New Zealand Children's Books

Little Kiwi Flies to the Rescue by Bob Darroch allows Little Kiwi to shine as a hero in this bestselling series. Little Kiwi is having a hard time getting things right. He's afraid of the dark, fears water, and his little sister's friends always seem to be mocking him. However, when his sister finds herself in trouble, Little Kiwi might...

Learn how to count from 1 to 10 with Little Kiwi and Little Sister, in a fun new book by bestselling children's author Bob Darroch! In the silence, they heard a faint cheep cheep. Then a tweet tweet. And suddenly there was bird talk everywhere as all the mothers welcomed their new chicks! 'There must be hundreds,' cried Little Sister....

Early in the morning, just before dawn, the first sweet sounds of singing birds floated through the quiet forest. Join Little Kiwi and Little Sister as they take a walk through the bush. Lift the flaps to help them find all the birds that make the dawn chorus. Morning time in the bush can be very noisy - and full...

A springtime fresh picture book about a good day out with friends—climbing mountains, swimming and singing—and the difference between storytelling and lies. Lisette and her friend Bobbi the lizard have never told a lie. But they are eager to try—it might be fun! They tell Popof they are going for a trip to the mountains. When Popof decides to come...

A springtime fresh picture book about a good day out with friends—climbing mountains, swimming and singing—and the difference between storytelling and lies. Lisette and her friend Bobbi the lizard have never told a lie. But they are eager to try—it might be fun! They tell Popof they are going for a trip to the mountains. When Popof decides to come...

One day Lisette finds a pretty green sock. She’s delighted, until some bullies begin to tease her: socks should come in pairs; what use is one sock? Lisette searches and searches, but she cannot find the sock’s missing mate. Fortunately, her friend Bert helps her see the situation in a new way. And together they come upon the perfect solution...

One day Lisette finds a pretty green sock. She’s delighted, until some bullies begin to tease her: socks should come in pairs; what use is one sock? Lisette searches and searches, but she cannot find the sock’s missing mate. Fortunately, her friend Bert helps her see the situation in a new way. And together, they come upon the perfect solution...

A positive and practical board book that encourages children to love food as much as you! Featuring a mischievous little lion called Lionel. In this pithy board book series, an overenthusiastic, impulsive lion tests his daily routines to their limit—in Lionel Eats All By Himself, Lionel does just that, cheekily enjoying the remarkable mess that results. Lionel is in his...

Lessons of a LAC by Lynn Jenkins introduces readers to Loppy, an LAC, or ‘Little Anxiety Creature’. Loppy always focuses on what could go wrong and finds it challenging to stop worrying. In contrast, Curly the Calmster is the opposite, gently encouraging Loppy to think differently about his worries. As the story unfolds, Loppy, along with the readers, learns simple...

A library-loving dinosaur reminds us how it feels to be transported by story in this picture book for young children. Leilong the Library Bus follows Leilong’s friends as they take him to story time at the library. But it’s difficult for a large, clumsy brontosaurus without a library card to follow all the rules. Especially when enthusiastic Leilong gets caught...

In this expressively illustrated picture book about acknowledging differences and strengths, an overeager dinosaur school bus causes problems for the city’s transportation system—so the children find a place where oversize is perfect. Every morning, Leilong the school bus shuttles through the city, picking up children as he goes. But a brontosaurus longer than a tennis court and heavier than five...

In this expressively illustrated picture book about acknowledging differences and strengths, an overeager dinosaur school bus causes problems for the city’s transportation system—so the children find a place where oversize is perfect. Every morning, Leilong the school bus shuttles through the city, picking up children as he goes. But a brontosaurus longer than a tennis court and heavier than five...

A kind crocodile leaves his pond to see the world, in this fresh and playful board book from New York Times Illustrated Book Award-winning author Leo Timmers. Animals are in danger—help, kind crocodile! Here comes a terrified mouse, a frightened hog, an antelope. One by one, they find shelter on Crocodile's long back, while his big teeth scare their enemies...

