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…
Features
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… Wellesley College will represent New Zealand at the World Kids’…
The Sampling: Pieces of You
An excerpt from Eileen Merriman’s Pieces of You, a Young Adult novel centred on Rebecca, a teen who is the victim of a sexual assault after a party in a city she has just moved to. This passage is from the moment that Becs meets the boy-next-door at a dinner party at her home.
Publishing in Pasifika languages
Most stories for New Zealand children are published in English and some in te reo Māori – but what if you want to read a story with your child in a Pasifika language? For decades Don Long has published educational…
Book List: The Dictator and The Picture Book
Children’s author, writing teacher and editor Raymond Huber is fascinated by the way in which children’s writers have used picture books historically to fight dictators. This is especially apt right now (ahem), so here are a few books he would…
Quiz: the faces of New Zealand picture books
You know their words, you know their pictures … but do you know their faces? Here are ten Kiwi picture book creators – how many do you recognise? 1. Who am I? A. Paul Beavis B. Zac Waipara C. Toby…
Vale Barbara Murison: Champion of Kids’ Lit
Barbara Murison, MNZM, was one of the most dedicated supporters of children’s literature in New Zealand for over 60 years. Through her career as a librarian, and as a reviewer and manuscript assessor, she was a wonderful person to have…
School Librarians of Aotearoa: Julia Smith
New Zealand’s school librarians are passionate, engaged professionals who know how to get students of all ages and reading levels into reading. This, by Julia Smith from Kerikeri High School is the third in our series. I am a qualified…
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. There have been heaps of cool interviews across the internet lately, like this one with…
Crafts with Fifi: That’s Not the Monster…
Never be stuck for something to do! Keep your hands and brain busy with glue, tape and scissors – and have crafty fun with Fifi! Not the monster you ordered? Make your own from the box it came in! A…