The Sapling

Book Awards: the illustration finalists

This year’s NZCYA Awards coverage kicks off with the Russell Clark Award for Illustration Award finalists! We have some exclusive insights into the process of illustrating each book, including working sketches, storyboards, decadent interior spreads, and even a photograph of…

The finalists of the NZ kids’ book awards are…

The annual New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are a highly anticipated part of the Aotearoa literary calendar, for folks of all ages who have a passion for books for young people. They acknowledge excellence in writing,…

THE SAMPLING: Teine Sāmoa

Manuia le Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa 2020 – Happy Samoa Language Week 2020! Today we have an extract from Teine Sāmoa, by Dahlia Malaeulu, a new collection of short stories.

Book Quiz: Pukapuka & Pasifika

How well do you know your books of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa? Here’s a classic Sapling multiple-choice quiz to get you scratching your heads and inevitably adding to your to-read pile! Test yourself, share with a friend, and let us know on…

THE SAMPLING: Katipo Joe—Blitzkreig

Brian Falkner is the author of over a dozen books for teens and younger readers, published in New Zealand, Australia, the US and the UK. Enjoy this extract from his latest book, first in a series, Katipo Joe: Blitzkreig.

Book Quiz: Old Books, New Illustrations

Some beautiful new picture books that have hit shelves in recent years have had roots of an older vintage. So our latest quiz challenges you to pick the illustrator of the reissues of eight Kiwi books. We’ve included the covers…

Storylines Manuscript Award Finalists 2020

The NZ book awards season has really kicked off in earnest today, but alongside the grown-up awards (The Ockhams) generating a lot of talkonline, it’s also the day that both the Storyline Notable Books 2020 and the Storylines manuscript award…

THE SAMPLING: A Trio of Sophies

Eileen Merriman has been a constant fixture in the Aotearoa YA scene since the 2017 release of her debut, Pieces of You. Each of her books has taken an unflinching approach towards teenage lives and their associated challenges and issues.

Book Quiz: Te Tiriti o Waitangi | The Treaty

Aotearoa marked the 180th anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi yesterday – so our quiz today looks through some of the different books for young people focused on Te Tiriti and Waitangi Day. Test…

THE SAMPLING: If Only

Hawke’s Bay author, reviewer and bookseller Adele Broadbent is back with a new title for a young adult audience.