Celebrating new ideas that can make a world of difference, Jørn’s Magnificent Imagination is the true story of Jørn Utzon, the architect of the world-renowned Sydney Opera House. Was it a sailboat, a seashell, a swan, or an orange peel that inspired Jørn to design Australia’s most recognisable building? In this gorgeously illustrated story, we follow Jørn through childhood as...

Once there was a little rabbit who only wanted to eat one thing…SPAGHETTI! In I Want Spaghetti! by Stephanie Blake, join the amusing and relatable journey of a picky eater who turns every meal into a quest for his favourite dish. Will this little rabbit ever try something new, or is he destined to demand spaghetti forever? This delightful tale...

Isla’s Family Tree by Katrina McKelvey gently explores the theme of family change and acceptance. Isla isn’t happy that her family is changing, so her mother creates a clever family tree with her to teach how families always grow. Her mother hands her two new leaves, but Isla doesn’t think they belong. ‘There’s no room left on our branch —...

People don’t notice Jerry. If someone bumps into him, they don’t say sorry. If someone waves, it’s always to somebody behind him. If he makes a joke, no one laughs. He never gets picked last for sports teams — but that’s because he never gets picked at all. It’s like he’s invisible. Until Molly comes along. Molly asks Jerry his...

Simon is annoyed. Casper has grown a lot: three centimetres! But Simon is only one ridiculous centimetre taller than last time. No way! he says, I’m the biggest! Simon sees injustice everywhere. And he doesn’t even care when silly Casper gets bullied at the park... Actually, he does care! And he can help out—so who’s the biggest now?

This perfectly packaged simple tale is sweet and engaging, with a fun moral to tempt fussy eaters, and a little bit of learning about food in other cultures to top it off. - Reading Time Mike the mouse isn’t like other mice. He just won’t eat cheese. Fortunately, his friend Ashley, the little girl who lives in the house, feeds...

One glorious day the wolf meets Red Riding Hood strolling through the woods. She looks a clever girl, but the wolf knows who is the cleverest. He has a plan to outwit her. But this little girl is not so easily duped. And the wolf finds unexpected hazards in wearing a frilly petticoat in the deep dark woods. I am...

Have you ever wondered why the kiwi doesn't fly? This favourite Sunday morning radio story is now a picture book, with illustrations by Dave Gunson. The classic Sunday morning radio story about how the kiwi gave up its ability to fly is now available as a picture book. Long ago when the world was new, the kiwi lived in the...

Peter Gossage's much-loved retelling of this famous Maori myth is now available as a sturdy board book. Faced with very short days and very long nights, Maui comes up with a plan to slow the Sun's passage through the sky. Peter Gossage's captivating tale in How Maui Slowed the Sun has enchanted young children for generations.

A beloved Maori myth about Maui and Mahuika, the goddess of fire, as told by the iconic author and illustrator Peter Gossage. Maui the trickster wants to know what will happen if he puts out all the fires in his pa. When his people wake, they are very angry and Maui must go to the volcano to visit Mahuika, the...

A beloved Maori myth about how Maui met his father, as told by the iconic author and illustrator Peter Gossage. Maui wants to know two things: who is his father and where does his mother go during the day? One day he follows her and finds himself in the underworld. Read all the Maori myths by Peter Gossage!

Hound the Detective invites you to meet Hound, a brilliant detective who ALWAYS solves his case. But this latest trail of clues has him perplexed—could it be that he's missed something important? Search for clues hidden in the pictures and help Hound to solve the riddle in this delightful return to the world of Puffin the Architect. I'm Hound! And...

Meet Peter Blake, the famous New Zealand yachtsman, who won the world's most famous yacht races and worked to help save the world's precious waterways. A stunning biographical picture book for young readers about Sir Peter Blake, world-renowned New Zealand yachtsman, adventurer, and environmentalist. "Remember," he wrote, "this is the most beautiful world, and it's the only one we've got."...

He Rite a Miti ki a Pāpā is a delightful story where Miti can do everything Pāpā does: Pāpā combs his hair. So does Miti. Pāpā scratches his arm. So does Miti. Pāpā sings very, very loud. So does Miti. But when Miti throws all the toys in the air, and they come down PAKU! on Pāpā's head... Pāpā yells!...

