New Zealand Children's Books

Can an imaginary friend become real? A spell-binding and exciting new novel from Leonie Agnew, author of the award-winning Conrad Cooper's Last Stand. Benjamin figures Vincent Gum can do anything. Which I can. I'm not possible. Yet here I am. Ben literally pushed me out of his head and into the world. Vincent Gum finds six-year-old Benjamin moments after an...

A beloved Maori myth about the formation of Wakatipu, a great lake of Te Wai Pounamu, as told by the iconic author and illustrator Peter Gossage. The traditional legend of how Lake Wakatipu was formed, beautifully retold by Peter Gossage. When Manata goes missing from her village, her people discover that she has been kidnapped by a giant. Her lover,...

What do you answer when people say, 'Who was the most important person you've ever known?'... It was Jackson Coop. He changed my life - Jackson and the things that happened in those two weeks. It is summer 1943 in a small New Zealand town, and a wounded American soldier is coming to stay with 12-year-old Rex and his family....

A novel about finding your calling, the extraordinary nun Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, and the realities of religious bigotry in late-nineteenth century New Zealand. Dreams were dangerous things. It was the dream of Molly's dying mother that she would become a nun. It isn't, however, the dream of her Methodist father, who wants her to marry. But what is her...

An enchanting tale by Margaret Mahy about a small, ordinary boy who is followed home by a most extraordinary animal - and that is just the beginning! The Boy Who Was Followed Home is a classic story about a boy who brings home a hippopotamus quite by accident, illustrated by Steven Kellogg. 'What on earth is that in the goldfish...

As the taniwha Ngakau Pono sleeps, big machines come, tall buildings rise, and aeroplanes take off and land. Ngakau Pono has been forgotten by his people, until something happens and he begins to stir... Trailblazing Maori artist Robyn Kahukiwa's picture book about the forgotten taniwha Ngakau Pono, meaning 'Loyal Heart', is now available in this bilingual Maori-English edition. E hia...

An honest and funny book for children aged 8 and up who really want to know about bodies, sex and emotions – and aren’t afraid to ask. How much sex education do children need? As much as they ask for, says leading sex educationist Katharina von der Gathen in this book about navigating puberty. And exactly what do children want...

There’s a new baby in Simon’s house. When’s that stupid baby going back to the hospital? Simon asks his parents. But the baby is there to stay. What about all the scary wolves outside the house? The wolves that want to eat Simon up? Will his parents still protect him now they have a stupid baby?

Paddy O’Melon is the endearing story of a young rainforest kangaroo. Separated from his mother as a young joey, Paddy is found and raised by an Irish family who live in the rainforest and often help orphaned or injured animals. But while Paddy loves his new human family, he’s curious to find out what he really is. So, he sets...

A funny picture book to help ease toddler fears about visiting the dentist. From the author of the international bestselling picture book Poo Bum, as seen on Netflix. Poo Bum is children’s favourite cheeky rabbit! This time Simon returns in Nooo! Not the Dentist! with his cheeky humour and favourite catchphrase to help young children approach any daunting new experience....

An award-winning, quirky story about a child who is stuck carrying around an elephant, wondering if they will ever feel light and free again... A story full of humour and heart about having the blues, in the form of a big heavy elephant. One day an elephant came and sat on my chest. I found it hard to get up...

My Dear Mother, Well, I've gone and done it. I've joined the Army! Don't be angry at me, Mother dear. I know you were glad when I wasn't chosen in the ballot. But some of my friends were, and since they will be fighting for King and Country, I want to do the same. It's New Zealand, 1914, and the...

My new baby sister comes home. But babies don’t drink milk, don’t ride a bicycle, don’t play my games. Do I like being a big brother? No! Roooarr! I stomp around and go to sleep in my T-Rex onesie. In the morning, I take another look at baby sister—baby sister diplodocus. My Baby Sister Is a Diplodocus is a new...

In Little Hector's third adventure, the Hector's dolphin goes on a holiday to visit his Maui relatives – the rarest dolphins in the world. In the sparkling third adventure of Little Hector, our daring hero meets his special Maui cousins and learns about friendship. Little Hector is off on a holiday to meet his rare and special cousin, Mini Maui....

Kapai and the Highway Robbers follows Kapai, a kiwi from New Zealand, whose adventures take him to the South Island glaciers in this picture book from the much-loved series for children. Kapai and his friend Tamatea visit the Franz Josef glacier and encounter some very cheeky keas. The uniquely kiwi Kapai series has delighted New Zealand children since its first...

