Rachel Weston, Elaine Williams and other children’s book writers based in the Bay of Plenty and surrounding areas will now be available at Kiwi Kids Read Kiwi Books.
The brainchild of Wanaka-based author Kate Gordon, Kiwi Kids Read Kiwi Books platform was launched in mid-November and already has 22 authors and 83 books from all over the country.
The new online bookstore is all about making it easier for Kiwis to find books for children written by talented locals. The nationwide online platform includes books in Te Reo and New Zealand Sign Language, as well as many books set in New Zealand to help children learn more about local culture, nature and traditions.
An independent selection panel for the platform manually assesses the quality, marketability and suitability of each book and only the best ones make it onto the online bookstore.
Among the latest additions to the website are Rachel Weston and Elaine Williams from Tauranga, Mr Mac from Mount Maunganui, Tom E. Moffatt and Jenny Chapman from Rotorua, Deborah Hinde and Rachel Numan from the Waikato and many others.
Rachel Weston lives on a kiwifruit orchard with her family, a horse and her dogs. Rachel’s love of writing for children started with writing keepsake stories about her own three children when they were young. She jotted things down – funny things they did and said, and wrote madcap family vignettes. In September 2019, Rachel independently published her debut non-fiction children’s book, Bumblebees Have Smelly Feet, which sold out and was re-printed in 2020. Rachel went on to publish a further two picture books, Hello! Kia ora! Welcome new friend! and Boo Goes Tutti Frutti.
Elaine Williams grew up in Scotland with her nose in a book. She worked in London for many years before moving to the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand with her husband, two children and two guinea pigs. Her love of books inspired her to study literature at university and she has written stories all of her life. Arturo and the Glitter Glue is her first published children’s book.