North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Youngsters win writing contest
Primary school students have been rewarded for their creative efforts.
Ten young writers have won the Barfoot & Thompson Young Authors Challenge, which will see their stories published in a storybook to benefit Starship children’s hospital.
Those winners include Murrays Bay Intermediate school student Amy Wang and St John’s School Mairangi Bay student Olive Whatmough.
Amy’s story The Rainbow and Olive’s story Mr Biblio’s Flying Library will be printed in the storybook.
Olive came up with the idea for her story from reading her brother’s cartoons and what she sees in her house, and hopes it will help other children.
‘‘Knowing that I’m helping children in hospital makes me feel very special and happy. I hope that I’ll make the children at Starship feel happy too,’’ Olive says.
‘‘A book can help you in various situations. They can help to keep you safe.’’
Young Authors Challenge is part of the Barfoot & Thompson Magic of Reading programme.
Funds raised from sales of the book will go to purchasing children’s books for patients at Starship and Whangarei Hospital’s children’s ward.
Running for nine years, the Young Authors Challenge has raised more than $200,000 for the Magic of Reading programme.
More than 1600 primary and intermediate students across Auckland and Northland entered the competition this year, the most in the competition’s history.
The winning stories were selected by a panel of eight judges based on character development, settings, originality, and positive messages.
Barfoot & Thompson managing director and competition judge Peter Thompson says he is proud of the young writers.
‘‘I was delighted to see we have received the highest number of entries yet and I enjoyed reading the children’s creative tales,’’ Thompson says.
The writers will be mentored in a workshop with children’s writer Maria Gill to help hone their skills and put finishing touches on the stories.
Former rugby player Keven Mealamu and artist Otis Frizzell will then bring the stories to life with custom illustrations.
The book will go on sale later this year.