Festival Kids & Young Readers

Power up with Dog Man: Big Jim Believes from the global #1 bestselling author and award-winning artist Dav Pilkey. Join the journey as our heroes discover the influence of belief and find truth from within. With threads of self-awareness, confidence, and integrity, Dav Pilkey masterfully crafts a humorous and heartfelt adventure, weaving together the importance of truth, goodness, and believing...

A full-colour illustrated chapter book for readers 6 years plus that returns to the exciting magical world of the Astromancer! Will headstrong Aria manage the impossible climb up to the stars and free Te Kokorangi from Ruatapu's clutches before time runs out? Enter the exciting and dangerous world of the Astromancer... This epic magical adventure inspired by Māori mythology is...

Three friends and a one-eyed raven find themselves up against the rulers who restrict the gifts of writing and reading to an elite few. They must go on a wild and unpredictable rescue mission. Who and what will they meet along their way? And what is the terrible truth behind everything they think they know about their world? 'You will...

The Case of the Angry Ghost: Violet and the Velvets Book 2 by Rachael King follows Violet and her band as they make it to BandChamps! Armed with their own songs, they're competing alongside their school rivals, The Alphas, for glory. But wait! Strange goings-on are afoot at the Royal Theatre, where it's rumoured a grumpy ghost ballerina haunts the...

'Splendidly inventive, expertly controlled, full of passion and compassion, and a narrative I would give four fingernails to have thought of.' — David Hill 'A compelling and lovingly crafted novel.' — David Mitchell The same evening Josh Underhill went missing, the black horse appeared on the hill above the house. Thirteen-year-old Ella knows that words are powerful. So she should...

Vex is used to people being afraid of her special power, the ability to persuade others to do what she wants. But when she arrives at a new school, Tiebold Academy, it is packed with people who have the same special power as her, and who might even like her. There is her roommate Ronnie, a coolheaded high achiever, and...

A beautiful picture book retelling of Witi Ihimaera's bestselling novel The Whale Rider, illustrated by Bruce Potter. Witi Ihimaera's bestselling novel The Whale Rider is retold in a beautifully illustrated picture book format for young readers. From the time of her birth, Kahu is destined to become the leader of her tribe in the East Coast village of Whangara. But...

Beautiful and heart-achingly sad animal adventure with CATS and a strong environmental message. Perfect for fans of Michael Morpurgo, Sarah Lean and Hannah Gold's The Last Bear... ‘Captures the magic that animals bring to our lives.’ Sarah Ann Juckes, author of The Night Animals The Last Journey by Stacy Gregg is a tale of unyielding bonds and courageous adventures. Pusskin...

From the former prime minister of New Zealand comes a guide for teens on chasing your dreams and embracing the unexpected qualities that truly make a person strong. When Jacinda Ardern became prime minister of New Zealand, she was one of the youngest people in the world leading a country. Many people thought she would never succeed — herself included....

From award-winning picture book creator Ruth Paul comes a new series about a plucky dolphin called Little Hector and his BIG adventures. A gorgeous new picture book for young children to find out all about the tiny and endangered Hector's dolphin. Introducing Little Hector and the Big Blue Whale! A small but daring dolphin, Little Hector swims out into the...

An inspiring and heartwarming book about the relationship between a working mum and her daughter by the former prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern.Today I got out of bed and asked Mumwhat day it was. 'Monday,' she said.I asked if that was a day care day.She said yes. I stomped my feet. Even though day care is fun, it’s...

On the isolated island of Brack, the people live by an ancient bargain: every year, a sacrifice must be made to the Glimm, the creature that haunts the salt marshes. Eight years ago, it should have taken Lotta. Instead, the monster spared her and claimed her pony, shattering tradition and anointing her both folk hero and object of suspicion. Now...

