This month, Kay Benseman and her niece and nephews are reviewing four recently published books, including translations of older English editions and a bilingual book, too. From Tauranga Moana, Hinengākau Cameron is 12 years old, her tungāne, Te Kaponga and…
Whiti Hereaka has combined science fiction and World War I in her new YA title, Legacy. You read the excerpt last week, now 15-year-old Kimihia Garcia-Grace tells us his thoughts on the novel, launched at the 2018 National Writers Festival….
It seems to impossible to think of a New Zealand childhood without certain things: jandals, gumboots, lolly cake and of course, Lynley Dodd. Two of her newest titles are reviewed here by Simie Simpson, alongside Little Hector and the Big…
Sarah Forster reviews of two new junior fiction titles for kids pitched into that tricky junior / middle fiction reading divide. With child-friendly themes and page-turning storylines, both titles are easy to recommend. Dear Professor Whale, by Megumi Iwasa, Illustrations…
Here are reviews of two new picture books that couldn’t be more different! One’s a whimsical story about refugees; the other’s a funky, funny book for new babies. What did our editor and reviewer Jane think of them? Read on….
Editor and co-founder Sarah Forster shares her thoughts on another exciting batch of Kiwi picture books featuring some well-intentioned letters to Donald Trump, anthromorphised girl boss penguins, and a divisive depiction of anxiety. Dear Donald Trump, by Sophie Siers and…
Three books are finalists for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults Te Kura Pounamu category, celebrating the best books in te reo Māori. Reviewing each of them for us is former teacher, gallery educator, librarian and…
Split consciousness features in very different ways in these two wonderful junior fiction titles for opposite ends of the audience age group. Sarah Forster tells us what she thinks. Between, by Adele Broadbent (OneTree House) Between had me under its…
Author and former bookshop owner Annemarie Florian tells us about three quite different recent releases, from New Zealand and further afield. The Day War Came, by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb (Walker Books) War – modern warfare – is…
Reviewing three new picture books in te reo Māori today is former teacher, gallery educator, librarian and student, Kay Benseman, along with her irāmutu. To balance my perspective as an adult second language learner, my clever irāmutu (niece and nephews)…