New Zealand Children's Books

Black Dog: English and Arabic by Pamela Allen explores the enduring friendship between Black Dog and Christina, who live together in a little house near a forest. Their friendship is put to the test one winter when Christina becomes obsessed with a bird.

Alofa tele atu, sending all my love, conveys a Pasifika parent's dreams, hopes, and cultural wishes for their Pasifika child as they embark on life's journey. The book unfolds as a personal letter expressing deep love and pride, incorporating cultural wisdom and cherished traditions. Vibrant Pasifika symbols adorn each page, celebrating the beauty of the Pacific islands. Throughout the letter,...

When Jack visits his grandparents, they tell him stories—each outdoing the other with a tale taller and wilder than the last. When Jack visits his grandparents, there's no television to entertain him. No internet, no mobile phone, no tablets. In fact, there's no technology or modern distractions at all. But he still likes to visit, because Grandad and Granny tell...

Play hide and seek in the city with a boy, his animal friends and a dinosaur that's surprisingly hard to spot. The brilliantly interactive follow-up to international bestselling picture book, Have You Seen Elephant? Best friends boy, dog and elephant are VERY good at hide-and-seek. There's a missing dinosaur in the city—who better to spot this elusive giant? They search...

The Visitor by Antje Damm was named a New York Times/New York Public Libraries Best Illustrated Children’s Book. Two sisters live peacefully on a tiny, remote island. One day they receive a letter, telling them their cousin John is coming to visit. At first, the sisters are delighted to have a visitor, but they soon tire of him wanting to...

Keith Goes Glam (Keith Vs Queenie, Book #2) by Elaine Bickell features Keith the Chihuahua, who loathes the glittery bows and ridiculous outfits Mama dresses him in. Carted around in her most sparkly pet carry bag and teased by his kitty sister Queenie, he plots revenge. His clever plan backfires, however, leaving the feuding siblings hilariously stuck together – too...

Kids don't have the patience or the interest in having their own garden patch; they just want to have fun! Sarah O'Neil knows this well. Her series of clever outdoor projects will get kids outside throughout the growing season, having fun in the vegetable garden. While learning to grow vegetables is covered in the book, the focus is on various...

A beautifully illustrated new edition of Margaret Mahy's classic verse, including a CD of the story read by Margaret Mahy. Follow the chaotic antics of the dashing dog and his family in a mad, dizzy, and joyful walk along the beach. Margaret Mahy's beloved children's story has been beautifully reillustrated by the talented Donovan Bixley, who also illustrated The Wheels...

Did you know there was once a beaver that was two metres long? That the elephant-bird really did exist? And that the dodo once had a life beyond the pages of Alice in Wonderland? Have you heard of the megatherium, the glyptodon or the tratratratra? Through legend and mythology, anecdotes and scientific facts, the authors tell fascinating stories of the...

My buns don’t stand a chance. It’s his prickles that I fear! Uh-oh! Someone’s in a bit of a pickle–or should we say prickle! All poor little hedgehog wanted was a cosy new home. You’ll bust your britches laughing at this outrageously far-fetched story, where kindness wins in the end!

That teasy sneeze came breezing... like ants in the pants of a kangaroo, it grew till it blew with a loud AH-CHOO! Thanks to the sweet perfume of the Tootletuff bloom, Buzzy McBee and her friends have a wobbly, wild adventure! The magic of Lucy Davey and Katz Cowley continues with this explosive, laugh-out-loud companion title to the best-selling The...

When the mail van driver walks out, Miss Mickle from the Post Office store is left in a right pickle. Enter Stan, a helpful chap who offers to drive the delivery van. Unfortunately, Miss Mickle doesn't give him the chance to explain that he actually can't read... and parcel pandemonium ensues! When the angry recipients storm the Post Office and...

Singer-songwriter Deano Yipadee has produced yet another toe-tapping, singalong song, this time about Nee Naw’s friend, Moto Mike the Motorbike: Nee Naw and Friends. Farmer Tom and his tractor are leading the annual pumpkin parade. When the tractor wheel jolts off the edge of the bridge, Tom finds himself in a precarious situation. Enter Nee Naw’s mate, Moto Mike, who...

