The Reckoning: Kids’ Book Reviewing in NZ
David Hill explains the pain required to gain in the wild world of book reviewing, and offers his reckons about how we could do it better – and why we should. I had an email a while back, disapproving of…
Features
Dear John: Rugby and astronomical fiction
John McIntyre from The Children’s Bookshop in Wellington was here once a month to answer your child-related reading questions. He was a top children’s bookseller until his death earlier this month. This is his final column. Dear John, My 12-year-old…
Crafts with Fifi: Flying Furballs Bi-Plane
Never be stuck for something to do! Keep your hands and brain busy with glue, tape and scissors – and have crafty fun with Fifi! Flying Furballs is Donovan Bixley’s airborne adventure series which pitches cats against DOGZ. This craft…
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. Cool stuff from New Zealand… An amazing kids’ lit festival is happening soon in Upper…
Fairytale Romance: Disneyland mag
Award-winning fiction (for grown-ups) writer Pip Adam recalls her earliest introductions to story through television and magazines, and resurrects the magic of 1970s Disney. As a kid I loved TV. I lived for it. I often say there weren’t many…
Farewell, Dear John: we miss you already
Like the rest of the New Zealand children’s book community, The Sapling has been rocked by the news that our hero John McIntyre passed away at the weekend. Editors Jane and Sarah wanted to share a few words in respect…
The Value of Educational Publishing
Alex Collins from Lift Publishing reflects on the value that Educational Publishing has to New Zealand’s curriculum, and explains why ‘teachers need access to rich materials that value local knowledge and ensure that students’ learning is relevant and meaningful.’ It…
The finalists of the NZ kids’ book awards are…
The NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are a unique celebration of the contribution New Zealand’s children’s authors and illustrators make to building national identity and cultural heritage. Awards in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and…
The Giselle Clarkson Comic: Number 4
Our illustrator Giselle Clarkson continues her attempts to cling to childhood innocence. This time, she delves into the deep, dark depths of another Judith Kerr classic, The Tiger Who Came to Tea.
Book List: Classics of past book awards
What makes a book last? What makes it win? I try to figure this out, as a judge of the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults this year, revisiting 15 books that won the top awards and have…