Two of our national treasurers, writers Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy, will share their stories at Auckland’s Storylines Festival on June 15.

 

 

The free family fun day also features performers and the chance for children to celebrate Hairy Maclary’s 25th birthday by making him a birthday card.

International guests include the UK’s Babette Cole – author of that famous sex education book Mummy Laid an Egg – Australian writer Carole Wilkinson and American author and storyteller Cathy Spagnoli.

Among New Zealand authors at the 10am-3pm event, at the Aotea Centre, will be Dorothy Butler, David Hill, Anna Mackenzie and Jennifer Cooper, Des Hunt and Tracey Duncan.

The annual event attracts around 20,000 children, parents and grandparents, drawn by the chance to meet and listen to the people who write the books they love to read.

The Storylines Festival Trust runs the family events each year as part of its drive to promote public awareness of the importance of reading and to make sure Kiwi kids get access to high-quality literature.

The work of Storylines has been supported by ASB Community Trust since 2001.

For more information about the Family Day and other festival activities visit the Storylines website www.storylines.org.nz