A delightful tale by Margaret Mahy about an industrious stay-at-home dad who is on a mission to ensure his family gets the most out of their plum harvest! Margaret Mahy's classic story about a father's passion for making plum jam for his long-suffering family, illustrated by Helen Craig. 'The whole house is like a jam factory,' said Clement. 'It's like...

Watch the wolf put on his trousers, his T-shirt, his socks, and more. But what is his plan once he’s fully dressed? Careful—he might bite! This board book has extra-thick board pages and strong cloth binding that will withstand many reads (it will need to!). It’s a French bestseller, with bold illustrations and simple text, great for reading aloud, with...

Hattie is a street-smart country girl in her first year of school. She lives just outside of nowhere, right next to no one at all. Luckily she’s starting school and that brings new adventures. Hattie gets her first swimming badge, falls madly in love with a hermit crab and meets a best friend. Sometimes things go wrong—like when the hairdresser...

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. Now in paperback, Grandma Forgets is the heart-warming story of a family bound by love as they cope with their grandma’s dementia. The little girl has built up a treasure trove of...

Meet filmmaker Barney Kettle, who liked to invent stories but found a real one under his nose. Barney Kettle knew he would be a very famous film director one day; he just didn't know when that day would arrive. He was already an actual director—he'd made four fifteen-minute films—but so far only his schoolmates and the residents of the High...

Join Pee Wee the Kiwi's Christmas Adventure and experience a magical journey with Pee Wee and his friends as they help Santa save Christmas. Every purchase of the book comes with a FREE Pee Wee the Kiwi plush toy, making it a perfect gift for the holiday season.

Closed, Stranger is a prize-winning novel about friendship, family, and an impossible love. "What made March really significant, what seared it on both our brains, was that Westie met his birth mother, Vicky, for the first time, a secret assignation... and I met Meredith Robinson..." Max Jackson tells the story of his friendship with Westie, from its wild, head-smacking glory...

Chilling and page-turning, this compelling novel crackles with political intrigue, fast-paced action, and unexpected twists. The gripping sequel to the prize-winning thriller The Nature of Ash. Ash McCarthy thought he had done enough by broadcasting his story to the world, exposing the corruption and lies of Prime Minister Chandler and his cronies. With his small band of friends and family...

A funny and whimsical picture book about an ordinary family day, told through a bird family, from 2022 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award recipient Eva Lindström. Wash your beaks, it’s time for lunch—flies again today, says Dad. After lunch, the young birds get sent off to play—they sing, hunt mosquitos, compare leg size, and poke grubs. This is how birds spend...

Come with Abigail and her mother on a magical adventure, soaring up into the clouds to discover where the raindrops come from. Join Abigail on a rainy-day adventure to explore the marvellous movement of water around the Earth. Abigail is a curious little girl. She likes to discover the answers to really BIG questions. One rainy morning, she thinks of...

A bright and beautiful exploration of a supernova and the birth of our solar system for young children, all wrapped up in an award-winning bedtime story. Join Abigail on a magical night-time adventure to discover how the sun, moon and planets came into being. WINNER - Best Picture Book, New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2020 Abigail...

Baa Baa Smart Sheep is a delightful tale where Little Baa Baa, feeling bored, seizes an opportunity for mischief when Quirky Turkey arrives on the scene. The story unfolds with snappy dialogue and hilarious illustrations that make it a laugh-out-loud read. This engaging story will have readers rethinking the intelligence of sheep, showcasing that they might be much smarter than...

After riding a sea horse, evading a shark and befriending an exhausted butterfly, a little cork meets a wise old whale who shares the secret of staying afloat. Cork On The Ocean by Mark Sommerset and Rowan Sommerset is a delightful tale of adventure and friendship, perfect for young readers.

Two Little Bugs by Mark Sommerset and Rowan Sommerset is a charming tale of two little bugs with very different desires. Little Bug Blue has a wish. Little Bug Red has an appetite. Together they discover that getting what you always wanted is sometimes just the beginning.

After being tricked into eating Little Baa Baa's Smarty tablets, Quirky Turkey decides it is payback time. But has Quirky got what it takes to pull the wool over Baa Baa's eyes? I Love Lemonade is a delightful tale of humour and mischief, filled with entertaining twists and turns.

Eileen Merriman creates genuine teenage characters - NZ Books A moving story about unconventional love, bullying and being true to yourself. 'I wish I wasn't the weirdest sixteen-year-old guy in the universe.' Felix would love to have been a number. Numbers have superpowers and they're safe - any problem they might throw up can be solved. 'If I were a...

