Bookrapt (aka The Bay of Plenty Children’s Literature Association) is a dynamic group of writers, artists, school teachers, librarians, parents, and grandparents with a passion for children’s literature. We champion literature from Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world for children, juniors, and young people.

The inaugural meeting of Bookrapt took place in Tauranga on Wednesday 18th October 1983 with foundation members including Margaret Beames (1935-2016), Jean Bennett, Dame Lynley Dodd, Phyllis Johnston (1935-2021), Sherryl Jordan (1949-2023), Jinty Rorke (1942-2014), Lois Rout (c.1936-2023), Eve Sutton (1906-1992) and Joyce Tarlton West (1908-1985).

Today we continue the tradition started in 1983 with a supportive and fabulous group of talented writers and illustrators which include Angie Belcher, Susan Brocker, Carol Garden, Debbie McCauley, Kiri-Michelle Mohi, Lee Murray, Debbie Tipuna and Rachel Weston.

In 2011, Creative Tauranga invited Aotearoa New Zealand artists to design permanent sculptures of Hairy Maclary and friends to honour Bookrapt foundation member Dame Lynley Dodd. Well-known sculptor Brigitte Wuest spent five years creating bronze sculptures of Hairy Maclary, Bitzer Maloney, Bottomley Potts, Hercules Morse, Muffin McLay, Slinky Malinki, Scarface Claw, Schnitzel von Krumm and Zachary Quack. Bookrapt contributed to the financing of this project. The sculptures and a children’s playground on the Strand waterfront in Tauranga were opened by Lynley in 2013 as a part of Hairy Maclary’s 30th birthday celebrations.

Visit our website to support us by joining Bookrapt for just $5 per year: https://bookraptnz.wordpress.com/about/join-bookrapt

Our authors and illustrators can be booked for individual school visits through Read NZ Te Pou Muramura.

Bookrapt Publications:
* Our First Twenty Years: The History of the Bay of Plenty Children’s Literature Association Inc., 1983 to 2003
* Our Second Twenty Years: Celebrating Forty Years of Bookrapt (1983-2023), The Bay of Plenty Children’s Literature Association

Whaowhia te Kete Mātauranga
Fill the basket of knowledge