Kia Heke Te Po by Julia Crouth offers a charming introduction to New Zealand's wildlife of the night, beginning with the kiwi. Each page describes the creature to be found on the next page, encouraging the reader to predict what the creature might be.

I'm an Inky Octopus tells the playful tale of an adventurous octopus swimming in the sea, challenging her friend Jellyfish to a delightful game of tag. With lively rhymes and engaging verses, the octopus exclaims, "I’m an inky octopus swimming in the sea, whizzing through the water ... YOU CAN'T CATCH ME!" This delightful story captivates young readers with its...

When Timpkin gets an itch, Feather McDoo offers to scratch it for him. Then Feather gets an itch, so along comes Possum Pie to help... But what happens when you're the last animal in the line? Who's going to scratch your itch? A bit of teamwork is required to solve the problem! Fidgety Itch by Lucy Davey is a delightful...

Napier in the 1930s was a time of going without. The story starts on the 25th of June, 1930—a sad day in the Bourke household—the funeral of Katie's father. This Catholic family must now survive with earnings from the older siblings and the washing Katie's mother takes in. When older brother Tom returns home, after a long absence, it is...

Detective Gordon: A Case in Any Case Gordon is on vacation, and Buffy is the sole detective at the small police station in the forest. It is not easy for a police officer to be alone. Especially when there are strange noises outside the station at night. Buffy decides to seek out Gordon in his little cottage by the lake...

Dear Professor Whale follows the story of Professor Whale, the last remaining whale at Whale Point. He often reminisces about the past, recalling the days when his friends surrounded him, and they all competed in the Whale Point Olympics. One day, Professor Whale receives a letter from Wally, a young whale who has heard about the great, big, enormous whale...

Jack Stewart hates his new life in Taupo. Everyone at school picks on him; his only friend is a stray cat called Chainsaw; and his parents are always away working. Then he meets Fluoro, who lives in an old explosion crater in Crown Park where steam and poisonous gases hiss and ooze from the ground. Jack finds that Fluoro has...

When Scholastic ran a Short Story Competition through its Book Clubs, over 1,300 entries were received. With the help of educator Jill Eggleton, children's author Kyle Mewburn, and TV presenter Charlie Panapa, 20 stories across three age groups were selected as the best in the country. Imaginations are thriving! Read these great stories written by NZ children between the ages...

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...

The world is full of shapes. Big ones. Small ones. And pizza ones.When cats and dogs aren’t asleep or chasing sticks, they’re thinking about the big questions. In this fun, first graphic novel style series about friendship and discovery, we meet Mog and Morris, two furry friends who love to ponder about the world around them. They think about all...

This stylish board book provides a very first introduction to the exciting stories of William Shakespeare. Six famous plays are simply retold, with playful illustrations and fun first words to inspire little storytellers.The First Works of Shakespeare is the first in the charming Little Literary Greats bio series for babies and young readers. This stylish, cased board book provides a...

Charlie Boy might be just an ordinary kid, but he's about to get into some EXTRA-ordinary trouble... Get ready for this funny, fast-paced, friendship adventure with lots of kick. Meet Charlie Boy: skinny, small, looks like a strand of spaghetti. He and his best friend, Rocky the Lower Hutt Chief, are good at getting into trouble together. But when Charlie...

Iya is the story of a puppy with far too much energy. She lives in the stunning Marlborough Sounds of Aotearoa/New Zealand with hunter Master Steve and author Mistress Marion, who shares this true tale about her family. Iya’s oomph leads her to do some brave yet silly things. She often ignores commands, prompting Master Steve to teach her some...

We meet Merel, a girl living on a futuristic island in the middle of a sea. Many years have past since the community survived the floods and the severe heat that has forced their forbears to shadow their world. They live in twilight and their year is punctuated by traditions that address the need to restrict their population drastic traditions...

