa NZ Bookshop Day is a day to celebrate the amazing bookshops around NZ. We're celebrating by putting on our annual Book Feast - a free mini book festival for kids. As well as guest authors, illustrators and storytellers we'll have lots of giveaways and chances to win prizes on the day. See below for all the details. Come on down to Ponsonby and enjoy the bookshop vibe with us.

Register on eventbrite for the event before October 11th, turn up on the day (October 12th) and go in the draw to win a $50 book voucher and a pile of books.

We're delighted to welcome 4 special guests to our festival this year.

10am - Sarah-Jane Rowland has recently returned to the Leys Institute Little Library as the Children's Librarian. She'll be well-known to locals from the many wriggle and rhyme and story-time sessions she has taken over her years as a librarian in Auckland. Sarah-Jane will start off our day with half an hour of songs and stories. Great for 2-5year olds but all welcome.

10.30am - Book Launch - How to Draw a Dragon with Kate Talbot. Kate is an Australian-born, New Zealand-based children's book writer and illustrator. Ever inspired by her two dragon-loving children, she is passionate about instilling a love for stories and storytelling in younger people and hopes to nurture life-long readers and artists through her quirky characters and vibrant illustrations. Join us for a story reading, dragon craft and kai to help launch Kate's new book into the world. All ages.

11.30am - Alba Gil Celdran is an artist and illustrator who won last year's Margaret Mahy illustration prize and has recently had her prize-winning artork published in the book 17 Kings and 42 Elephants by Margaret Mahy. Join Alba for a rhythmic rhyming Margaret Mahy story followed by some fun animal themed crafts. All ages.

12.30pm - Stacy Gregg (Ngāti Mahuta/Ngāti Pukeko/Ngāti Maru) grew up in Ngāruawāhia, the small but culturally significant town where Nine Girls, her multiple-award-winning children’s novel, is set. Stacy is also much loved for her wonderful pony books. She will talk about her books, answer questions and sign your books. Ages 8-12

Come to the shop dressed as your favourite book character. We’ll take your photo and judge our favourite costume of the day. The winner will receive a $50 book voucher.

Find pictures of Wally, his friends, and their personal belongings hidden around the shop. Find all ten pictures and get a $5 book voucher.

Make any purchase on the day, put your hand in our lucky dip bowl and pull out a prize. Every shopper gets to take home a little something extra - maybe a book, a tote bag, a chocolate...

Our audio book partner Libro.fm are offering an amazing prize - 12 book credits - for the one person who finds a Golden Ticket hidden somewhere in the shop. If you love audio books you'll want to be here early to hunt for this prize.

For those wanting to explore Auckland's wonderful bookshops - and get the chance to win $300 of book tokens - this is going to be an amazing event. Pick up a bookshop map from any participating store and you have from Friday 4th October to Sat 12th October to collect stamps from every bookshop you visit. Every stamp gives you another entry into the draw to win. 11 bookshops are taking part.

We'll be posting on facebook and instagram in the lead up to Book Feast so keep a look out for more info and more deals.

Host or Publisher The Dorothy Butler Children's Bookshop