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Book Quiz: Food in New Zealand Picture Books

How well do you remember the tasty morsels in the illustrations of your favourite picture books? See if you can get 12/12 in our food quiz! Test yourself, share with a friend, and let us know on Facebook or Twitter…

Book Reviews: Lively New Books for Young Readers

When the review titles arrived this month, my kids called me the Book Queen and hugged the pages to their chests, eyes wide, already imagining what was inside. Book Queen? I said, I am the Queen of all the world…

Book List: Which New Zealand Nature Guide?

Do you know any kids who love to explore and discover? Nature lover and environmental educator Linda Jane Keegan gives a rundown of New Zealand native species identification guides and other non-fiction nature books. When I was a kid, I…

THE SAMPLING: Wynter’s Thief

We’re delighted to share our latest Sampling with you – a brand new fantastical young adult novel from the beloved Sherryl Jordan, published by OneTree House. Our extract from Wynter’s Thief starts right at the beginning of the story, drawing you in with a bang.

School Librarian of Aotearoa: Esther Casey

For this month’s School Librarian of Aotearoa, we are delighted to introduce Esther Casey, who teaches in Te Puna Ngoi, the library at Sylvia Park School. She is a lover of beautiful books, and believes all students should have access…

Book Reviews: The Latest in NZ Non-Fiction

It isn’t news to anyone that Aotearoa is currently marking a significant anniversary, as we pass the 250 years since James Cook circumnavigated this country’s islands in the H.M.B. Endeavour. Some see it as a cause for celebration, others commemoration,…

Adventuring with Tupaia: A chat with Mat Tait

One of the titles released in the wake of the 250th anniversary commemorations of Cook’s arrival in Aotearoa is The Adventures of Tupaia – a riveting read that does a great deal of storytelling through its illustrations. Becky Popham talked…

The publishing journey: From thoughts to pages

The Sapling’s own co-editor Thalia Kehoe Rowden has just had her first picture book published by Scholastic – Rugby 1 2 3 / Whutupōro Tahi Rua Toru, a rollicking rhyming and counting tale set in and around a classic kiwi…

Book List: NZ-focused young reader novels

In response to a request The Sapling put out on Twitter, teacher and author Sarina Dickson has compiled this wonderful list of New Zealand titles for those young readers who have finished Harry Potter and are reading above their age…

Book Reviews: New Picture Books from Aotearoa

Here’s the latest in exciting new picture books here in Aotearoa, reviewed by Nida Fiazi – including the debut picture book from The Sapling’s very own co-editor Thalia Kehoe Rowden. There’s tries to score, oceans to clean up, voices to find…