Books for Babes

Famous Kiwis donate their favourite children’s books to charity

Well known New Zealanders, from Tim Shadbolt to Troy Flavell, are helping build stronger families by donating their favourite children’s books for an online charity auction.

The November auction will raise funds for the Books for Babes Trust.  The Trust is celebrating ten years of giving books to families that have limited access to books, with the aim of helping parents bond with their newborn babies.

Hillary Barry, Brendon Pongia, Tim Shadbolt, Leah Panapa, The Edge Morning Madhouse, Spacifix, Troy Flavell and Suzanne Paul are amongst those who have donated books to promote child literacy and family bonding.

Books will be posted on Trade Me for auction on Monday, 12 November. The auction will run for one week.

The books received so far include old favourites like 'Dr Seuss', 'The Faraway Tree', 'Dr Dog' and 'The Christmas Caravan', all signed by their celebrity donors.

Carol Scholes, Development executive for the Books for Babes Trust, says she is delighted with the support received so far.

 “We have been operating successfully in Auckland City for ten years; and the money raised from the auction will help Books for Babes expand our valuable programme to the rest of New Zealand,” she says.

Working with Plunket nurses and community health professionals, Books for Babes distributes over 450 books each month to babies in the Auckland area between the ages of five and fifteen months.

To find out more about the Books for Babes Trust or to donate, visit www.booksforbabes.org.nz.