Pre-order
1
of
1
William Pickering Kiwi Rocket Man
Brief Description
When William first peered through the school telescope, his imagination soared. As a boy, he dreamed of reaching the planets. As a man, he helped the world take its first steps into space. From the fizz of failed experiments to the roar of rockets, it was...
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1999
$2199
Elsewhere:
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Pre-order
Releases
31st
August 2026
(Approx. Date)
Pre-order "William Pickering Kiwi Rocket Man" now to secure your copy from our first shipment
Found a better price? Request a price match
William Pickering Kiwi Rocket Man
$1999
$2199
Elsewhere:
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Latest News
Romance for Spring - Groundbreaking!
Lizzy is sharing her top picks for Spring reads in the romance and romantasy genre...
The ‘Fourth Wing’ graphic novel covers have been revealed
The covers for ‘Fourth Wing, The Graphic Novel: Volume One’ have officially been revealed, with...
Books about Bookshops (across almost every genre)
Books about books, bookshops, and booksellers - it's my favourite thing. Here's a small selection...
What the Book Hero team is excited for
With so many pre-orders coming in the last few months of the year, we asked...
Meet Reverie Puzzles: Puzzles Made for Book Lovers
Reverie Puzzles have arrived at Book Hero and they might just be the perfect puzzles...
See moreWilliam Pickering didn't just study the stars. He brought us closer to them.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
When William first peered through the school telescope, his imagination soared.
As a boy, he dreamed of reaching the planets. As a man, he helped the world take its first steps into space.
From the fizz of failed experiments to the roar of rockets, it was curiosity that lit the way.
William Pickering Kiwi Rocket Man details how William Pickering didn't just study the stars. He brought us closer to them.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781776891832
Publisher: David Bateman Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 31 August 2026
Country: New Zealand
Imprint: David Bateman Ltd
Illustration: Full colour illustrations throughout
Contributors:
- Illustrated by Alistair Hughes
Audience: Children
DIMENSIONS
Width: 250.0mm
Height: 250.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 32
About the Author
MARIA GILL is the author of over 60 children's non-fiction books. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Margaret Mahy Medal for services to children and is the founder of KidsBooksNZ.
ALISTAIR HUGHES runs the illustration agency Shoreline Creative, which regularly commissions illustration work for the publishing and media industries.
Also by Maria Gill
View all-
Queen of the Cosmos: Beatrice Hill Tinsley
Queen of the Cosmos, Beatrice Hill Tinsley lived every day as if she was on borrowed time. Over her short time on Earth, she was determined to further the world's knowledge of the stars and galaxies. But it was not easy being a female scientist in those times. She would have to make a heartbreaking decision in order to follow...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Remarkable Animal Stories from New Zealand and Australia
Remarkable Animal Stories from New Zealand and Australia by Maria Gill introduces readers to a captivating collection of extraordinary animals from Australasia. Meet Charisma, the double Olympic champion horse; Moko, the playful dolphin; Migaloo, the white whale; and Einstein, the hugging camel. These incredible creatures are just a few of the remarkable animals highlighted in this fascinating and informative book....Paperback$2699Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Epic New Zealand Adventurers
Ten true stories of daring and danger from New Zealand adventurers. Race to the South Pole with Sir Edmund Hillary, defend yourself against polar bears near the Magnetic North Pole with Helen Thayer, find the source of the Nile River with Cam McLeay and Garth MacIntyre, circumnavigate the world with 15-year-old Laura Dekker in a yacht, trek through the forbidden...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
ANZAC Animals
Who knew our soldiers had such a variety of animal companions in the two world wars? Apart from the ‘beasts of burden’ that one might expect, such as horses, mules, donkeys and camels, many battalions had mascots as well: kangaroos, monkeys, dogs, chickens, tortoises, cats... all of whom provided comfort, companionship and a welcome distraction from the war. In ANZAC...Paperback$2199Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
ANZAC Heroes
Discover the triumphs and tragedies of 24 heroic Australasians during WWI and WWII. Read the biographies of Anzac soldiers, as well as Air Force and Navy soldiers, medics, a spy, an ambulance driver, and a humanitarian, surviving in battles in England, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific. Anzac Heroes includes famous soldiers such as New Zealand’s double Victoria...Hardback$2999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
NZ DISASTERS
Inspiring stories of courage, resilience, and determination in the face of disaster. New Zealanders have endured phenomenal natural and human disasters throughout the ages. This inspiring book documents some of these key moments in our history and, more importantly, how we responded and grew stronger; what changes and improvements were made as a result. Cyclones, tornadoes, earthquakes, landslides, floods, volcanic...Hardback$3499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Kate Sheppard
Many women marched, but one led the way... It's 125 years since New Zealand became the first country in the world to give women the vote. This accessible story for children is written as historical fiction, telling of Kate Sheppard's life journey and her struggle to advance the cause of women's suffrage.Hardback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Operation Nest Egg Chick
Deep down in a dark burrow, a father kiwi snorts and snuffles in his sleep. Underneath him, a large creamy egg lies snug and safe from pilfering predators. Will it meet a fateful end or will the kiwi chick become part of the BNZ Operation Nest Egg Programme? A creative non-fiction story about a BNZ Operation Nest Egg chick, illustrated...Paperback$2000Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 1 week -
