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Reviewing Mr Postmouse, the Dedicated Postie

Here Comes Mr Postmouse and Postmouse Goes on Holiday are charming creations from French-Canadian Marianne Dubuc, translated by Greet Pauwelijn. Book Island were based on the Kapiti Coast, but are now based in Brighton, UK. In Here Comes Mr Postmouse,…

Across the ditch: an interview with Sally Rippin

Sally Rippin is one of the Big Names in Australian children’s books. Christchurch librarian Zac McCallum interviewed her to celebrate the launch of her newest junior fiction series, Polly and Buster. It’s about a secret friendship in a world where…

Publishing in Pasifika languages

Most stories for New Zealand children are published in English and some in te reo Māori – but what if you want to read a story with your child in a Pasifika language? For decades Don Long has published educational…

In conversation with Lauren Child, extraordinaire

Lily Max author Jane Bloomfield caught up with UK author/illustrator Lauren Child during the recent Auckland Writers Festival. We captured some of their fascinating whirlwind conversation here, learning about inspiration, thrillers, sunglasses and Seventies childhoods. I expected to feel incredibly…

Book List: The Dictator and The Picture Book

Children’s author, writing teacher and editor Raymond Huber is fascinated by the way in which children’s writers have used picture books historically to fight dictators. This is especially apt right now (ahem), so here are a few books he would…

Quiz: the faces of New Zealand picture books

You know their words, you know their pictures … but do you know their faces? Here are ten Kiwi picture book creators – how many do you recognise? 1. Who am I? A. Paul Beavis B. Zac Waipara C. Toby…

Vale Barbara Murison: Champion of Kids’ Lit

Barbara Murison, MNZM, was one of the most dedicated supporters of children’s literature in New Zealand for over 60 years. Through her career as a librarian, and as a reviewer and manuscript assessor, she was a wonderful person to have…

School Librarians of Aotearoa: Julia Smith

New Zealand’s school librarians are passionate, engaged professionals who know how to get students of all ages and reading levels into reading. This, by Julia Smith from Kerikeri High School is the third in our series. I am a qualified…

Ka Pai! Cool stuff from around the internet

Every two weeks we compile, for your browsing pleasure, cool children’s book happenings (and peripherally related news) from around Aotearoa, the world and the internet. There have been heaps of cool interviews across the internet lately, like this one with…

Crafts with Fifi: That’s Not the Monster…

Never be stuck for something to do! Keep your hands and brain busy with glue, tape and scissors – and have crafty fun with Fifi! Not the monster you ordered? Make your own from the box it came in! A…