Media release

1 May, 2007

Ready, Set, Read!

Students from eleven Waitakere primary schools are gearing up for the annual New Zealand Post Book Awards Quizzes.

Each team must study around a dozen books to compete in this year’s novice and advanced events.

They will have their knowledge of the finalists put to the test in May, with the winning teams collecting book vouchers for their school.

Waitakere Library & Information Services run the competitions as part of the annual New Zealand Post Book Awards festivities which begin on 7 May. 

Teachers and librarians from participating schools prepare groups of year five and six pupils to answer questions on the junior fiction, picture book and non-fiction category finalist titles in the awards.

Those new to the yearly competition will take part in the novice quiz, at Ceramco Park Function Centre, at 10am on Tuesday 8 May. 

Competing teams come from Arahoe School, Colwill School, Lincoln Heights School, Oratia District School, Peninsula Primary School, Royal Road School and West Harbour School.

The more experienced teams from Green Bay School, Summerland Primary, Titirangi Primary and Woodlands Park School will compete in the advanced quiz, at Glen Eden Intermediate School, at 6.30pm Friday 11 May.

The public are being encouraged to come along and support their local school.

For a full list of finalist books across all four categories in the New Zealand Post Book Awards, please visit www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz.

The New Zealand Post Book Awards for children and young adults is a nationwide celebration of books and reading for children and teenagers. 

This year 20 finalist writers and illustrators are touring regions throughout the country. 

The celebrations culminate in the announcement of the winners at Parliament on Wednesday 16 May.

New Zealand Post has been a steadfast sponsor of the New Zealand Post Book Awards for children and young adults since 1997. 

Their partnership has seen the awards flourish, growing from strength to strength, over the last decade. 

New Zealand Post’s support of these awards reflects its deep commitment to promoting literacy and literature throughout the country. 

Working closely with Booksellers New Zealand, New Zealand Post and other dedicated segments of the community actively encourage New Zealand children to read and enjoy books. 

For those with limited access to new works, New Zealand Post purchases and distributes books by the New Zealand Post Book Awards finalists through the Books in Homes programme each year.

The New Zealand Post Book Awards are also supported by Creative New Zealand and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd and are administered by Booksellers New Zealand.

***ENDS***

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