Interviews

Interviewing the legendary Paul Jennings

Paul Jennings is a legend of Australian children’s literature. He burst onto the literary scene in 1985 with his first anthology of short stories featuring weird, spooky and humorous tales with a twist, and never looked back. He has countless…

Sherryl Jordan: The Deep Quiet Pools of the Mind

In an interview with writer Sherryl Jordan as her two most recent works are published, Catherine Woulfe gets to the heart of what makes her work taonga. I’m at a kid’s birthday party at McDonald’s and comprehensively hating it –…

From the Shop Floor: VOLUME, Nelson

We are pleased to present a regular monthly series highlighting the work, expertise and enthusiasm of some of the greatest children’s booksellers of New Zealand. Here’s a relative newcomer, Nelson’s très chic VOLUME, which won the coveted title of Nielsen…

Whale Mountains, Red Toy Carts, & Letters From Nan

As part of celebrations for Māori Language Week, Vini Olsen-Reeder chats with his relation Hinemārie Burton about co-writing their first book together. Ngā Maunga Tohorā: The Whale Mountains is a children’s book wrapped in identity, language and local Tauranga history….

From sky to land: reading promises to our tamariki

Whenua Taurangi (Promised Land) is a story celebrating the love shared between cultural backgrounds, different socioeconomic situations and members of the LGBTQ community. In this bilingual interview, guest editor for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Vini Olsen-Reeder, chats to…

Karena Kelly: te ataahua o te rima meneti

He mātanga reo. He kaiako. He kaituhi. He māmā. Hei tautoko i Te Wiki o te reo Māori 2018 kua whakarae atu tātou ki Te Hiku o te Ika, ki a Tākuta Karena Kelly (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine). I ēnei marama…

From the Shop Floor: Time Out Bookstore

We are pleased to present a regular monthly series highlighting the work, expertise and enthusiasm of some of the greatest children’s booksellers of New Zealand. Here’s the multi-award-winning Time Out Bookstore in Mt Eden Village, Auckland. Situated in the heart…

Illustrators Robyn Belton and Jenny Cooper Talk

We present an interview between Robyn Belton and Jenny Cooper, on the subject of illustrating war stories, technology, (or the lack of it) and the misbehaviour of watercolour. Based loosely on their recently published World War I books: The ANZAC…

Melanie Drewery and the return of Nanny Mihi

Melanie Drewery has produced a multitude of books over the last two decades aimed at delivering te reo Māori and tikanga Māori in a gentle and positive way. Navana Matthews spoke to Melanie about the return of Nanny Mihi. See…

Melanie Drewery me te hokinga mai a Nanny Mihi

E hia kē nei ngā pukapuka i tuhi ai a Melanie Drewery i ēnei rua tekau tau. Ko te whāinga o ēnei pukapuka kia Rongo rawa te taki i te reo Māori me ngā tikanga Māori mā ngā tamariki. Navana…