Aotearoa

Book Awards: the illustration finalists

As part of our finalist coverage of this year’s NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, we have some exclusive insights into the process of each of the five Russell Clark Award for Illustration Award finalists. They’ve given us…

The planet has a pulse: Maurice Gee, O and me

Maurice Gee’s O Trilogy is one of the most enduringly excellent works of Aotearoa literature. Megan Dunn recalls its power. In the South Island, at the back of an old mineshaft is the entrance to the planet O. There are…

Miriama Kamo and the Reinstated Stars of Matariki

Matariki has been celebrated in several picture books in recent years, but broadcaster Miriama Kamo’s new book, The Stolen Stars of Matariki, is the first to feature nine, not seven stars. Kristin Smith caught up with Miriama to hear how…

Miriama Kamo me nga Whetu i Whakahokia

Kua whakanuia a Matariki i ētahi pukapuka tamariki i ēnei tau tata kua hipa, engari ko te pukapuka hou a Miriama Kamo, ko Ngā Whetū Matariki i Whānakotia te mea tuatahi e pā ana ki ngā whetū e iwa, kaua…

May They Always Bind Us: Family Storytelling

Books aren’t the only place to find stories. Some of the most important and meaningful stories are passed down through generations, strengthening our connections to land, whānau, whakapapa. Kura Rutherford shares what family storytelling means to her. I first experienced…

Quiz: Can you judge these books by their covers?

Here are ten well-known New Zealand children’s books. But can you recognise them from just a small part of their covers? Advanced readers, try to get the authors, illustrators and publishers, too! Answers are at the bottom of the page….

Book Quiz: Animals during wartime

Anzac Day is fast approaching, and if there’s one thing you can count on from Anzac publishing, it is great books about companion animals. We featured Maria Gill and Glyn Harper talking about this phenomenon last month, but how well…

Quiz: Children’s books from page to screen

The riches found in Best Adapted Screenplay Awards each year are proof that many books make good movies – but how much do you know about our own children’s books on screen? 1. Which movie of a Margaret Mahy book…

Quiz: The names of New Zealand book characters

These are some of our best-loved characters from New Zealand Picture Books and Junior Fiction titles. But do you know their names? 1. I am drawn by Philip Webb and named by Diana Neild. My name is P_ _ _…

Book Quiz: Sunny, Rainy, Windy, Snowy Weather

Weather. We can’t avoid it. And right now, after six weeks of glorious warm weather that we never complained about, no siree Bob no complaining here, Tāwhirimātea has woken and is wreaking havoc. Let’s see what we all know about…