The plates were full. Oh, how delicious! A Christmas feast on fancy dishes! But Aunty said, "He's just a cat. He'll eat cat biscuits and that is that." The latest book in the series by Joy Cowley and illustrator Robyn Belton will throw young readers straight into some Christmassy mischief! What will he do? What will he eat? Greedy Cat's...

War historian Glyn Harper's brand new story about a band of tunnellers in the First World War, and the tiny canary who helped them survive, with heart-warming illustrations by Jenny Cooper. This is the story of Bobby - the littlest hero in a very big war. Bobby is a tiny canary. His best friend is Jack, a soldier in one...

Ooey Gooey Gone is a cute and heart-warming children's picture book that captures the quintessential experience of NZ childhood: racing down to the local dairy for an ice-cream! The artist's colour palette and the Kiwiana imagery make that summer heat literally radiate right off every page.

Mia and Leo Go Wild follows Mia and Leo on their first overnight tramp, which turns out to be a fantastic success despite Mia's concerns that her younger brother Leo might be too slow. During their journey to Whiowhio Hut, they encounter other trampers, each experiencing various issues with their preparation or gear. Fortunately, Mia and Leo's family are well-prepared...

High in a tree in a suburban backyard, a kereru hatches. At rest in its nest, it waits for its food... But another stomach is rumbling, too. Will the baby kereru survive? This unflinching tale paints a complete picture of life in the wild for these beloved native birds and offers solutions, too. The reader is invited into the story...

If only Rabbit could see all the wonderful things right under his nose today, instead of always looking forward to tomorrow! This very special picture book, a contemporary fable about practising gratitude, mindfulness and living in the present, is from the acclaimed Kyle Mewburn. A beautiful contemporary fable from the acclaimed Kyle Mewburn about gratitude, mindfulness and living in the...

Luella is determined to do things her way, including wearing her woollies and uggs to the beach on a hot summer's day. Mum thinks she knows best—if only Luella would listen. But maybe Mum isn't always right?

Two very different creatures learn about the give-and-take of friendship in this warm and funny story set in the desert. Snake is elegant and calm, and a little self-centred; Lizard is exuberant and irrepressible. With its wisdom, acceptance, and good humour, Snake and Lizard captures the essence of friendship. The stories are beautifully illustrated by Gavin Bishop in the warm...

An exquisite fairy tale lift-the-flaps hide-and-seek from the international bestselling author of Inside the Villains about how what we read prepares us for life. “Quick, hide!” Chased by monsters – a hairball, a stinkwart and a creeper – each hairier and stinkier than the one before, a child finds shelter in three famous fairytale houses. Lift the flaps big and...

A dinosaur follow-the-leader story! Follow Ruth Paul's colourful dinosaurs as they HOP, STOMP and ROAR their way through the pages of this beautifully illustrated book. On the outward journey, the largest dinosaur leads, until they can go no further... Then on the way back, it's baby dinosaur who gets to lead the way!

We have waited for Easter for quite a long while. 'Off you go,' say our parents, with a kiss and a smile. Already dressed, we eat fairy bread on the run and hurry outside to hunt out some fun. This Easter, join a group of curious forest fairies as they spread festive cheer around their fairy village, and get up...

The Lonely Lemon by Tim Bateman introduces Lulu the Lemon, who is anxious about fitting in at school. She doesn’t believe she has any talents and finds it hard to imagine making friends. To discover her place among others, Lulu must step outside her comfort zone. Will Lulu ever experience the joy of true friendship? This delightful story is part...

Many of New Zealand's animals make incredible journeys as part of their everyday lives. In this book from leading author and illustrator Ned Barraud, he uncovers the mystery behind where many of our animals go. Toroa/albatross can spend years at sea roaming the windswept Southern Ocean, only coming ashore to breed. Koura/crayfish often undertake long walks along the seabed for...

The Sad Banana by Tim Bateman tells the story of Bowie, a young banana who struggles to see the positive in any situation. With the help of his mum, Bowie searches for something to help him turn his frown upside down. Will Bowie ever discover the secret to happiness and learn how to be comfortable in his own skin? The...

Sam has an ordinary life, but his mother used to be a pirate! One day at breakfast, they decide to go to sea, and an amazing adventure begins. A brand new picture book edition of this timeless favourite. The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate promises to captivate readers, bringing them along on an unforgettable journey.

