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From the Shop Floor: Diversity Books

Sarai Tuhua founded Diversity Books in 2023, an online bookstore dedicated to stocking stories that uphold inclusion and celebrate diversity. In our first From the Shop Floor segment of the year, Sarai gives us the rundown on her shop’s kaupapa,…

Reviews: Four New Picture Book Releases

Annelies Judson shares her thoughts on four very different—but equally vibrant—picture books to hit the shelves. The Littlest Lifeguard, by Vanessa Hatley-Owen, illustrated by Lisa Allen The Littlest Lifeguard is a lighthearted look at how the smallest of us can…

The Sampling: Iris and Me

By Philippa Werry The Sapling is running a Summer Excerpt Series showcasing the junior and young adult titles from the 2023 Storylines Notable Book Awards. As well as being a Notable Book, Iris and Me was the Young Adult Fiction winner in the…

Reviews: Two Aotearoa History Books

Frank Wilson is an initial education lecturer at Te Herenga Waka and works for the Aotearoa Social Studies Educators’ Network. Here she explores two new Aotearoa histories texts through the lens of a critical literacy framework in light of the…

Interview: Gavin Bishop on Patu

With his latest book, Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngāti Awa) delivers a powerful tale of the New Zealand Wars and the painful history of colonisation in Aotearoa. Simie Simpson (Te Ati Awa) talks with Gavin about Patu and how it came…

Book List: Inspiration for Bug of the Year

This is the second year of New Zealand Bug of the Year. Step aside, Bird of the Year, the Entomological Society of New Zealand is keen to get our nation more interested in the lesser known heroes of our environment….

The Sampling: Pipi and Pou and the Tentacles of the Deep (#3)

Written by Tim Tipene and illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White The Sapling is running a Summer Excerpt Series showcasing the junior and young adult titles from the 2023 Storylines Notable Book Awards. Here is a short but tantalising snippet from Pipi and…

The Sampling: The Sparrow

By Tessa Duder The Sapling is running a Summer Excerpt Series showcasing the junior and young adult titles from the 2023 Storylines Notable Book Awards. This week we have the first chapter from Tessa Duder’s The Sparrow. Hannah Marshall put some questions to…

The Giselle Clarkson Comic: Number 40

The Giselle Clarkson Comic has reached its fortieth post and what better way to celebrate than by giving someone a book. That you inscribed, maybe even in pen, with a personal message. Do you dare?

The Sampling: Flying and Falling

By Lynda Tomalin This installment of our Summer Excerpt Series showcasing the junior and young adult titles from the 2023 Storylines Notable Book Awards features a snippet from Lynda Tomalin’s latest book, Flying and Falling—a touching YA romance that centres teen…