Reviews

Reviews: Two Junior Fiction Stories

Join Fiona Giles as she unpacks the third and fourth instalments of Tim Tipene’s Pipi & Pou series in this latest batch of junior fiction reviews. Pipi & Pou and the Tentacles of the Deep (Pipi & Pou #3) &…

Reviews: Two New Junior Fiction Titles

Leila Austin reviews two new junior fiction titles with a strong sense of place. Rarotonga (#4 Elastic Island Adventures), by Karen McMillan The Elastic Island series follows the adventures of Kiri, Jed, Emma and Ethan, who travel via an ‘elastic’…

Reviews: Three Picture Books

Summer’s coming, and so are the school holidays. But don’t fret, Carly Thomas has you sorted with this latest batch of picture book reviews, all featuring the beach and seaside activities to do/reminisce about with your little ones! Daisy McCray…

Reviews: Three New Junior Fiction Releases

Claudine Tapsell brings us this latest batch of junior fiction reviews, featuring a splendid standalone novel, a gripping sequel, and the finale to a (locally and internationally) well-loved series! Read on to see what she had to say about them….

Reviews: Six Non-Fiction Nature Books

Sapling editor and self-confessed nature nerd, Linda Jane Keegan, reviews an amazing selection of books about the world around us. Look up close at tiny creatures from land to sea, to far, far away into the night sky. These would…

Reviews: Two Junior Fiction Books

Kay Morfett reviews two very different, yet equally intriguing, additions to Aotearoa’s junior fiction genre. Tim Tipene’s The Book That Wouldn’t Read is an inspiring tale that centres children who struggle with reading and Sally Sutton brings all the mayhem…

Reviews: Two Young Adult Novels

Two YA novels with heavy themes are deftly reviewed by Venice White. Tonight, I Burn is a twist on witch culture and The Sound of My Heart deals with a suicide (reader discretion is advised; mental health resources are listed…

Reviews: Five Picture Books

This round of picture book reviews is brought to you by Annelies Judson, featuring books authored by an award-winning creative with over 100 titles published, one of NZ’s longest serving children’s entertainer, two different recipients of the Joy Cowley Award,…

Reviews: Two Tempting Cookbooks

We asked Emma Rutherford to review two tasty new arrivals to Aotearoa’s cookbook genre. Read on to see what she had to say about them. Tails of Tangleby Gardens, by Sue Heazlewood It is hard for me to resist purchasing…

Reviews: Two Young Adult Titles

Denika Mead unpacks two (one updated and one new) YA titles in this latest batch of reviews. Blackmail & Lies, by Mary-Anne Scott In Blackmail & Lies, a tense YA novel by New Zealand author, Mary-Anne Scott, sixteen-year-old Finn must…