Kids enjoy inspiration from all walks of life

Almost 100,000 students in low-decile schools around New Zealand are looking forward to receiving two free books each during the next three weeks.  Just as exciting is the prospect of receiving their books from an inspirational role model during a special school assembly.

Duffy Books in Homes takes on the huge task of organising assemblies for all 541 schools participating in the programme.  Much like the Lucky Book Club, kids in ‘Duffy’ schools choose books from a catalogue at the start of term and then wait patiently for their book presentation assembly.  The big difference is that their books don’t cost them or their families a cent.

This term, role models visiting Duffy schools include singers Jackie Clarke and Shona Laing, netballer Linda Vagana, Newstalk ZB newsreader Niva Retimanu, authors Alistair McIntyre and Tony Williams and entertainer Adrian Kirk.  They are joined by dozens of other role models with sporting, musical, literary, media and entertainment backgrounds.

Their message to kids is simple – ‘It’s cool to read and cool to achieve.’  They make the connection between their careers and their love of reading and show children, some of whom have never owned a book in their lives, that reading provides a pathway to success.

Message from Alan Duff to parents

Greetings from the Duffy Team, parents

It feels like we're one big family and I guess we are if we've been around in your children's lives for the last 15 years.  A few of our very first Duffy book kids are now parents!  A bit young but we love them all.  We've always had our Duffy children's best interests at heart.  And in this tougher world of big changes, we feel an even greater sense of responsibility.  Because the person with the least education is the first to suffer in any economic downturn.  Not what we want for our Duffy kids.

So, parents, can you please give 'em the message, "It's cool to read, it's cool to achieve." And unless you are a sports superstar, you won't get there without reading heaps.  Oh, and there is no shame in having ambitions, in aspiring to be the best.

With warm regards from Alan Duff and all the Duffy Team.

Some recent letters we've received

Hi Jacqui

Thank you for the email, we are humbled by the messages of support we have received and the kind wishes from people who have stayed with us over many years.

Christchurch has been devastated by this latest earthquake, the loss of life is unprecedented by Canterbury standards.  I think the death toll has now exceeded 75 people, it's very sad.  It will take a long time to put things right, but we are a hardy bunch of people and refuse to be beaten.

50% of Christchurch is still without electricity and some suburbs are under water/sludge.  We are fortunate at the motel to have been able to remain operational (despite no electricity for 8 hours) although there are some serious sanitation issues that affect us all.  We are dealing with cancellations and almost immediate new bookings by the minute – a TV Crew from Australia's Channel 7 are here with us as well as a Japanese film crew, EQC inspectors, Property Management Staff from ANZ and several displaced Christchurch families.  We have them all, and will continue to work to keep these people as safe and as comfortable as possible, despite the regular tremors.

Thank you again for thinking of us, your kind sentiments help to give us strength.

Regards

Sue & Steve Peters

Ashleigh Court Motel

Dear Phil

Thank you so much for arranging for Duffy Theatre to visit Kidz First Children’s Hospital.

The show was outstanding, energetic and totally engaged the young patients and hospital staff.  The cast also had to work in an extremely challenging setting and were highly professional.

It was wonderful to see the children have such an enjoyable time and I am sure the laughter helped their recovery.

I look forward to working with Duffy Books in Homes again.

Kind regards

Jackie Russell

Media and public relations officer

South Auckland Health Foundation

Dear Books in Homes Team

Your wonderful programme continues to inspire and support our children.  Books in Homes means a lot to us and our school community.  It is a part of the culture of Glendene School now and plays a very important part in the literacy of our students.

Thank you very much

Robyn Dunseath

Principal

Glendene School

School Sponsor: Owens Transport

Dear Books in Homes Team

A huge thank you for sponsoring our school in the Books in Homes programme.  We all love being involved and it’s really exciting when the books arrive.  We would also like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday.

Thanks again for your support.  We really appreciate it.

Regards

The Staff and Children of St Joseph’s School Paeroa

Sponsor needed

Dear Sir/s

Thank you for all the amazing Duffy books you have given to our school.  If it wasn’t for those books and all of you then we wouldn’t be able to learn and live our dreams.  I have a lot of books to read now that you have given me some.  I read to my little cousin.  I still enjoy the books that I got when I was little.  Thanks for all the books you have given me.  Hope you have a good Christmas holiday.

Allyson

Maraeroa School

School Sponsor: The Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust

Dear Duffy Books Team

As our second year as Duffy School draws to a close, I wish to send a very special ‘thank you’ to the Scholastic team for helping to make my job as Duffy Books co-ordinator so easy.

Your efficient systems and helpful staff have ensured that Duffy Books have been a highlight in our school programme again this year!

Our Role Model Assemblies and weekly ‘Caught Being Good’ awards are eagerly looked forward to.  Sara-Jane Elika and Lorelle McNaughton were fabulous role models.  Each week we have 23 very proud children who take home a Caught Being Good book and certificate.  The $5.00 Parent Offer was a hit again this year.  Our children who have younger siblings really enjoy choosing a book for their brother or sister.

Thank you for the monthly updates, newsletters, special offers and the special treats such as the opportunity to take children and caregivers to the Storylines festival.

Best wishes for a great Christmas and a safe and happy new year.

I look forward to working with your team again next year.

Kind regards

Barbara Brodien

Manurewa Central School

Sponsor needed

Thanks Norm!

Back in 2005 Norm Hewitt captured the country’s imagination with his winning performance on the first ever season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’.

While that victory now seems a long time ago, Norm’s legacy has continued to mean an enormous amount to thousands of Duffy kids in 24 schools around the country.

At the end of Term One the last of the proceeds of Norm’s win will run out but the thousands of books in children’s homes will continue to bring a great deal of enjoyment.

The whole team at Duffy Books in Homes and all the schools and children he supported want to thank Norm for an amazing contribution and we all hope that we’ll continue to see plenty of him in his capacity as a star Duffy Role Model.

Welcome to Duffy's Book Blog

Kia Ora, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Kia orana, Nisa Bula Vinaka, Fakalofa lahi atu, Taloha Ni, Namaste, Annyong, Warm greetings, to all Duffy Books in Homes schools, sponsors, role models, supporters and families

Welcome to Duffy's Book Blog!  I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year, but also would like to take this opportunity to express our thoughts and sorrows not only for our Christchurch Duffy schools, children and teachers, sponsors, supporters and role models, but also to all the people and communities of Christchurch who are facing one of the most challenging tragedies in New Zealand’s history.  We trust that through this difficult time that you may find some peace and comfort.

It's great to see that schools in Christchurch are starting to open and we hope that the process of getting back up and running goes as smoothly as possible.

Globally, we continue to experience and hear about the challenges financially and economically not only in New Zealand but around the world.  We believe this makes the role of Duffy Books in Homes even more important; empowering and inspiring our Duffy children through our Duffy Role Model assemblies and promoting the joy and celebration of brand new books in children’s homes.

Also ready to inspire our kids are this year’s talented and very hip team of actors on the road with The Duffy Theatre (see the earlier post for more details) who will be stirring up the kids at every show.  This term we will farewell Jacqui Whyte who has been responsible for the fantastic and smooth running of all our Duffy shows as our Theatre Production Manager.  We are sad to see you leave us Jacqui and warmly acknowledge all your amazing work over the last 14 years.  Thank you Jacqui!  In replacing Jacqui I would like to welcome back Sarah Graham, a former Duffy actor from 2008 who is now our new Theatre Production Manager.

We are very sad to also have to farewell two other members of our team.  Firstly Laraine Lash, thank you so much for your dedication and fantastic work over the last 13 years.  We will really miss you and are sure your schools feel the same way.  Our Sponsorship Manager Vanessa Johnson, is off to further studies in Brisbane at the Christian Heritage College.  Thank you for all your work in sponsorship and we wish you all the best with your studies.

Lastly, I am looking forward to seeing the Duffy programme go from strength to strength in 2011, but all our successes would not be possible without the investment and commitment from our wonderful family of sponsors and supporters.  Thank you!

Take care and happy reading

Linda Vagana

General Manager

New Zealand Book Month - Books Change Lives

This month, New Zealand Book Month celebrates New Zealand and International books encouraging all Kiwis nationwide to get involved in their “Books Change Lives” campaign.

The aim is to celebrate and highlight the power of the book - to be an active part of our everyday lives – shaping who we are and what we can be as individuals and as a nation.

From the North Island to the South Island, from neighbour, school bus to sporting field, workplace to playground, New Zealand Book Month encourages people of all ages to engage with books - to share the book or books that changed their lives, recommend books, and to reach out to new readers to read.

“Children growing up in homes with books get 3 more years schooling than children with bookless homes, independent of their parents’ education, occupation and class” Evans, M.D.R., Kelley, J., Sikora, .J and Treiman, D. (2010). Family scholarly culture and educational success: Books and schooling in 27 nations, ScienceDirect.

A fantastic programme of over 200 events scaling across the country and across the month of March have been organised by volunteer activists, all of whom are passionate librarians, booksellers, readers and writers. From New Zealand to visiting international author talks, literary readings to poetry, lectures to exhibitions, book launches to festivals, story-telling for kids to rugby in literature, haunted castles to blind cooking, and blogging to quizzes there is an event for all age groups and genres. For full event details visit their website – www.nzbookmonth.co.nz

A non-profit initiative, New Zealand Book Month works alongside a wide range of organisations fundamental to books and reading in New Zealand. Publishers, booksellers, libraries, schools and activists provide the necessary support to make New Zealand Book Month a success. Plus, thanks to their many sponsors, New Zealand Book Month delivers information, publicity, people, ideas and energy necessary to support events and activities that bring books and reading alive.

Duffy and libraries combine to spread reading message to New Zealand schools

Every year, two groups of travelling actors journey from North Cape to Bluff bringing the message It's Cool to Read and Cool to Achieve to tens of thousands of Duffy kids.

The Duffy Theatre first performed in 1997 when the programme was in its infancy.  Now, with over 500 schools to reach each year this exciting live 45 minute show has become a Duffy institution and a highlight of many school calendars.

In previous years Duffy kids have been enthralled by shows such as Duffy's Dance Diary Adventure, Duffy's Time Travel Adventure and Duffy's Occupation Exploration.

Now in 2011 Duffy is undertaking an exciting new adventure in Duffy's Book Bus Adventure.

Mr Barrier sets out to shut down the library service since it makes no money. However, the show's hero Duffy and his librarian friends Awhina and Tiaki pull out all the stops to ensure that libraries remain free and available for their community.

The story reaches beyond school halls thanks to a partnership between Duffy Books and Public Libraries of New Zealand. Every child who sees the theatre will be given a card which is stamped whenever they visit their local library. Once they collect five stamps they receive a free book to keep, thanks to Duffy Books in Homes and Scholastic.

The message is supported by the Duffy Theatre's new sponsor, New Zealand Post. Already a supporter of the Duffy Books in Homes programme via its sponsorship of the New Zealand Post Award for Great Effort in Reading and Writing, the company has now become the first major sponsor of the troupe which has been running since 1997.

After every performance three children chosen by the school will receive a certificate and book from the finalists of the 2011 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. This award recognises children who have made an extra effort in their reading and writing and gives them access to some of the latest high quality books from New Zealand authors.