The Sapling

2023 Notable Books Quiz

Last week, Storylines announced their annual list of Notable Books for 2023, comprising over 50 pukapuka across five genres that have been published in the past year. How well do you know this year’s list? Take our quiz to find…

The Sampling: Reo Pēpi Bilingual Colouring Book

Acclaimed author/cousin duo Kitty and Kirsten are back with another addition to their Reo Pēpi books! Their Bilingual Colouring Book is jam-packed with illustrations of native flora and fauna (more than 60+ pages) AND includes over 30 stickers! Check out…

The Sampling: Caged

By Susan Brocker Check out the following excerpts from Susan Brocker’s latest: a gripping YA tale following 14-year-old Sam who struggles with homelessness and finds herself involved in crime. Pick up the book if you’re curious to discover how she…

The Sampling: When Life Sucks

By Dr Jo Prendergast This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 18-24 September. This week, our content is focused on mental health, and we’re kicking off with an extract from psychiatrist and comedian Dr Jo Prendergast’s new book, When…

Te Wiki o te reo Māori: Pukapuka reo Māori

There are more and more children’s pukapuka being translated into te reo Māori all the time, and we love seeing them! In honour of Te Wiki o te reo Māori, here is another lot of reo Māori books for your…

The Sampling: Tuahangata tae e whā

Nā Richard Fairgray Nā Komako A. Silver and Alejandra Jensen i whakamāori Richard Fairgray’s Four-Color Heroes (Fanbase Press) is now also available digitally in te reo Māori! You can find it on Hoopla (from 11 September), Comics Plus, Google Books,…

From the Shop Floor: Lamplight Books

Parnell bookstore Lamplight Books was recently crowned Bookshop of the Year at the Aotearoa Book Trade Industry Awards. We asked Melanie and Courtney to give us the inside scoop on their business, what they’re recommending this month, and more! Give…

The Sampling: There’s a King in the Cupboard

By Margaret Mahy Margaret Mahy’s classic is given a new lease of life with this new edition of the book, beautifully illustrated by the 2021 winner of the Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize, Minrui Yang. Check out an excerpt below! There’s…

PANZ Book Design Awards Finalists 2023: Children’s Books

Design is a huge part of what makes good books even better. Design is not just about looking pretty; it’s about guiding the reader’s eye, drawing attention to key features, making text readable, digestible, and accessible. Good design is almost…

2023 NZCYA Best First Book Award Finalists

It’s the penultimate instalment in our coverage of each category in the NZCYA Awards, and today we’re focusing on the finalists in the Best First Book Award category! Hear from the authors below as they tell us about their writing…