The Vodafone Warriors spent time with three schools at three different libraries across Auckland on Wednesday to help launch a special 20thanniversary five-book pack of winning League in Libraries stories.
Since 2011 the winning entries in the Vodafone Warriors’ Konica Minolta-sponsored League in Libraries story-writing competition have been published in illustrated book form.
The three groups of players visited public libraries in Glenfield, Pakuranga and Henderson to promote the packaged collection of those stories produced through the club’s long-running literacy initiative aimed at year four and five school children.
In 2011 Konica Minolta published ‘The Jerome Ropati Story’, written by Khodaysa Rajabi from Panmure Bridge School. It was followed by ‘Room 22 Saves the Day’ by Mackenzie Adams from Dominion Road School in 2012, ‘The Lucky Ball’ by Murrays Bay School’s Brian Kim in 2013 and ‘Lost and Found’ by Verran Primary School’s Halle Driver last year.
This year’s winning story was ‘Don’t Warrior ‘bout a Thing’ written by Tyler Koerselman from Beach Haven Primary School, giving North Shore school’s a hat-trick of successes.
“With five books now published it’s timely to put together a pack of all five stories in a year when we have been marking our 20th anniversary,” said Vodafone Warriors community relations manager Petrece Kesha.
“We’ve had great support from Konica Minolta in bringing these stories to life in book form with some brilliant illustrations to go with the text.
“The stories are examples of what has been achieved through our League in Libraries literacy programme. Our players have been key contributors in encouraging the kids to improve their literacy levels and teaching them how cool reading is.”
Kesha said the five-book packs are expected to be available for purchase through www.warriorsstore.co.nz in three weeks.
Appearing at the Pakuranga Library were Konrad Hurrell, Matt Allwood, Charlie Gubb, John Palavi, Sam Lisone, Albert Vete and Ligi Sao. Ben Henry, David Fusitu’a and Sione Lousi were at Waitakere Central Library in Henderson Library while Simon Mannering, Toafofoa Sipley, Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Ken Maumalo were at Glenfield Library.