Told in te reo Māori, this charming story dispenses with woolly jumpers, yule logs, and snow, and instead shows Santa how we celebrate Christmas in Aotearoa—with sunglasses, beach cricket, surfing, and barbecues! Does Santa realise it's actually very hot in the Southern Hemisphere at Christmas time? What if he overheats in his red suit while delivering presents? Told in te...

This funny, engaging eco story invites young readers to follow the adventures of Harriet’s ravenous compost worms as they munch their way through their wide and wonderful weekly menu. Harriet’s nine-hundred-and-eighty-three hungry worms live in a shady corner of her backyard in a big, green box. They spend their days munching on anything from Aunt Tilda’s herbal teabags to the...

Gus's Garage features Gus’s workshop, which is chockful of useless odds and ends. But when his friend Rico comes over with a problem—his scooter seat is way too small for a rhino—Gus finds just the thing to solve it. One by one, Gus’s friends come to his garage with their troubles, and he provides ingenious solutions. There's a cooling system...

Bringing the mystery of metamorphosis to life, Grub is sure to delight insect-loving young readers with its realistic illustrations, gentle humour, and surprise ending. On the floor of the rainforest, far below the tree canopy, a small grub has a big question. Sensing that his body is about to change, he wonders what he will become, so he turns to...

When Finn’s family plants a tree in the backyard, he feels responsible for it and worries the little sapling is cold, hungry or lonely. He tries to share his breakfast with the tree, offers it his scarf, and spends the afternoon keeping it company. Just after going to bed, his nightlight goes out and Finn is plunged into darkness. As...

The fourth book in the popular ‘Lessons of a LAC’ series, Grey-glasses-itis helps children to understand the link between how they see things and how they feel. Loppy notices that he feels differently when he looks at the world around him through different-coloured glasses. When he’s using green glasses, he feels relaxed. When he’s using yellow glasses, he feels cheerful....

Based on true events, this lively picture book about a sprightly granny who knits warm jumpers for little blue penguins following the oil spill resulting from the wrecking of the Rena features illustrations by the winner of the Storylines Gavin Bishop Award. But did Granny stop knitting? Oh no, she did not! She kept right on knitting . . ....

Children love laughing about body noises. In Grandpa’s Noises, a range of sounds and words coming from body and mouth are explained in a warm and funny intergenerational romp. Children look at life with open, honest eyes, but sometimes it takes a bit of thinking and code-breaking to work out what’s really going on. Fortunately, for this particular grandchild, while...

Children love laughing about body noises. In Grandpa’s Noises, a range of sounds and words coming from body and mouth are explained in a warm and funny intergenerational romp. Children look at life with open, honest eyes but sometimes it takes a bit of thinking and code-breaking to work out what’s really going on. Fortunately, for this particular grandchild, while...

When your grandmother can’t remember your name, it should be sad, but maybe it is just an opportunity to tell her more often how much you love her. Grandma Forgets is the heart-warming story of a family bound by love as they cope with their grandma’s dementia. Over the years, the little girl has built up a treasure trove of...

Grace and Katie are twins who love to draw. Grace loves everything to be organised and neat, while Katie loves everything to be bright, bold and messy. When they want to draw a map of their home and street, the girls can’t agree on how it should be done, so they each decide to create their own map. But that...

Summer holidays by the sea have a rhythm all their own. With a few resonant images, Joy Cowley takes us straight to the end of a long hot day with beach treasures under the pillow and the salty smell of the sea. The cadence of the final words echoes the shushing waves in a gentle signal of time for readers...

Baby is ready to sleep, so it’s time to say good night—all the way from toes to nose! With each new blanket-page longer than the previous one, the cosy check blanket gradually covers the baby’s whole body. One by one, baby and parents together say good night to little feet, little ankles, little knees... And what about you, little eyes—are...

