Author: Jean Donaldson. Reviewer: Alex Eagles.

This book is a shout-out to the weird and wonderful endangered species in Aotearoa, those lesser-known creatures that don’t regularly make the news. But they are just as important as the ‘stars’ like kākāpō and kiwi, for they are the foundation of our unique biodiversity.

November 2022 release

Extract from: Auckland Zoo 100 Years of Stories: A century of wild life at Auckland Zoo by Sarah Ell with Aja Pendergrast and Jane Healy (in association with Sherlock-Co).

Living at the Zoo is every animal-mad kid’s dream. But for former head curator and veterinarian Richard Jakob-Hoff, it was just part of the job.

November 2022 release

Writer: Fifi Colston.

Fifi Colston talks about Masher, about the adventures of a boy who accidentally creates a barking-mad glove puppet, with sharp teeth, a fierce attitude and an unpredictable mouth?

May 2022 release

Author: Bill Nagelkerke. Reviewer: Alex Eagles.

Bill Nagelkerke has a knack for using creative perspectives and the paranormal as a recurring theme in his work. Both are used well in The Ghost House.

October 2022 release

Author: James Ryan.

Join teen author James Ryan as he shares a bunch of surprising, cool and occasionally gross facts with us about some of nature’s most awesome animals and their built-in weapons.

January 2022 release

He arotake: Sylvia and the Birds: How The Bird Lady saved thousands of birds and how you can, too

Nā Alex Eagles i arotake

September 2022 release

Extract from: Tails of Tangleby Gardens by Sue Heazlewood with illustrations by Jane Smith (Auckram Publishing).

The adventures of whimsical woodland creatures share the pages with a series of recipes in this delightful children’s story and cookbook.

September 2022 release

Author: Margaret Mahy. Illustrator: Minrui Yang. Reviewer: Dionne Christian.

Drawing on the power of Margaret Mahy earns emerging illustrators top prize.

August 2022 release

Cover story: Roar Squeak Purr: A New Zealand Treasury of Animal Poems edited by Paula Green and illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Penguin Random House).

Featuring more than 200 animal poems by Aotearoa's best writers, ROAR SQUEAK PURR shows just how fun poetry can be, and is sure to inspire a new generation of poets.

October 2022 release

Reviewer: Dionne Christian.

Recommended reads with pictures: Have you seen tomorrow? Īhaka and the Unexpected Visitor. There are no moa, e hoa. Who Took the Toilet Paper?

2022 releases

Reviewer: Dionne Christian.

Cats and dogs make for amusing new picture books: Jiffy’s Greatest Hits, Kittens of Caturn Go On Holiday and My Real Dog.

2022 releases

Reviewer: Dionne Christian.

Recommended reads with pictures: One Weka Went Walking, The Grandmother’s of Pikitea Street/Ngā Kuia o te Tiriti o Pikitea, Moonlight Mission and The Grizzled Grist Does Not Exist.

2022 releases

Authors: Johanna Emeney and Sarah Laing. Reviewer: Alex Eagles.

Part graphic biography, part practical guide to protecting our bird wildlife, Sylvia and the Birds is based on the life of ‘The Bird Lady’, Sylvia Durrant, who helped more than 140,000 sick, injured and lost birds during her lifetime., It inspires a reverence for the natural world and is a call to action for all young ecologists and environmentalists.

September 2022 release

Author: Dawn McMillan. Illustrator: Ross Kinnaird. Translator: Stephanie Huriana Fong.

It’s available in Chinese, Italian, Korean, Portuguese and American English, now one of Aotearoa’s most successful children’s books has been released in te reo.

September 2022 release

Authors: Various. Reviewer: Dionne Christian.

Stuck inside during the school holidays? These books will keep the little ones entertained.

June & July 2022 release

Author: Various. Reviewer: Dionne Christian.

Stunning Matariki stories will keep young and old alike entertained and enthralled.

May & June 2022 release

Interview: Te Ataakura Pewhairangi for Kei te aha ngā kararehe? What are the animals doing? and Ko wai kei te papa tākaro? Who is at the playground? (Massey University Press)

Te Ataakura Pewhairangi: “I would like to see more high-quality resources available for those on their language journey.”

July 2021 & June 2022 release

Authors: Matt Owens & Emma Gustafson, Minky Stapleton, Susan Wardell and Rose Northey. Reviewer: Dionne Christian.

Stories of friendship and belonging continue to dominate children’s picture books.

2022 releases

Authors: Andrew Crowe, Dave Gunson and Ned Barraud. Reviewer: Alex Eagles.

With winter here, a veritable nest egg of children’s books about New Zealand wildlife is available so, on a cold winter’s day, snuggle up with a pile of books perfect for reading aloud.

2021 - 2022 releases

Author: Sonya Wilson. Reviewer: Sofia Glucina and Renee Liang.

Spark Hunter is an original, fresh fantasy novel for young readers, lovingly crafted from author Sonya Wilson’s memories of a childhood spent roaming Fiordland.

October 2021 release