When Getwin, Lea and Buckle—with the help of Sharp the raven—unearth the trickster Book of Blacke, they embark on a quest to undo the controls on their world, seeking justice for the Scribes who are forced to work and for those who have never been allowed to read or write. The city of Wyle comes alive with danger and intrigue...

Māori child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Hinemoa Elder has shaped her beloved book Aroha into this special collection of whakataukī and whakatauakī for mokopuna of all ages. Bestselling author of Aroha and respected Māori psychiatrist Dr Hinemoa Elder has written a special collection of whakataukī for tamariki mokopuna. Puanga kai rau. Puanga, the star signalling a time of the year...

Violet and the Velvets can hardly believe they've come so far in the BandChamps competition with only hard work, a smidge of talent, and a whole lot of thinking outside the box. This time, they get to record their new song in a proper recording studio and star in their very own music video! But Violet is letting her perfectionism...

Meet Violet Grumble: a music-loving, guitar-toting tween whose dream is to compete at BandChamps. The problem is that none of her friends can play an instrument. Violet won't let that stop her! But things get tougher when the band's gear starts to go missing - what's going on? Can Violet solve the mystery and harness her ADHD powers? Can she...

Long ago, Ataraxia was a magical, united nation where dragons lived in harmony. Now, the three dragon tribes—Cliffs, Fireflys, and Ferns—are divided and live in fear, hiding from monsters like the ferocious Blade Wolf. King Cliff rules the Cliff dragons with an iron fist and will stop at nothing to keep his tribe the strongest. Firefly sister dragons Dessa and...

When a boy finds a sealskin in a cave, he unlocks an ancient spell that tips him into a terrifying adventure... an award-winning novel for tweens that inspired the Sky NZ Originals TV series! Selkie mythology meets Wellington's rugged, windswept south coast in this spine-tingling adventure novel, which won the 2013 Esther Glen Medal for Junior Fiction. Now a Sky...

A lively story with stunning illustrations that reveals the tradition of Matariki. The Astromancer is looking for four new apprentices to learn about Matariki and the Maramataka calendar. She chooses three boys and an orphan girl, Aria, who will come only if she can bring her smelly dog. Aria, though, is bored by the lessons, and she doesn't want to...

A search-and-match adventure with patterns, colours, and number fun from the award-winning author and illustrator, Ruth Paul - now available as a Board Book! Cluck, cluck, cluck. Scritch and scratch. Chickens look for eggs that match. Help the chickens look for their eggs! There’s lots to find. A playful search-and-match adventure with patterns, colours, and number fun from award-winning author...

Te Kokorangi 1: Te Kokorangi is Witi Ihimaera's lively Matariki story, known as The Astromancer, translated into te reo Māori by Heni Jacob. E kimi ana a Te Kokorangi i etahi pia hou tokowha hei ako i nga korero o Matariki me te maramataka. Kowhiria ana etahi tama tokotoru, me tetahi kotiro, he pani, ko Aria te ingoa. Tohe ana...

A Aria me te Atua o te Kūmara is the gripping sequel to The Astromancer - translated into te reo Maori by Hēni Jacob. Koia tēnei, ko te paki whakaihiihi e whai mai ana i Te Kokorangi. Noho morearea ana nga ra ki tua - kua mauheretia a Te Kokorangi e te hoariri kino, e Ruatapu, waihoki, e matemate katoa...

It’s the final Pony Club Secrets adventure for Issie and Storm (book 12) – can they become the youngest team to win the triple Grand Slam ever? Don’t miss the explosive finale to the UK's bestselling pony series. Issie exceeded her wildest riding dreams winning at the Lexington Kentucky four-star trials, but could there be even bigger prizes on the...

The sixth gripping adventure in this exciting pony-club series – now with a brand-new, commercial cover look! With gymkhanas to win, rivals to defeat, mysteries to solve, and ponies in danger to save – these books are perfect for all girls who love ponies. Issie and friends are surprised when Natasha Tucker's dad is made pony club president and unveils...