A stunning illustrated storybook for the girls of New Zealand with a powerful can-do message! Go Girl is a collection of true stories about New Zealand women who have done extraordinary things. They strove for their goals. They weren't afraid to step up or speak out. They blazed a trail for others to follow. This book was written to show...

Worry Monster loves ‘helping’ Archie worry, especially the night before he starts his new school. Archie feels so anxious that his head hurts, his tummy flutters, and his heart pounds. He soon realises the only way to feel better is to make Worry Monster go away. He does his belly breaths and faces facts to challenge his inner fears. Children...

An original mystery adventure, coloured by magical realism, about a girl whose world is peopled with animals no one else can see, with a mystery, a circus, and family at its heart. Far away in the middle of the sea there is an island shaped like a giraffe. Nine-year-old Vega lives there with her father and grandfather—a gardener and former...

Even the most reluctant risers will find the fun in the morning routine with this lively role-reversal story about a mama who just doesn’t want to get ready! Getting Mama ready for the day can be a challenge… you’d better watch out that she doesn’t sneak back into bed, try to distract you with cuddles, get breakfast all over her...

A tiny, delicately illustrated picture book for young children and animal lovers that holds a world of emotion conveying a friendship between an energetic puppy and a new kitten. Little dog George isn’t sure about the new kitten that appears in their home. George sniffs Tao, they look at each other, they wag and wave their tails. Then they start...

Everyday objects will never seem the same again for Max and Liam as they try to beat the game, and each other. Gaming-obsessed Max and his infuriating younger brother, Liam, are forced to work together to survive epic adventures on a minuscule scale. When rebellious Liam starts playing Shrinkle on his babysitter's phone, he has no idea what he’s letting...

Warring brothers Max and Liam find themselves trapped in a time-travel game. Can they survive the dangers and solve the riddles without killing each other? Gaming-obsessed Max and his infuriating younger brother, Liam, are forced to work together when a new game on Miss McBoob’s mobile phone sucks them into a time-travelling vortex. The 'Glitched' app transports the brothers to...

A comic-style chapter book about sibling rivalry and a child’s impulse to run away from home—and come back again! “When my potato-faced baby brother arrived, I realized I needed a new family. No one seemed to mind when I packed my bag. I took a box and used my best handwriting to write ‘FREE KID’, then waited for some new...

Freddy is certainly not a Teddy, but that won’t stop him from being the star of the Teddy Bears’ Picnic in this inspiring story about inclusion, friendship, and staying true to yourself. Freddy is Jonah’s favourite stuffed toy, but no one knows quite what Freddy is – a funky duck, a peculiar platypus, a punk rock penguin? When Jonah’s teacher...

Outstanding Science Book 2022, National Science Teachers Association/Children's Book Council. Walk in the footsteps of the first fossil researchers to discover the earliest creatures on Earth, in this large format fact-filled picture book. Packed with full-page colour illustrations and comics, this visual and informative book for children ages 8 and up looks closely at the incredible creatures that once walked...

A bright and contemporary picture book for young children about the fun of bath time, imaginative play—and fishing for underpants from the bath boat! This morning, Fodo Dodo and Noodle go fishing. They take raincoats, boots, hats and a fishing rod. From their bathtub boat, they soon catch a beautiful striped fish out of the laundry basket—underguppies! Fodo Dodo and...

A bright and contemporary picture book for young children about the fun of bath time, imaginative play—and fishing for underpants from the bath boat! This morning, Fodo Dodo and Noodle go fishing. They take raincoats, boots, hats and a fishing rod. From their bathtub boat, they soon catch a beautiful striped fish out of the laundry basket—underguppies! Fodo Dodo and...

Meet Sir Edmund Hillary, a shy but determined beekeeper from New Zealand who dreamed of being the first person to climb to the summit of Mt Everest, the world's tallest mountain. First to the Top, by David Hill and Phoebe Morris, is an award-winning picture book that tells the story of Sir Ed and his climb to the top of...