Rangitoto
Have you ever gazed at Rangitoto and wondered: How did it get its shape? Was it a very explosive beginning? Will it ever erupt again? Rangitoto: Te toka tu moana/The rock standing in the ocean tells the dramatic story of Auckland's most striking icon, the island of Rangitoto. Find out about its volcanic birth, the kaka's connection to it, the...Paperback$2000Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 1 week -
-
Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford grew up in a tiny town in New Zealand. He had a curious mind and yearned to further his education. But his family could not afford to send him to high school or university. Three times he tried for scholarships and each time he failed. However, with perseverance and patience, he finally succeeded, and he'd go on to...PaperbackSold Out -
New Zealand's Endangered Dolphins
From award-winning writer Maria Gill, and illustrator Marco Ivancic, comes New Zealand's Endangered Dolphins. The North Island New Zealand dolphin (Popoto or Maui dolphin) is the most endangered dolphin in the world. The South Island New Zealand dolphin (Pahu or Hector's dolphin) is the smallest dolphin on the planet. Readers will learn more about these playful, intelligent, and beautiful mammals...PaperbackSold Out
More from Children's Books
View all-
Buy to WinNew ReleaseGiant Heart
Meet Jonah Lomu, one of the greatest All Blacks of all time. His speed and strength on the rugby field made him famous around the world, and his fun and generous personality made him beloved, but all the while he faced a big battle with his health. “[David Hill’s] stories are wonderful, full of action and are always teaching the...Hardback$1999Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Cass and the Beast
A sweeping and original picture book about a girl who chooses not to be afraid, a modern-day heroine in a story we feel in our bones like an ancient folktale. When a fearful beast arrives in the township, Cass finds her courage and is rewarded with a wild and magical journey. The creature takes her on a thundering ride through...Hardback$2399Elsewhere:$2999Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips late September -
New ReleaseThe Case of the Viral Video: Violet and the Velvets 3
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...Paperback$1600Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseRoyalslinger
K Pop Demon Hunters fans will love this! Graci Kim is back with the second book in her exciting and fantastical Slinger series where dragons and phoenixes roam the skies of Seoul; meals magically appear based on your mood; and dreams literally come to life. Praise for Dreamslinger: “A mind-blowingly original fantasy adventure—Graci Kim has done it again!”—Rick Riordan, New York Times #1...Paperback$1999Elsewhere:$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseDetective Beans and the Map of Mystery
Enjoy this new DETECTIVE BEANS adventure in the bestselling and award-winning graphic novel series by Li Chen! Your favourite kitten detective is back with a new mystery to solve . . . and treasure to find! When Captain Scuttlebeard gives Beans a treasure map, Beans is determined to find the prize at the end. The clues take him all over...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2200Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseMei Mei the Bunny
Mei Mei the Bunny is Laufey's picture book debut about a bunny learning to believe in herself through music. Experience a heartwarming tale of self-belief in this enchanting picture book by GRAMMY Award-winning musician Laufey. Meet Mei Mei, a little bunny with a big dream—to spread joy through her music! As her debut recital at the H'Opera House draws near,...Hardback$3199Elsewhere:$3800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseHunted: Wolf Girl 15
Just when Wolf Girl is finally reunited with her father, he is torn away from her once more, and Gwen vows to stop at nothing to track him down. But danger is closing in: a giant snow leopard and a mysterious hooded figure are hot on their trail. As Gwen and the pack race through deep caverns to snowy peaks,...Paperback$1699Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseWhat If You Could
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....Paperback$2599Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Lonasei and the Mystery of Origin Grove
Eleven-year-old Lonasei is lonely — she wishes her older sister Eva Grace wasn't so mean, and that her mum Aria didn't have to work so much. But when Aria inherits her childhood home, Lonasei discovers she can enter her late Aunt Malia's paintings and experience the memories within. Through them, she discovers that her mother had another sister, Agnes, who went...Paperback$2199Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Dawn Raid: The Apology
This sequel to Dawn Raid follows Sofia Savea’s family, 50 years later, as Sofia's grandson becomes involved in the quest for a government apology. INVERCARGILL, 2020 Wow, I thought I knew a bit about the dawn raids, but this is HUGE. It happened to my OWN family and I never knew! I had no idea that Granfia and her family...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2099Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
New ReleaseBig Bang Bread
In this time-travel storybook and cookbook with a cosmic twist, take a journey through time and space to discover the secrets of baking! Did you know that bread is made from stardust? Board the rocket and blast off on an adventure through time and space to discover the secrets of a home-baked loaf! Big Bang Bread is a kids' time-travel...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
B is for Bird
From award-winning artist, Lily Emo, comes a beautiful celebration of birds. Paired with a fun rhyming story, gorgeous illustrations, and fold-out pages, this book is set to be a favourite for everyone and the perfect gift. Make your way through the alphabet with this stunning book featuring a cast of familiar birds. From albatross to fantails, gannets to quail, and...Hardback$1999Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
