Reviews

Book Reviews: Picture Books with heart

Whether you feel small, displaced or concerned about the environment, there are some wonderfully uplifting books coming for October. Traverse the universe and our natural environment with Becky Popham as she reports back on these fabulous picture books. Little Hector…

Book Reviews: Two New Young Adult Titles

This spring season has brought forth some fantastic new titles, and these two YA novels are no exception! Read on to find out what Sarah Forster thinks about Lisette Prendè’s latest, Bianca de Lumière, and Dan Salmon’s unexpectedly timely YA…

Book Reviews: New Picture books from Aotearoa

Detective hounds, free-range hens, grumbling toddlers, an ode to bugs and an adventure-filled fairytale. There’s an abundance of love, acceptance, friendship, parties, tantrums and surprises in these new picture books from Aotearoa. Hound the Detective by Kimberly Andrews (Puffin) Hound…

Book Reviews: Te Reo Māori Picture Books

In this wonderful batch of reviews, there are books with two different interpretations of the feats and antics of Māui-tikitiki-a-Taranga, a bedtime-shirking pīpī kiwi and a blanket filled with memories. Nā Mihi Henare, tētahi kaiāwhina i Te Puna Reo o…

Book Reviews: Junior and Middle Fiction

Reviewer and author Melinda Szymanik has reviewed a group of Aotearoa junior and middle fiction, with some highly illustrated titles mixing with some harder-to-read stories for the upper end of the age group. Flying Furballs: Nine Lives written and illustrated…

Book Reviews: Non-fiction books from Aotearoa

Reviewer Rachel Moore goes on a journey into her backyard, before shooting into space, then coming back to New Zealand for a history lesson of the canine kind. The Nature Activity Book by Rachel Haydon and Pippa Keel (Te Papa…

Book Reviews: New Picture books from Aotearoa

Here’s the latest in brilliant Kiwi picture books, reviewed by co-founder Jane Arthur. Whether you’re looking to learn about your place in the world, wanting to discuss love in all its shapes and forms, or lose track of time with…

Book Reviews: Top-Notch Junior Fiction

It’s a good time to be curling up somewhere cosy at home with a good book. For the eight to twelves in your life, there are some brilliant new releases to look into. Sarah Forster has reviewed four new titles…

Book Reviews: Brilliant Picture Books

To kick the month off right, we’ve got four wonderful books from New Zealand publishers, with everything from a parable on bravery, to some unlikely housemates, an unlikely friendship, and a soothing book for bedtime. All reviewed by the incomparable…

Book Awards: The Reo Māori Finalists

Our coverage of the category finalists continues with reviews from a couple of talented tamariki. Elliah and Hineraukura have provided their thoughts on the finalists for the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for Te Reo Māori, both in…