Finn And Puss tells the story of Finn, a young boy who is lonely, and Puss, a cat that is lost. When Finn and Puss meet, everything changes. Suddenly, Finn isn’t lonely anymore, and Puss seems quite happy to be with Finn too. However, when Finn sees a 'Lost' poster put up by Puss’s owners, he is faced with a...

Every two seconds, someone in the world suffers a stroke. In Finding Granny, that someone is Edie’s beloved grandmother. When Edie comes to the hospital, she is confronted by the physical changes in her grandmother: muddled words, a crooked face, a woman confined to bed. This isn’t the ‘playtime, bedtime, story-time pantomime Granny’ that Edie knows. ‘That’s not my Granny,’...

Finding by David Hill is an exciting novel for intermediate readers, tracing the fortunes of two New Zealand families over seven generations. The story navigates through wars, depressions, disasters, protest, and social change, beautifully penned by a master storyteller. Follow the journeys of two families as they experience triumphs and disasters, losses and discoveries. This enthralling novel by the bestselling...

Faraway Girl by Fleur Beale is a contemporary young-adult novel filled with mysterious happenings, time travel, a curse, and a strange painting. Etta is worried about her brother, Jamie. The doctors can find nothing wrong with him, but he is getting weaker by the day. At breakfast one morning, he seems to have lost it completely— In a voice as...

When hundreds of Japanese captives arrive at Featherston POW camp, the tiny town is divided. Tensions run high and then, on 25 February 1943, disaster strikes. Three boys witness it all. Enemy Camp is a compelling new novel by an award-winning author. 'We knew straightaway that something was happening. Extra men in khaki uniforms stood at the main gates. Behind...

A funny and eye-catching picture book, celebrating grannies of all shapes and sizes, and what makes them tick. Why do grandmas tell us to speak slowly? Why do grandmas wear their hair up? Are grandmas flexible? How do you cheer up a grandma? And why do they always have creases on their faces? Children have lots of questions about grannies...

Grumpy old Mrs Gooseberry from next door has lost her love. ‘I didn’t know you could lose love,’ says Ella, her young neighbour. So she begins her quest to find out what love looks like and how she can help Mrs Gooseberry to rediscover it. Her mother says love is warm, like a home-cooked pie. Her teacher says it’s like...

A shipwrecked elephant makes his tiny island a home for the many friends who come to the rescue, in the new picture book from New York Times Illustrated Book Award winning author. Selected for The New York Times Best Children's Books 2022 Caught in a storm, Arnold the elephant washes up on a tiny island. Along comes Mouse in a...

A shipwrecked elephant makes his tiny island a home for the many friends who come to the rescue, in the new picture book from New York Times Illustrated Book Award winning author. Selected for The New York Times Best Children's Books 2022 Caught in a storm, Arnold the elephant washes up on a tiny island. Along comes Mouse in a...

A fun, engaging story, perfect for children learning how to do something for the first time. Easy Peasy follows Ruby, who has just received her first pair of roller skates as a present from her dad. She’s convinced it will be easy peasy to learn how to roller skate and dismisses her dad when he offers to help her. But...

From award-winning author and illustrator, Wolf Erlbruch, comes one of the world’s best children’s books about grief and loss. Voted one of the 100 greatest children's books of all time by the BBC. In a curiously heart-warming and elegantly illustrated story, a duck strikes up an unlikely friendship with Death. Duck and Death play together and discuss big questions. Death,...

The detective lay in bed with his eyes closed. But he couldn’t sleep. He was thinking. He always thought best in bed. Especially with his eyes closed. Something is going on in the forest: one of the animals is saying nasty things about the other forest creatures. But no one dares make a statement to the police. Who is the...

Meet some of our most curious critters, from the popular RNZ National radio segment with Nicola Toki and Jesse Mulligan. Slimy, stinky, creepy, crawly and gross... but also a little bit cute! Discover New Zealand's most curious creatures—from Smeagol the gravel maggot, to the walking worm and the drooping blobfish—with Nicola Toki from the hit RNZ segment on Afternoons with...

