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Book Awards: the Young Adult finalists

As part of our coverage of this year’s NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, we asked the five finalists of the Copyright Licensing NZ Award for Young Adult Fiction to interview each other. Here’s Erin Donohue, Eileen Merriman, Cally…

Emma Neale: The Books My Kids Are Reading

Emma Neale is a Dunedin-based poet, novelist, and recently appointed editor of the esteemed New Zealand literary journal, Landfall, which has been running for over 70 years. She tells us, hilariously and poignantly, about the books her two sons are…

THE SAMPLING: The Mapmakers’ Race

We’re pleased to present an excerpt from The Mapmakers’ Race (Gecko Press), a new novel by Eirlys Hunter and illustrated by Kirsten Slade. Kate De Goldi says the book is ‘one of the most poised, stylish children’s books [she has] read in a long time … An utter delight’.

Book Reviews: Three new picture books

Author and former bookshop owner Annemarie Florian tells us about three quite different recent releases, from New Zealand and further afield. The Day War Came, by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb (Walker Books) War – modern warfare – is…

A Day in the Life: Illustrator Kirsten Slade

Kirsten Slade is the illustrator of the new kids’ novel by Eirlys Hunter, The Mapmakers’ Race (Gecko Press). Here she tells us – in words and pictures – about her daily creative routine, which includes something resembling a scene from…

Book List: Picture Books about Death and Grief

Whāngārei specialist children’s librarian Meredith Wightman gives us a peek into her notebook today, and gives us a list of picture books that can help children ponder and process death, dying and grief. Last week I was flicking through my…

Book Quiz: Sport, sport, sport, sport and sport

As World Cup Fever sweeps, well, some of the nation, how well do you know your Aotearoa sporty books? Test yourself, share with a friend, and let us know on Facebook or Twitter how you do! 1. In Tessa Duder’s…

A sound in my mind: translator Ngaere Roberts

Ngaere Roberts (Ngāti Porou) is one of our most prolific translators of children’s books into te reo Māori, having translated work from the likes of Joy Cowley, Gavin Bishop and Ruth Paul. Today Vini Olsen-Reeder chats to Ngaere about her…

He oro hinengaro: Ngaere Roberts me tona ao tuhi

He mātanga, he atamai a Ngaere Roberts (Ngāti Porou) ki te whakamāori i ngā pukapuka mō te nohinohi, kua oti i a ia ngā pukapuka a te momo i a Joy Cowley mā, i a Gavin Bishop mā, i a…

School Librarians of Aotearoa: Marama Keyte

Marama Keyte is the school librarian at Kamo Primary School in Whangarei. She has been a school librarian for five years, after many years in public libraries prior to having children. Why I am a librarian I work at the…