Masterton shop shares in $100k grant

GOOD READING: David Hedley, from Hedley's Booksellers, has received a grant to put towards employing a "Children's Book Ambassador". PHOTO/FILE

A grant from a best-selling author is helping a Masterton bookseller continue his father's work, encouraging a love of books in children.

Hedley's Booksellers has received a $4000 grant from US author James Patterson to put towards establishing a "Children's Book Ambassador", who will work with schools to "put the cool back into reading printed books".

Hundreds of applications were received from Australian and New Zealand bookstores, with Hedley's just one of four Kiwi booksellers to receive a share of the $100,000 available.

Owner David Hedley plans to put the funds towards a long-term project to employ a part-time book ambassador, who will encourage children to read printed books.

Mr Hedley said his father, Alex Hedley, had always believed in the importance of reading at a young age, visiting playcentres, schools and kindergartens to talk about the importance of books. In some ways, Mr Hedley was picking up the "baton" from his father.

"It was always a big part of his whole philosophy. Children's books were always important to him and those principles still apply today.

"The skills that come from reading the printed book are quite a different experience and it would be tragic if children didn't get to have that experience. And if we can have somebody out there to espouse that philosophy, that may help."

The grant would act as a "kick-start" for the project, Mr Hedley said.

"It's a great incentive to get on and do it."

Mr Patterson had described their plan as "innovative and pretty extraordinary", Mr Hedley said.

"It's really nice to be recognised as being innovative in this area on an Australasian basis."

It was hoped a person to fill the role of ambassador would be found by the end of the year.

Wardini Books in Havelock North, Paper Plus Northlands and The Children's Bookshop in Wellington were among the other New Zealand bookstores to receive a share of the funding.