Norvin is a boy who looks like a shark. When he straps a homemade dorsal fin to his back, all the other swimmers rush to the beach. He loves having the water to himself - until a real man-eating shark comes along! The Great White Man-Eating Shark by Margaret Mahy is a delightful tale of oceanic adventure and unexpected consequences....

"With rhymes just as whimsical as Dr. Seuss." - The Booklover Bookshop The cockerel crowed across Pettington Zoo. The animals woke with a big job to do. 'The Harry is coming! Today is the day! We have to get ready! There's no time to play!' It's Harry's birthday and all the animals at Pettington Zoo are planning a big surprise....

We've Got a Boat tells the tale of a boat that flies across the water. We’ve got a boat that flies across the sea. You know this boat, it sailed from Aotearoa. It stays afloat because it’s carried by Kiwis. Join Team Kiwi and sail away on a boat guided by ancient waka, woven with flax sails, powered by a...

My Old Man, He Played Rugby by Peter Millett is a delightful exploration into the world of rugby, told through the eyes of a young child observing their father's passion for the sport. With vibrant illustrations and a rhythmic narrative, this book combines humour and heart, appealing to both children and rugby fans alike. Follow along as the father navigates...

This story charts the journey of Hineraukatauri, a cocoon/chrysalis that has entered a new realm—the human world—without their voice. It is dark and wet, as Rangi and Papa have not yet separated or are in the process of having their offspring create space between the two. In visiting each of the offspring, they gift Hineraukatauri a different component or aspect...

This book has so many ideas to get your body moving and your brain inventing, you'll be out the door and off on adventures before you know it! From the author of the award-winning Beginner's Guide to Hunting and Fishing in New Zealand, Get Outdoors is full of fun ideas to get your body moving and your brain inventing. Select...

In this story about being true to oneself, a boy searches for the secret to doing the perfect bomb into the water. With training from Nan, an expert and former champion, and by listening to his own voice, he finds his unique style and pulls off a wonderful, acrobatic, truly awe-inspiring bomb.

A young boy learns about the customs around celebrating Matariki from his grandfather. They watch the stars from the top of a mountain, prepare their offering of food for the gods, and the boy learns about Te Waka o Rangi and the tradition of calling out the names of loved ones who have passed away so that they can become...

On a beach clean-up, thirteen-year-old one-legged Charlie and his half-brother, Robbie, find a ponaturi — a mermaid — washed up on a beach. An ancient grudge between the Māori gods Tane and Tangaroa has flared up because a port being built in the bay is degrading the ocean and creatures are fleeing the sea. This has reignited anger between the...

Rattle your dags as fast as you can. You can't dunk me, I'm the ANZAC Biscuit Man. Award-winning author Peter Millett and acclaimed cartoonist Shaun Yeo reimagine this classic tale with a uniquely local flavour! One day, an old couple who love baking fresh biscuits discover a recipe for an ANZAC Biscuit Man. Later that morning they hear a cry...

Pigs in Sheds is a cheeky down-under version of the much-loved fable The Three Little Pigs. This time, the three perky porkers are being chased by a sneaky sheepdog who's out to eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Which DIY shed will be the last one standing? The creators of The ANZAC Biscuit Man, Peter Millett and Shaun Yeo,...

A delightful introduction for young children to the world of numbers, Great Kiwi 123 Book by Donovan Bixley is now available in a sturdy board book format. This charming book invites readers on a whimsical journey through a uniquely Kiwi landscape filled with vibrant and entertaining illustrations, making it a perfect addition to any child's early learning collection. Bixley's beloved...

This beautifully illustrated sound guide is the perfect way to introduce both children and adults to the wonders of bird song. Each of the 12 species covered—Morepork, kāka, Sacred Kingfisher, Grey Warbler, Silvereye, Bellbird, Tui, Fantail, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Blackbird, and Starling—has a short description explaining some fascinating facts about the bird. The reader can then press the relevant button...

Sleepy Kiwi by Katherine Q. Merewether takes readers on a serene journey through the nightly routine of a sleepy kiwi bird. As the sun sets and the world gradually quietens, the tiny nocturnal bird begins his exploration under the star-lit New Zealand sky. Designed to captivate the attention of newborns and infants, this beautifully illustrated black and white book uses...

Te Tuna Watakirihi Me Nga Tamariki O Te Tiriti O Toa/Watercress Tuna and the Children of Champion Street by Patricia Grace, with illustrations by Robyn Kahukiwa, is a timeless and enchanting picture book that has been cherished since its original publication in 1984. This bilingual Maori-English edition, translated into te reo Maori by Hirini Melbourne, brings the beloved tale to...