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Cornelia Funke to present award in Hawaii this April

Fantasy author Cornelia Funke, often called the German JK Rowling, can be found in Hawaii this April. On April 29, she will be a special guest at The Nene Award Ceremony where she will receive honour for her best-selling novel, Inkheart. The Nene Award is presented to the best fiction book, as voted on by the children of Hawaii in grades 4 through to 6. This year, a total of 6,587 students voted state-wide at public libraries, private and public schools.

The 2010 Nene Award Ceremony will be conducted at Kamehameha School’s Princess Ruth Keelikolani Auditorium on April 29 at 10 a.m. Invited students, librarians, and teachers will honour the winner. There will also be presentations by the winners of student contests celebrating Inkheart in persuasive essays, interpretive essays and posters.

Perma-Bound Books will donate a copy of the 2010 award-wining title to each participating public library or school.

Funke will also be making two public appearances at free events in Hawaii:

  • April 29, 3:30 p.m. Book-signing Event at Barnes & Noble-Kahala Mall
  • April 30, 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. “Meet the Author” program at Hawaii State Library; Edna Allyn Room for Children. Funke will conduct a reading and there will be a question-and-answer session. This program is suitable for ages 8 and older. Contact the Library two weeks in advance if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed. For more information, please call the Library’s Edna Allyn Room for Children at 586-3510.

The annual Nene Award is supported by the Hawaii State Public Library System and State Department of Education. Sponsors include the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Association of School Librarians, Hawaii Library Association, Perma-Bound Books, Scholastic Book Fairs, Barnes & Noble-Kahala Mall, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hawaiian Airlines, and Kamehameha Schools.

Cornelia Funke established herself with the Ghosthunters (Gespensterjäger) and Wild Chicks (Wild Hühner) series of books in her home country. Then, in 1996, the fantasy novel Dragon Rider saw her on the New York Times bestseller list for 78 weeks and brought her writing to an international audience.

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