Angry anacondas, blizzarding blobs, carnivorous cactuses ... what kind of twisted curse will Glam-Evil think up this time?!Only it's not just Glam-Evil's curse the gang needs to worry about; they've got a few other problems, too. Swooping Pteranodons, a hungry T-Rex, a missing mother, and ... is that ... an ASTEROID?!Join MILES AND JONES as they face their biggest challenge...

Zanzibar cooks a fine mushroom omelette, and he is a crow who wears his feathers well. At least he thought so, until a spectacled lizard knocks at his door, wanting to write an article about a remarkable person. Is Zanzibar remarkable? The lizard seems to doubt it. Zanzibar thinks: To be remarkable, I must achieve something incredible, an extraordinary feat....

Xander buys a pen that gives him the power to improve his family's fortunes, only to discover that power comes with its own problems. Xander and the Pen is the story of a boy who loves to draw superheroes, and the pen he buys from a mysterious market stall. He soon learns that the pen has a magical power: whatever he...

Follow Nina and her sister Lily as they save two wild Kaimanawa ponies and tame them in a month-long challenge! Can Nina tame a wild Kaimanawa colt from wild to mild? Ever since she helped Kelly Wilson train a wild Brumby, twelve-year-old Nina has dreamed of taming a wild pony of her very own. When she learns that 300 of...

In 2011, Dindim the Magellanic penguin washed up on an island beach near Rio de Janeiro. He was rescued by a man called Joao, who nursed him back to health, and created a lifelong bond. Since then, Dindim has spent most of every year with Joao, leaving only to travel 8000 miles to the Patagonia coasts of Argentina and Chile....

In When Grandma Burnt Her Bra, author Samantha Tidy and illustrator Aśka depict the world as seen by a child whose own grandma, a loud and proud feminist, was part of the revolution that now benefits us all. Readers of all types will enjoy this humorous story that plays on how children hear stories and reproduce them in their minds....

A fast-paced, comical story for early readers, in which Dad’s hair takes off through the open window to freedom! One day, Dad’s hair decided it was tired of being brushed and combed. It wanted a life of its own, to see the world. It took off. Out of the bathroom, into the kitchen, and before you could say, “Hairsta la...

A fun read-aloud picture book to spark imaginative play and have preschoolers joining in with delight.   Jack and George are resting quietly when BOOM! A huge and strange ball lands beside them. “What’s that, Jack?” “I don’t know, George. Maybe it’s a rock?” No—too soft. But it rolls. Fast! Jack, George and the ball roll right off the cliff...

Issy uses the words ‘what if…’ a lot. What if there is a monster in my cupboard? she wonders before going to sleep. Or What if my floor turns into quicksand and swallows my bed? For her, ‘what if…’ are two little words that start worries and lead to uneasy feelings. But maybe they can be used for something a...

Setting out to visit their loved one, a child curiously asks a fellow commuter, ‘Who are you going to visit?’, and in answer to this simple question, the child learns about the love and loss in the life of a stranger. A father who lives apart from his small daughter, a husband who has lost his wife, a granddaughter who...

A perfect gift for any young musician! Violin & Cello celebrates musical friends — with a bonus duet of ‘The Mystery Friends’ for young violinists and cellists to play now!  Children will love this heart-warming story about making music with friends. Violin & Cello follows two young musicians as they discover the secret to who is practising in the apartment...

One day, Dad invites Billy into his shed to build something, but Billy soon finds out that he is only allowed to watch. As Dad becomes engrossed in his project, Billy takes Dad’s off-cuts and other items from around the yard and shed and starts to copy what his Dad is building. Dad remains blissfully unaware! At the end of...

Hugo the monkey doesn’t like Upside-Down Fridays. The day is the wrong way round; lunchtime is at morning teatime, and all his classmates’ smiles look like frowns. How will Hugo learn to tame the butterflies in his tummy and find the fun to be had in change? Upside-Down Friday tells the story of the day Hugo embraces the unexpected. Walking...

