E hika! What an honour! To be invited on the Storylines National Festival Tour!
When Ngā Tae-Colours was chosen for the Stoylines Notable Book List 2017 we didn't really know where it would lead. But wawanei, I just returned from an action packed week of fun in Te Matau ā Māui-The Hawkes Bay!
As only one of us could attend on behalf of Reo Pēpi we sent our hāpu māmā Kitty Brown along to join 3 other creators; Tim Tipene, Sabrina Malcom and Heather Hunt and the wonderful Anne Dickson from Storylines as our tour manager!
Over the course of 5 days we visited 3 schools each per day, entertaining and inspiring an average of 50 students each, each session! It was a busy busy time :) We probably met around 200 tamariki throughout the week and 100 or so amazing Kaiako!
Our Reo Pēpi sessions were aimed at ECE and new entrants to Y4 students. With everyone enjoying a mixture of storytelling, games, waiata, prizes, kanikani and crazy, loud tamariki fuelled music! We visited big kura with 100's of students, libraries, kindies and country schools alike. We travelled the length and breadth of the Hawkes Bay-Ahuriri, Heretaunga, Havelock North, Waipukurau and many more!
Morning tea spread by the wāhine at the Taradale Library! Namunamua!!!
We were hosted with great manaakitanga everywhere we went! Special thanks must go to the crew at Wardini's Books who made a right fuss of us! They invited us for a special homecooked dinner one night and hosted an Author Talk on another night at their Napier store. We felt very famous indeed!
One of the best highlights of the tour was the opportunity to spend so much time with likeminded people. It was a rare and special privilege to have the company of people also so engaged with children's literature for a whole week. Ka mihi mahana-warm, warm wishes to my tour whānau and to our extended whānaunga at Storylines Trust!
Below is a poem by Storylines Tour Author Sabrina Malcom, which details some our trip...remembering of course-what goes on tour, stays on tour :)
“The Wipers
When Anne and the others took the tour
the Hawkes Bay made their bed
and swishy swashy hissy gargle glug
the wipers said.
Tim’s fans were thronged at the door
Kitty the waiata led
and swishy swashy hissy gargle glug
the wipers said.
Heather’s hand was quick to the pen
Sabrina’s spinners spun red
and swishy swashy hissy gargle glug
the wipers said.
Anne’s eye was trained on the clock
One ear on Siri, she sped
and swishy swashy hissy gargle glug
the wipers said.
Uncle Bully roared in the hills
and a magpie cocked her head
and swishy swashy hissy gargle glug
the wipers said.
Day in day out they worked
while the rains fell overhead
and swishy swashy hissy gargle glug
the wipers said.
But all the beautiful kids took part
and glorious feasts were spread
and swishy swashy hissy gargle glug
the wipers said.
The others are home now (it’s far to go)
and Anne’s off south instead
and swishy swashy hissy gargle glug
the wipers said.
Hawkes Bay’s still there. Thunder clouds
finally drifted away
and swishy swashy hissy gargle glug
the wipers say.”
