Arts Pupils’ ideas brought to life

Posted: Monday Aug 17, 2020

Kids say the darndest things – especially when it comes to creating their own story books.

Pupils at Waitati, Purakaunui, St Leonards and Sawyers Bay primary schools spent time with award-winning Dunedin children’s writers and illustrators Robyn Belton and Kathryn van Beek last week, in a workshop tour offered by the Dunedin Unesco City of Literature partnership.

The duo, who have led similar workshops in the past, said working with children in schools was “a joy”.

“The kids come up with the most delightful story ideas, and something fun and surprising happens during every visit,” Ms van Beek said.

She loved seeing their faces “light up in wonder” as they watched Ms Belton draw an illustration and make a creature “come to life before their eyes”.

Dunedin Unesco City of Literature director Nicky Page said the workshops aimed to inspire and engage children in reading, writing and illustrating.

“We know that enjoyment of reading at a young age is associated with improved life outcomes, so as a City of Literature we want to support a love of these things.

“It is wonderful having our local writer-illustrators heading into primary schools, sharing their work and having the children participate in creating an illustration and writing a story.”

https://www.thestar.co.nz/arts/pupils-ideas-brought-to-life/