Cookie the Border Collie loves lots of things, like smelling smelly smells, chewing chewy things, going for adventures and making friends. But most of all, Cookie loves Girl. Join this inseparable pair as they play together and learn how to make each other happy, even on the days when Cookie is the only one who can make Girl smile. Cookie...

Everyone’s on the sofa to share a book: zebra, cat, child, lion. Wait! says Zebra, Stork isn’t here yet! Then the cat needs a cushion, the hamster’s missing, someone’s sitting on the lion’s tail, and the fish wants to be in the middle… NOW they’ll be able to start—won’t they? In this fun, cumulative story, the familiar chaos of piling...

A group of animals chase their stolen picnic in this wordless look-and-find adventure picture book full of intricate detail and comical storytelling. Time for cake! But the eagle swipes up the blanket and flies away. The animals chase after to find all their stolen picnic things. Thé Tjong-Khing's visual storytelling slows us down and invites us to look more closely....

Olivia and her butterfly friends spend all of their time together, until one day everything changes, and Olivia and her mother move to an apartment in the city. Olivia is heartbroken because she doesn’t want to leave her butterfly friends behind, but her mother assures her that she will make new friends in the city. When Olivia and her mum...

A delightful board book for toddlers and adults to have fun experimenting with words to create funny new ones. Selected as a White Raven 2022, Kirkus Reviews Best Board Books 2022, and Bank Street Best Children's Books 2023. Playful animals get up to everyday toddler mischief in this board book built on child-based wordplay, where each page twists animal names...

Bruiser is a wonderful story for young children about a bold and brassy digger. Bruiser is a machine on a mission—a digger who's ploughing up hillsides, trampling down paddocks, and crushing rocks in his plan to build a motorway. His motor roared like a dinosaur. His wheels squealed like an elephant. His sides rumbled like an earthquake. He shook his...

Boy Seaman Russell Purchas is stationed on HMNZS Taupo. It's 1952, and the frigate has just entered hostile waters off the coast of Korea. Russell is determined to prove he is a hero, to shake off the shadow of his spineless uncle who died in the Second World War. Russell doesn't have to wait long to be tested. Never far...

Birdie the penguin believes she is the chosen one who lights up the world every night with her song. Her zoo friends believe this too. In this sensitively illustrated story, featuring a cast of zoo animals, Birdie the penguin has a special role to play. Until one day she gets sick and discovers that perhaps her role was not as...

Putting Daddy to bed can be hard work. Especially when he starts crying! This story will show you how to wrestle your daddy into his pyjamas and read just one more bedtime story. ‘I’m thirrrrrrrrssssssty,’ says Daddy. ‘I need to poop … I’m hungry … But I’ll miss you,’ he says, while he looks at you with cutie eyes. You’ll...

From the author of the worldwide bestseller Tickle My Ears, comes an award-winning, interactive board book about bathtime. Who enjoys having their ears washed? Little Rabbit doesn’t like the idea, but it turns out to be not so bad after all. But he does need your young reader’s help. When the blow-dryer breaks, we must blow his ears dry. Wfffff!...

Flick is just like any other youngster. She loves to chase butterflies and jump in autumn leaves. But life at the end of Holyrood Lane is often violent and unpredictable due to the constant storms that plague her home, causing her to cringe with dread and flee whenever they strike. Flick tries her best to quell her fears and endure...

Flick is just like any other youngster. She loves to chase butterflies and jump in autumn leaves. But life at the end of Holyrood Lane is often violent and unpredictable due to the constant storms that plague her home, causing her to cringe with dread and flee whenever they strike. Flick tries her best to quell her fears and endure...

Meet Isla, Sophie, Dominik, James and Rashida — Scottish children representing a multicultural blend of culture and race that typifies our beautiful country. They will take you through a year in the life of Scottish kids, from celebrations to traditions to events, to our everyday way of life and the little things that make childhood so memorable. They are our...

Raccoon finishes his book and is ready for his own adventure—he wants thrills, excitement and to conquer the sea! He borrows everything he needs from his friends: a boat from Badger, who insists on coming along because you should never go on an expedition alone. Fox packs them eggs for the omelette—then must join to be the cook. Bear insists...