In Two Rabbits, Little Brown Rabbit and Little Grey Rabbit have had an argument. As they go their separate ways into the night, the wind whispers around them to remind them of their sharp words. Will they be able to come back together and find a way to save their friendship? The story portrays the physical and emotional journey of...

Who delivers mail to the birds of New Zealand? Join Ruru, the New Zealand native owl, while she delivers the mail to her avian friends like Tui and Piwakawaka at night . Discover which birds are nocturnal and track the Southern Cross constellation as it moves across the night sky. With Renee Chin's beautiful illustrations and the lyrics from Twinkle,...

An enchanting story of a story, Twice Upon a Time is a charming junior fiction novel by award-winning writer James Norcliffe. An enchanting story of a story, Twice Upon a Time is a charming junior fiction novel by award-winning writer James Norcliffe. What happens when you find yourself trapped inside a story? What happens if the only way out is...

Turning Cartwheels tells the story of Emma’s desperation to join queen bee Carly’s Cartwheel Club, who show off their acrobatic tricks in the playground at lunchtime. Week after week Emma lines up for a try-out, only to be told by Carly that she hasn’t made the cut. When Emma is finally accepted, she finds that Carly’s rules and requirements take...

We depend on trees for our survival, yet few of us understand just how fascinating these beings really are. With a foreword by the world-renowned anthropologist Jane Goodall, Tree Beings is an adventure through the secret world of trees. Challenging the perception that trees are just ‘silent statues’, it focuses on four big ideas: Trees give life to the planet....

The fifth book in the popular ‘Lessons of a LAC’ series, Tree is a gentle story of loss that helps children to learn how to say goodbye and process grief. Tree is the much-loved centrepiece of the community, where Calmsters and Little Anxious Creatures come to relax, play and socialize. But one day Curly and Loppy notice that Tree’s leaves...

Sam is tired of his toys. Why would he want his Grandma’s old trainset and teddy when there’s a toy factory high up in the clouds that makes rumbly red toys, grumbly green toys and so much more? In this important story about reducing waste and taking responsibility for the environment, Sam is about to find out. Toy Mountain is...

Tottie and Dot are two little girls who live side by side. Life is very peaceful until one day the girls begin competing with each other to create the best house. As the story unfolds, jealousy takes hold and their competitive spirit gets increasingly out of control until ultimately, things collapse in a disastrous heap. Will Tottie and Dot realise...

Catch up with a girl called Tomorrow —you better be quick because she’s always in a hurry! ‘You’ll catch up with the next day if you keep rushing,’ says Tomorrow’s mother. But when Tomorrow meets worrywart Yesterday and trips over thoughtful Today, her whole world begins to slow down. Tomorrow Girl is a quirky tale delivering a timely reminder about...

A big visual introduction to the world’s greatest inventions, discoveries and technologies for children, young and old. Travel through time with this remarkably illustrated 80-page journey of our planet and society’s most fascinating technologies, from the first tools to the creation of YouTube and beyond. The extraordinary illustrator Peter Goes, in his signature playful style, takes us effortlessly across the...

Through the Gate tells the story of a child who has just moved house and is struggling to cope with all the changes in her life. She relates to the dilapidated house she has moved to, as she sits sad and forlorn upon its broken front step. But, as the story unfolds, the house is gradually repaired paralleling how the...

In this fun-filled, action-packed picture book, our main character is quite convinced they’re not in a book. After all, if this was a book, there’d be pages to turn … Oops! We’ve just turned the page. But that’s not conclusive proof this is a book. If it was a book, there’d be interesting settings and problems to solve. Hold on!...

This is My Dad celebrates families of all shapes and sizes in a heartfelt, beautifully illustrated story that parents and carers will love sharing with their children.  Most of the time, Leo loves Show and Tell at school. But when his teacher announces that next up is Tell Us About Your Dad Day, his tummy ties into knots and he...

Displaced by war and conflict, a refugee family sets out on a voyage into the unknown. Told in only a few words (one word per page) this is the powerful story of a family fleeing their war-torn country and making a dangerous trip across the ocean to a new life in a new land. ‘Chaos’ begins the story, as the...

