Quiz: test your mothers-in-books knowledge
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…
Features
Book List: NZ books about war and pacifism
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…
School Librarians of Aotearoa: Kimberley
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 Kimberley Atkinson, is the second of our monthly spotlights on inspirational school librarians. I am the…
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. Tips and trends from around the world: Readings Books in Australia has a great blog…
Crafts with Fifi: NZ’s Great White Sharks
Never be stuck for something to do! Keep your hands and brain busy with glue, tape and scissors – and have crafty fun with Fifi! Would you put your finger in the mouth of a shark? No? Well, here’s a…
Victor Rodger & the dark humour of Struwwelpeter
Playwright and Victoria University Writer-in-Residence Victor Rodger describes the twisted humour and terrifying morality of his favourite childhood book, Struwwelpeter. If you ask me about the children’s book I most treasured during my childhood, there can and will only ever…
Dear John: Gender identity and stopping boredom
John McIntyre from The Children’s Bookshop in Wellington is a top children’s bookseller. He’s here once a month to answer your child-related reading questions. Dear John, My 11-year-old has just come out as a trans girl. I’d love to buy…
A short history of Storylines and its awards
Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust continues to play a significant part in boosting the children’s literature culture here in New Zealand. We asked Tessa Duder, beloved author and Storylines Trustee, to tell us how the Storylines Awards came about. When…
The reckoning: an argument for inclusiveness
There’s a book for every reader, and a time for every book. Mandy Hager explains why sometimes Great Literature isn’t what we need. In 1992 I went to the public library in hope that I might find some picture books…
Taking our Children’s Books to Bologna
UNESCO City of Literature Dunedin were offered an opportunity they couldn’t ignore: to bid to have a stand atthe Bologna Children’s Book Fair earlier this month. Ella West reports. Hall 26, stand B/76 bis – that was Dunedin UNESCO City…