In Week 7 of Term 2, we will be hosting an Author’s Visit for our Rimu children. The author is Petra Kotrotsos whose picture book is I’d Rather Be a Fairy Princess. 

Petra’s book is a story she wrote at age 7 about living with cancer, which was published as a picture book last year by Mākaro Press. Christina Irini Arathimos is the illustrator. The book made a splash in the media when it was launched because it is unusual for a child to write about having cancer and then have it published. The Hospital Foundation donated $5,000 towards the printing of the book. 

I’d Rather Be a Fairy Princess combines childhood dreams with medical fact and more than a touch of magic. The perfect way to help children with cancer and their families deal with the fight ahead of them. Petra also hopes it will help children without cancer to develop empathy for friends and classmates facing a cancer diagnosis or other serious illness. Petra visits primary schools in Wellington to share her story with children aged 5–10 years, as well as working with groups of young writers of any age. 

Petra attends the visit with her mother, auntie or publisher. Her presentation involves talking about the writing of her book, reading it to the children, answering questions and a follow-up activity. Petra has been prepared by the Child Cancer Foundation to answer the questions and curiosities that the children will have. 

We are excited about Petra visiting our Rimu children, and believe it will be a natural link to our Term 1 Inquiry “Is there a friend in me”. Most of the children will be familiar with the book as it has been read to them in class. Petra and her team wish to assure you that the children will gain an enormous amount from her visit, as do we.