New Zealand Children's Books

Join Sam, Dad, Uncle Peng and Eli as they venture out on a fishing trip for Sam's birthday. After a dramatic rescue, will Mum have fresh fish to cook for dinner? Going Fishing contains three illustrated short stories using the same characters. Great for struggling readers, with an emphasis on action, relationships, and humour. Dyslexia-friendly text on soft matte cream...

Sophia has moved to her very own bedroom and as she drifts off to sleep, she slips into a magical world. Sophia becomes the queen of The First Adventure to Sophia Land and discovers that her imagination is special! Will Sophia learn how to use her magical imagination so she can help her new friends, Piggy and Cowy, find their...

Pee Wee the Lonely Kiwi Finds a New Friend - Special 10 Year Edition is part of the acclaimed Pee Wee the Kiwi series, a #1 Best Selling New Zealand children's book series that has sold over 500,000 copies in New Zealand. This charming series shares heartwarming stories of friendship among New Zealand's native birds and other animals. In this...

Having a new baby in the family is a big adjustment for not only the parents, but existing siblings as well. Donovan Bixley shows a family expecting a new baby, then the arrival and changes at home, with the older sibling dealing with changes in attention level and expectations leading through to the joy of another family member to play...

A powerful new historical novel from one of New Zealand's best-loved YA authors An exciting new novel from the author of Alex. In September 1840, two ships arrive on the shores of the Waitemata Harbour to establish Auckland, the new capital of New Zealand. Among the settlers on board the Platina is young Harry, travelling alone and determined to return...

Winner of the prestigious Swedish August Prize 2020. A bright, contemporary and fearless novel about an ordinary extraordinary eleven-year-old trying to win back her best friend and get her mother to stop sighing. Cricket Karlsson is going to become an artist just like her aunt, who loves cheese and art and always speaks her mind. Not like Cricket's mother, who...

A family had once moved into a different house.It was just a small family - a mum, a dad, and a little girl called Sarah. Well, this house was not exactly new - in fact it was one of those big old houses full of space and echoes.Come and explore this new home with Sarah and discover a mysterious cupboard...

Follow Tupaia as he grows up in Ra'iātea, becoming a high-ranking 'arioi and master navigator. Join him as he meets up with Cook in Tahiti and sails as part of the crew on the Endeavour across the Pacific to Aotearoa. Witness the encounters between tangata whenua and the crew as the ship sails around the coast, and discover the important...

Greedy Cat is back - and this time it's off to the vet! Katie wants to make sure that Greedy Cat stays healthy, so it’s time for him to go to the vet for a check-up and flu injection. Greedy Cat is not happy about this, and makes sure that he makes his feelings known! Another great story by Joy...

When the class visits the marae, they have lots to learn and lots to do. And they have lots of fun. This is a wonderful story about what to expect when visiting a marae. The Marae Visit offers readers an engaging insight into the experience of a marae visit, combining learning with enjoyment.

Is he a hippo that looks like a mouse? Or is he a mouse too big for this house? Just who or what is Squeakopotamus? And how will the kids, Mum and Dad keep him fed? No one yet has ever had a pet like the astonishing, demolishing Squeakopotamus. A memorable tale for younger readers from the bestselling authors of...

In the garden, creeping along branches, hiding under stones or flitting from flower to flower, a whole universe of creatures is waiting to be discovered. Butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps, spiders… what have you found in your backyard? Did you know that chorus cicadas live underground for most of their life? That bumblebees have smelly feet? That some species of stick...

New Zealand Nature Heroes is a must-have natural science activity book for young New Zealanders and their families. From experiments and observation to conservation and mindfulness, this appealing, activity-packed book stimulates curious minds and encourages children to relate to the natural world around them. Written by an expert museum educator, its beautifully illustrated pages develop budding research skills, awareness of...

Cricket Crazy follows the life of Tom Willard, a cricket-crazy eleven-year-old living in Wellington with his solo dad, Dave, and their dog, Archie. Tom dreams of making the junior representative cricket squad and playing at the fabled Basin Reserve. However, trouble arises when his prized cricket bat vanishes, and he must face Menace Mitchell, the notorious bowler from hell. Just...

The Little Yellow Digger is back, but this time, talented illustrator Fifi Colston has recreated some of the iconic illustrations and characters from the beloved 8-book series as blackline illustrations for children to enjoy colouring in.

Look at that baby donkey over there ... awww, it’s a dinky donkey! Hee-haw! This pint-sized package from the world-famous Wonky Donkey stable is full of laugh-out-loud fun! Now available in sturdy, board book format, perfect for little hands. The Dinky Donkey is a delightful follow-up for young fans and parents alike who can't get enough of this charming four-legged...

Singing aye aye yippee yippee aye, singing aye aye yippee yippee aye ... YEE HAA! This favourite traditional children’s song, which is sung in schools and preschools around the country (and sometimes in the car on family holidays!), receives the Topp Twins / Jenny Cooper treatment, in the style of the bestsellers There’s a Hole in My Bucket and Do...

This is the heart-warming tale of Pelorus Jack the Dolphin Guide, a rare white Risso’s dolphin who delighted passengers over 100 years ago as he guided steamships through the rough waters of French Pass into the calm waters of the Marlborough Sounds. Passengers from around the world, even royalty, came to see him, and it is believed he became the...

Three nanas, who lived in the City of Seas, never said thank you and never said please... And when these nanas go away on holiday and find that the resort doesn’t serve their favourite chocolate nachos with cheese... uh-oh! You’d better look out, as rude nanas become hangry nanas! But will they find their manners when they find themselves in...

While the people puzzled over how to shift a boat this BIG, a little yellow digger came and just began to dig. Inspired by the TRUE STORY of a giant container ship wedged in a tight spot and blocking one of the busiest waterways in the world, this playful addition to the classic series sees the world's favourite LITTLE YELLOW...

Granny's Undies is an adventurous, laugh-out-loud sing-along story by popular children's entertainer, Deano Yipadee. Imagine a pair of polka-dot pants caught by a wild wind, whisked off Granny's washing line and soaring away into the unknown. Go, go, go, Granny's undies! Up, up, up, away with the breeze! Fly, fly, fly, floating free! But wherever will they go next? Join...

Woof! says Dog. Moo! says Cow. Cluck! says Hen, and Duck Goes ... Meow. A little yellow duckling is amongst animal friends who are all sure of the sounds they make: hiss, neigh, moo, cheep, cluck and oink. But when Duck goes ‘meow’, the other animals say no, that is wrong, try again... Then Duck’s mama arrives, and boy, do...

The traditional tale Over in the Meadow is a classic. In Down in the Forest, the author takes this structure and retells it featuring native forest flora and fauna. Down in the forest, seeking shelter from the sun, lived a brown mother kiwi and her little kiwi one. “Sleep!” said the mother. “I sleep!” said the one. So they slept...

I Am Love

#1 Bestselling title 'Would I use the book to support tamariki (children) better understanding emotions? Yes, I definitely would.' - Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand 'An excellent book for parents and ECECs' - Maggie Dent, parenting author and educator. We all have lots of feelings, it's OK to let them show. They all live in our heart as our...

The lovable Wonky Donkey is back—but he’s playing hide-and-seek! Join Dinky Donkey in this playful adventure as she searches for her dad, Wonky. Lift the soft felt flaps to discover Wonky’s hiding place and lead Dinky to her dad ... and a big ole hug. Hee Haw!

Five minutes ... Two minutes ... Young soldier Jim McLeod waits in the trenches of World War I for the order to attack the enemy. With him are his friends and Nipper, the messenger dog. When they charge across no-man’s land, