Being in a Bubble

Well we’re 13 days down - congratulations on making it this far. We really hope that you and your families are adjusting OK to this strange new way of doing things. Reframing isolation as solitude and social distancing as compassionate retreat was an idea given to me by a friend that I find helpful. Amazing what words can do to shape your outlook. And what books can do to help you relax.

As you will know, we are not an essential business (although many would debate this :)) so we are closed for the duration. However, even though we are not selling books we are still doing all those other things that we love to do, reading, encouraging other people to read, talking about books, being in contact with the reading community, and trying to work on our business so that it remains viable in the post pandemic future.

This newsletter is a part of all that. In it you’ll find some fun ideas to keep members of your family occupied, the offer of a lockdown book recommendation service, a chance to win $100 of book tokens and...our Bookmark Design Competition is back!

Below - our YA bookclub enjoying thier first ever virtual zoom meeting last week. Doing it again Thursday 23rd, so if you have any teens who'd like to join in and chat about books, send us an email and we'll invte them along.

The Dorothy Butler Sticker Lockdown Book Review Challenge!

Have you ever noticed that the books you buy from us have our sticker on the back? If a book you love has one of our stickers on it (new or old), make a short video review of it (using the script below or similar). Post the video on Dorothy Buter Children's Bookshop Bubble facebook group or on instagram and tag us - then you'll

Go in the draw to win $100 of book tokens!

Here's an easy script to follow for your book review. Make sure you show us the sticker on the back!

Show the front cover of the book and say

Hello, my name is __________________

I read this book ______(title)__________ this week/ last year/when I was 7 etc

It’s written by_____________, illustrated by _________ and published by__________

I loved/liked it because:

It’s a great book for ______________(who would like it? )

Turn the book around to the back cover and show the Dorothy Butler Bookshop Sticker then talk about who bought it and where from.

e.g. My mum bought this book for me at the Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop or I got this book from my granny who bought it at the Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop.

Competition open to all ages!

Bookmark Design Competition is back!

Yes, itt’s back - bigger and bubblier than ever - and a little earlier!

We usually run our bookmark design competition over the July school holidays but we thought that with everyone hunkering down at home now, designing a bookmark would be a great way to fill some of that time. This year the theme is Books in the Bubble. There will be prizes for the best and runner up design in 3 age groups -children in school years 1-3, 4-6 and 7-8. The 3 best bookmarks get printed by us and become the official Bookshop Bookmark of the Year. The other prizes are books from Gecko Press and book vouchers. This year, thanks to Gecko Press, all entries will also go in the draw to win a pile of books. Download and print off the competition entry form (attached to this newsletter) and get designing. When you've finished, keep your design safely at home until the shop opens again. We'll let you know how to get your entries to us once lockdown is over.

Meanwhile if you'd like to share your design with us you are welcome to scan it and send us a pic. Send to shop@dorothybutler.co.nz with Bookmark Design in the subject line.

Need some Bubble Burst Book Recommendations?

We may be closed but we can still offer our expertise and knowledge of books to help you make future purchases. If you have a child you’d like some book recommendations for, send us a bit of info about them - their age, reading habits,favourite books, interests etc and we’ll come up with at least 5 books for you to check out. Send your enquiry to shop@dorothybutler.co.nz with book recommendations in the subject line.

Storylines Award Winners

Despite having to postpone the annual Margaret Mahy Day Awards Ceremony, Storylines has announced the winners of its manuscript awards. Information about the winners and their manuscripts is here and an interview with the winner of the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award is here. Congratulations to the to-be-published winnners!

Little Difference Cards - Colouring Competition - Win $100 of Little Difference Products

One of our favourite greeting card suppliers is Little Difference - Why do we love them? Well, they make gorgeous cards (artwork by the lovely Sophie), they plant 1 tree for every card sold, and they do cool things like this little compettition to say thank you to the key workers who are keeping the country going while the rest of us retreat. Click on the pic to take you to the competition information.