In ancient times in Aotearoa, there was a beautiful lake in which there dwelt two monstrous taniwha. Their names were Whataitai and Ngake. Whataitai and Ngake are two taniwha living in a beautiful lake. But when Ngake gets bored and decides to break free to the ocean his actions have far reaching consequences and help shape the landscape of our...

In these three delightful stories, fairies, ponies and ballerinas come out to play! In Dance with Me, a ballerina in a music box loves nothing more than to dance. But when the little girl who owns the box grows up, who will dance with the ballerina then? A gorgeous story about treasured possessions and the memories they hold. In Patch...

In this timeless classic by the famed author of Hairy Maclary, a baby turtle makes a perilous journey to the sea. Lynley Dodd's classic story about a little turtle who hatches late, and must make a dangerous dash to the sea all by himself. The words in his head became stronger than ever, 'To the SEA - to the SEA.'...

The award-winning classic story of discrimination, friendship and destiny. The Silent One is Jonasi, sent from the sea as a baby to grow up in an isolated Pacific village. Separated from the villagers by his silence and their prejudices, Jonasi finds solace in his underwater world where he develops a special relationship with a huge white turtle. However, the superstitious...

Sapling Green is a gentle, quiet girl with a secret she is scared to show the world. Wynn Farthing is funny and noisy, and the best at climbing high into the branches of the old schoolyard tree. One terrible day, after a storm, the gardener says the tree has to come down. Can Sapling use her secret to save the...

An inspiring story about the people – and animals – who make us brave, perfect for young readers who are struggling with nerves or anxiety. In The Real Cowgirl, Sal feels safe and strong at home, and out riding with her pony. She has big dreams of being a cowgirl; of being brave, smart and wild. But at school, where...

The cows and sheep think Farmer McPhee should stop frowning and start frisking. But Farmer McPhee just wants to get some sleep! Then one moonlit night, something changes...A collaboration between our best loved writer for children, Margaret Mahy, and the wonderfully quirky illustrator, David Elliot, this is a stunning and heart-warming book. Beautifully produced with cut-out sections and fold-out pages,...

Ruru and Kiwi invite you to their midnight forest feast, in this delightful twist on the tale of the Owl and the Pussycat, with enchanting illustrations by the winner of the Storylines Gavin Bishop Award 2019. The delightful rhyming story of Ruru and Kiwi, who host a midnight forest party for their friends, with award-winning illustrations. The Ruru and Kiwi...

There once was a little boy who took great care of his shadow...One day a witch notices the care he has for his shadow and asks him to look after her shadow while she goes away on holiday. But minding a witch's shadow turns out to be more complicated than the boy ever imagined!Discover a magical and mischievous story about...

'Shall we just walk along, Dad, or shall we make some of it up?'Join Michael and his over-worked dad as they journey home one fun-filled afternoon.Overflowing with imagination, this wondrous and beautiful book is from the celebrated children's writer Margaret Mahy and award-winning illustrator Lily Emo.Praise for The Boy Who Made Things Up:'Wildly beautiful artwork' - The Spinoff

Meet Burt Munro, an unknown, elderly New Zealander whose obsession with setting a world land-speed record at Bonneville on his ancient Indian motorcycle made him a Kiwi legend. In 1967 an unknown, elderly New Zealander and his ancient Indian motorcycle set a world land-speed record at Bonneville. The man was Burt Munro, and he became a Kiwi legend. How did...

Some Families Change tenderly guides children through various models of changing families with gentle verse and inclusive imagery.   ‘You may not have thought much about it, but did you know that some families change? Some get bigger, others smaller and some completely rearrange!’  Changes in the structure of a family can be joyful, turbulent, and especially confusing for little...

Tonight, the sheep can't sleep. The pasture is floodlit by a strange new star and their shepherds have disappeared. They must have been kidnapped by a UFO—or perhaps they've gone to meet the child rumoured to have been born in a stable. The sheep set off to find their shepherds. They'd like to see this child too, and they heard...

