Gillian Candler argues for more recognition of the importance of New Zealand non-fiction books for children, while at the same time wishing there was another term to describe these bound paper receptacles of creativity, serendipity and juicy, rich morsels. I…
To celebrate the publication of My Meerkat Mum (her 15th picture book), Ruth Paul reflects on the childhood stories and antics that turned her into a grown-up reader, writer and illustrator. Once I won a prize. My sister forced me…
We are fascinated by the phenomenon of the Kids’ Lit Quiz™, so we asked National Library Services to Schools Facilitator in Northland Jeannie Skinner to take us back to school with Quizmaster Wayne Mills. Late March, and it’s time for…
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. We’ve seen some great content featuring children’s books in the NZ media over the past…
Penny Scown, the Senior Editor at Scholastic NZ, takes us behind the scenes in the publishing process of Tāwhirimātea, A Song for Matariki, a new dual-language picture book (with CD) by June Pitman-Hayes, Kat Merewether and Ngaere Roberts. This story…
This month, our illustrator takes on generational politics and the housing crisis, and comes up with a viable scapegoat …
An excerpt from James Norcliffe’s Twice Upon a Time, a Junior Fiction novel about Ginny’s search for her Pop. It is full of quirky, inventive characters, chief among them Digger Dagger, whom Ginny encounters for the second time below.
Nina Powles remembers the thrill of being scared by stories as a child, and not quite believing in ghosts but not not believing either … Remember Scooby Doo, I Spy, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and Goosebumps? I spy a…
Test your children’s book knowledge every month! Here’s a quiz to get you in the Mothers Day spirit ahead of 14 May. Answers are at the bottom of the page. Good luck… 1. In which Neil Gaiman book does the…
Anzac Day brings with it a fever pitch of publishing of war books for both children and adults. This has been especially true during the centenary commemorations of World War I. People are horrified by war, but also fascinated, and…