Interviews

A trio of recent books to help anxious kids

Stories and books can be highly effective tools in helping children identify and manage tricky emotions. Sarah Forster and Nida Fiazi interview author-illustrators Laura Shallcrass, Kieran E. Scott, and Emma Pascoe on the topic of their latest releases: anxiety. Read…

The translation of The Whale Rider

In the year 1995, Te Kaieke Tohorā was published—the Māori translation of the book The Whale Rider. We all know that Witi Ihimaera wrote the original, but Sir Tīmoti Kāretu is the man behind the translation. For a long time,…

Patapatai: Te Whakamāori o Te Kaieke Tohorā

I te tau 1995, i whakaputahia Te Kaieke Tohorā, he whakamāori o te pukapuka The Whale Rider tēnei. Nā Witi Ihimaera i tuhi te pukapuka tūturu, ehara, ā, nā Tā Tīmoti Kāretu i whakamāori. Heoi anō, kāore i taea i…

Shilo Kino and The Porangi Boy

Cassie (J.C.) Hart (Kāi Tahu) met Shilo Kino (Ngāpuhi, Tainui) in July of 2018 as part of the Te Papa Tupu programme. They were gathered at their first mentorship hui with Huia and the Maori Literature Trust. Six nervous writers,…

The Mahy Questionnaire: Stacey Morrison

This month we have a very special Mahy Questionnaire to kick off our Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori coverage, from none other than champion Te Reo Māori advocate Stacey Morrison (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu). Stacey is a radio and…

The Mahy Questionnaire: Kathryn van Beek

Another month, another Mahy Questionnaire! This time we’re featuring successful playwright and award-winning author-illustrator Kathryn van Beek. Her most recent picture book Bruce Goes Outside, sequel to the much-loved Bruce Finds a Home, is out now! Read on to find…

Book Awards: The Non-Fiction Finalists

Simie interviewed five booksellers from around the motu about their favourite finalists in the Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction category in this year’s NZCYA Awards. Booksellers are the passionate people who are putting these books into the hands of the…

Jonathan King on The Inkberg Enigma

The latest curiously good Aotearoa title from Gecko Press is packed with mystery, evocative illustration and all kinds of goodness! The Inkberg Enigma, by Jonathan King, is out now – but before you rush out to buy a copy, you…

The Mahy Questionnaire: Sarah Wilkins

This month’s instalment of the Mahy Questionnaire features award-winning illustrator Sarah Wilkins! Sarah does editorial, educational, and promotional art in addition to illustrating children’s books. Her most recent picture book, the beautiful Abigail and the Restless RaiMatndrop, is out now!…

Matthew Cunningham and Susan Brocker

Children’s authors Matthew Cunningham and Susan Brocker caught up over email to talk story ideas, inspiration, and wrangling animals in text. Matthew is the author of the Abigail series, the most recent of which is Abigail and the Restless Raindrop…