Wrapping parcels, learning greetings in other languages, the wonder of libraries, a goat driving a tractor, a mother buried under letters, and a mighty kiwi mother are the subjects of these diverse and beautiful 2025 picture books for kids from Aotearoa. These reviews are perfect to read pre-shopping for the little folk in your life, and the books will resonate with small and adult readers alike.

Reviewed by Melinda Syzmanik

Wrapping Things by Linda Burgess and Hilary Jean Tapper, Allen and Unwin, 2025.

This sweet and simple tale uses the metaphor of wrapping to introduce the idea of a new sibling. At first the focus is on young pre-schooler Rosie, at home with her mum, engrossed in normal pre-schooler activities – drawing, playing with her favourite soft toy and the new kitten, and visiting the beach. At this stage the observant reader might spot that Rosie’s mother could be pregnant but it is ambiguous. Rosie’s interest in wrapping things is central. Then things begin to shift. We meet Rosie’s Dad and then Grandma comes to stay all while the idea of ‘wrapping’ is maintained subtly through text and pictures (Rosie’s mother wrapped in a thick coat, Rosie wrapped in her grandma’s arms). The story concludes with Rosie meeting her new sister Bella, wrapped in a blanket and in her mother’s arms. While the ending feels a little abrupt, it does complete the story nicely, as here too we might deduce that the baby was wrapped inside their mother all along. Illustrations underline the mood and tone of the story well with an attractive pastel palette and soft organic lines.

Duck’s New Words by Juliette MacIver and Carla Martell, Scholastic, 2025.

When I first heard there was to be a third in this series (following on from the neatly succinct, charming and clever Duck Goes Meow and How to Be a Cat) I was a little disbelieving that another story could be wrung from this concept, but rhyme-queen MacIver and illustrator Martell have pulled it off beautifully. Building on the blended family, acceptance of difference, nature vs nurture premise of the first book, this one follows young Duck as she goes about learning the greetings of the other farmyard animals – Duck tries to understand and connect with other ‘species/cultures’ and this encourages the other animals to give it a go too –

So Duck begins,
with Pig and Horse,
to teach
a foreign language course.

Splendid. Martell’s bold lines and colours are engaging and sweet, and the perfect accompaniment to MacIver’s simple, jaunty text.

Pukapuka by Vasanti Unka, with Māori translation by Justin Kereama, Bateman, 2025.

I recently read that Unka was invited to create this book for Auckland Community Libraries not long after her sister, to whom she was very close, passed away. She said she felt the presence of her sister, a librarian for many years, as if she knew this project would be a restorative for Vasanti, and the resulting book is a lovely tribute to both libraries and a most loved sibling. Unka’s artwork is always delightful and this book is no exception, each page energetic and accessible, and all in appealing colours. The illustrations never feel cluttered but always have plenty to reward the observant reader with booky details and content on footpaths and in gardens and in the air all around. Unka also has a knack for writing spare but engaging text. The story, in both English and te reo Māori, sets off with the main character heading to the library with their parent, their little sibling, and a friend who is unfamiliar with libraries. As they make their way, the young girl explains what a library is and describes all the wonderful things that can be found there. The littlest character is clearly already a fan, repeating ‘pukapuka’ exuberantly on every page. It is no surprise the book ends with the friend keen to get their own library card and I can imagine readers will feel just the same.

Goat on a Tractor by Amy Harrop and Ross Hamilton, Bateman, 2025

We first met Goat during her adventures on a trampoline and now the team of Harrop and Hamilton have reunited to bring us another madcap tale of the somewhat wild, overconfident and ambitious nanny. Again told in rhyming four-line verses, we follow Lily as she decides to fulfil her need for fun and thrills with a drive on a tractor, careening across fields, down a hill and into the farm’s lake. I did find the rhythm a little challenging in places – some practice might be needed before reading the text aloud – but the text is word rich and action packed.

The illustrations reflect Lily’s changing emotions well – from her initial boredom through the excitement and drama of her wild ride to her remorse when things go awry. The colour palette feels true to a local farm-scape, and the usual suspects of a kiwi farm are expressively captured by Hamilton.

Fans of the first book will be delighted with this new adventure, and the ending hints Goat’s adventures aren’t over yet.

How Many Times? / Me Hia Rawa Ngā Wā? by Tim Tipene and Nicoletta Benella, Māori translation by Kanapu Rangitauira, Oratia, 2025

Parents everywhere will be familiar with the story at the centre of this bilingual picture book – children too busy with leisure activities involving screens to respond to basic requests to do chores or help out - but this time the tale is aimed at children.

In this story, Mum’s questions become physical objects – words and letters – falling to the ground unheard, and adding to the untidy mess that needs attention. Mum can’t do it all! As the letters accumulate it all gets a bit out of hand and Mum is buried under a pile of words. There is a lesson here; the children finally notice what is going on and with some guidance from Grandad finally see that many hands make light work for everyone.

The illustrations manage to capture a tricky concept well with the words gradually overwhelming the pages until things are set right and the words dissolve as order is restored.

Anahera: The Mighty Kiwi Māmā by Ruth Paul, Penguin Random House, 2025

This lovely book based on the life story of one really amazing Kiwi made me cry - the story is so engaging and the pictures support it so well. Our narrator’s Kuia volunteers at the Ōtorohanga Kiwi House and it is through these two that the story of mighty Anahera is told. The text has a lovely informal chatty tone. This makes the story and all the information contained therein user friendly for the target audience.

Not only an accomplished storyteller, Ruth Paul is also a highly skilled illustrator, and the artwork here is wonderful. There are plenty of visual treats for the observant reader – when our young narrator tells us the name Anahera means angel, and notes the irony of this for a flightless bird, the illustration shows Anahera in front of a pair of ‘fern wings’. And a few pages later when she comments on the size of the egg Anahera has inside her – ‘Poor Anahera! That egg took up her whole puku’ - we see the narrator’s kuia also heavily pregnant in the background. The timeline of Kuia’s own growing family cleverly helps provide an understanding of the passing years for Anahera. But this lovely subtext is also paired with plenty of extra detail in the realistic illustrations providing additional information about Kiwi. There is also further text information on ‘Anahera’ provided at the end of the story.

Reviewed by Melinda Syzmanik