Bio about Room 2 at Wainui Beach School
Wainui Beach School is across the road from Wainui Beach in Gisborne. In Room 2 we have 28 kids. We are a mixed Year 5 & 6 class of girls and boys. In Room 2 we like to be individual and have the freedom to travel our own learning paths. We are sporty, like the challenge of learning that allows us to work towards our potential. Learning is important to us and we really like having lots of fun and having time to laugh with each other. Room 2 kids are respectful, responsible and kind – we are the best.
Written by Cruz and Adrienne
Bill Nagelkerke
Bill Nagelkerke is an author who was born in 1958 in Wellington, New Zealand. He grew up reading lots of books and has said that as a child books were his friends. This love of books has lead to him working as a librarian, and an author who has written his own poems, several stories, and plays in school journals that we have read at school. He has also published his own books and translated books from Dutch into English.
Written by Yula, Cruz and Ava
The Interview:
How do you get the ideas to write books that kids will like? Who inspires you to write and why? (Sophie and Ella)
Ideas are everywhere.
They come
from earth and fire
water, air
from life
from dreams
from things that are
from things that seem
from light and dark
from night and day
from people met along the way.
Everywhere . . .
Ideas.
Why do you translate books from other languages? You were born in NZ – how/where did you learn to speak, read and write the Dutch language and be so good that you can translate books? (Jack K)
When I was very young
My Dad and Mum
Spoke Dutch to me, and so
I grew to know
The pathways of the language.
Eight years ago
I read a lot of books
In Dutch
(I was a competition judge).
They helped improve my navigation skills.
My parents came here
On a track
Through sea and ocean.
Translating books is like
Making
The journey back.
How old were you when you wrote your first story or poem that was published? What made you decide to have a career as an author? (Georgia)
I’ve always loved to read
All kinds of stories.
And writers must,
In order to be writers,
Be readers
First
Published story
Was at age sixteen, printed
In a local paper.
It wasn’t very good
But made me want to carry on
To be a writer
You must write.
You have won a few awards for your writing. How does this make you feel and why? (Finn & Tigher)
Awards are like the icing on a cake,
And the cake itself.
Lush rewards, both
Tasting great.
But then you get right back to work,
On a diet of
Vegetables, protein
And carbohydrate.
What is the worst thing about being a writer? (Louis)
Sometimes writing is hard labour.
You go cross-eyed looking at a screen,
Or piece of paper.
You sit so long
Your legs scream out:
‘Take us for a walk!’
Do you have a favourite poem that you have written? Why is it your favourite? Who is your favourite poem writer – why? (Jovan)
I always hope
the next poem that I write
will be my best
and it will be the one
that does not fade
like that line of Andrew Marvell’s
(1621-1678)
his:
green thought
in a green shade
What a fabulous interview Room 2 and Bill. Room 2: I love the way you shared the jobs round and all did different things. You must have a very inspiring teacher. I loved the artist’s impression of the author and the photos of you at the beach being inspired to write your poems. I am very excited I am going to meet you all on the Hot Spot Poetry Tour. And I Ioved the way Bill made his answers into little poems. It was a treat to read and share this indeed! Thank you! Bill has five delicious poems in A Treasury of NZ Poems for Children.