During the massive 7.8M earthquake that hit New Zealand in November 2016, two cows and a calf were stranded on a two-metre high 'island' when their paddock slid and buckled 80 metres from its original position. Sensibly, they stayed put and were rescued by farmers a day or so later. This story attracted huge media attention locally and around the...

Lost Wonders by Sarah Ell presents a detailed account of Aotearoa’s lost wonders, including: moa • piopio • huia • laughing owl • grayling • meriki • Hutton's rail • Haast's eagle • Chatham Island bellbird • bush wren • adzebill • Chatham Islands fernbird • Eyles' harrier • greater short-tailed bat • Hawkins' rail • kawekaweau • koreke •...

An abridged edition of the bestselling memoir Impossible by Stan Walker showcases the journey of one of Aotearoa's most famous singers. But nothing ever came easy for Stan. What were the chances of success for a kid whose parents had both been in jail? Whose world had been filled with drugs and violence and things no kid should even know...

A simple and bright board book about emotions, from an award-winning author and illustrator. Through the up-close expressive faces of a child and their dog, we learn words for a range of feelings in this new book by Gavin Bishop for the smallest children. This is my dog. My dog is silly! Happy. Sometimes sad. My best friend. This bold...

Frank feels lonely when everyone walks away. Tilly, Paul, and Milan are having fun. Frank cries tears into a pan, adds sugar, and cooks and stirs for hours. Frank has made jam, his very own recipe. He will now invite the others for afternoon tea. The people are so small on the large spreads, the surroundings are diffuse, the colours...

"This book is an absolute gift. I can't even express it! I've been singing along to the tune of Dadapalooza and its twin book, Mumpalooza, like it's a new hit single from my favourite artist. I love this book." - Pippi Jean, The Sapling A gizmo dad, a sweet dad, a moves to his own beat dad. An honest dad,...

When an Australian sailing family anchors near an old wrecked hulk in New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds, the kids discover an abandoned campsite nearby, with plates of uneaten food and young children’s toys still visible under the mould. Their investigation adds a layer of intrigue to their anticipated fun-filled experiences in an unfamiliar foreign land. Those Shipwreck Kids invites readers into...

Wizardry to Wētā Verse is a delightful collection of 75 poems crafted for 5-10-year-olds. Discover an array of enchanting themes: Keeping you awake poems DO NOT EAT THIS CAKE poems Blustery and breezy poems Sweeping through the seasons poems Metaphors and weather verse Wizardry to wētā verse Lonely and alone poems Poems about poems poems The universe, the earth, and...

A fascinating exploration of some of Aotearoa's marine reserves, Aotearoa is renowned for its wild coasts, but after decades of overfishing, many of these marine ecosystems are under serious threat. A crucial response to this has been the creation of 44 marine reserves around our shores, and this book explores six of the most spectacular of these: Goat Island, north...

David Ling is an Auckland-based publisher of both adult and children's books. He created the Duck Creek Press imprint in 2010 and is also the author of But What Did We Get For Grandpa? illustrated by Dick Frizzell (1983). Stephanie Thatcher lives in Huia, West Auckland, with her husband and three young boys. For Duck Creek Press she has also...

What happens when you sleep with a crocodile tooth under your pillow, or the mess under your bed turns into something terrifying? How can a football be a passport, and what does it mean when the contraption in the basement starts to hum and glow? You can be sure the answers will never be boring and almost always take you...

'If you don't put your toys away the Toy Fairy will take them while you're asleep,' said Dad. Joe knew there was no Toy Fairy; this was just Dad trying to get him to put his toys away at bedtime. But Joe was wrong. Not only did the Toy Fairy take the toys away, he also took Joe away. But...

The impossible becomes possible... In Maurice Shadbolt's only known children's story, published here for the first time and delightfully illustrated by Renee Haggo, Thomas saves his town from a wandering mountain and provides an insight into why people paint. The Mountain Who Wanted to Live in a House is a magical tale that explores themes of creativity and community through...