Features

The Reckoning: The colour of culture

Children’s book author and designer Vasanti Unka reckons that we could do better with our use of the colours from our multicultural surrounds. We have the world at our fingertips – so why aren’t we using it? Vasanti’s new book…

Book Awards: The Non-fiction Finalists

As part of our coverage of this year’s NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, we’ve asked the publishers of the non-fiction finalists to explain why that manuscript, that idea caught their imaginations. Their responses are compelling and passionate,…

Book Quiz: The 2018 children's book awards

This year’s NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults winners will be announced on 8 August. Before that, we thought we’d test your knowledge of the shortlisted books. Each answer is the title of one of this year’s finalists. Good luck! Answers…

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’.

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…

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…

THE SAMPLING: A Kiwi book about bullying

Only Freaks Turn Things Into Bones by Steff Green and illustrated by artist Bree Roldan, is a picture book about bullying and a cute grim reaper, who doesn’t have any friends because all the kids are afraid of him. Its creators are currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter to raise money to publish the book.

Book Awards: the illustration finalists

As part of our finalist coverage of this year’s NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, we have some exclusive insights into the process of each of the five Russell Clark Award for Illustration Award finalists. They’ve given us…