Features

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 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…

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…

The Mahy Questionnaire: Donovan Bixley

You know it, you love it – it’s the Mahy Questionnaire! This month we are featuring the prolific Donovan Bixley. Bixley, along with Darryn Joseph and Keri Opai was shortlisted for the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for…

How can Reo thrive in English-medium schools?

New research on teaching Māori language in English-medium schools could make a huge impact on how te reo Māori is delivered in New Zealand classrooms. For Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, Kura Rutherford reflects on the research, and asks…

Amanda Noblett: An Interview by Alphabet

Amanda Noblett (Tainui, Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pākehā) plays the kuia in Te Kuia me te Pūngāwerewere, Taki Rua Productions’ Te Reo Māori Season play that is touring the country at the moment. Guest editor Kura Rutherford caught up with…

THE SAMPLING: Te Rātaka a Tama Hūngoingoi

‘He kino ra te noho a te tamariki. Ko Greg Heffley tetahi e mohio pai ana ki tenei.’ Te Rātaka a Tama Hūngoingoi is the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, translated into te reo Māori.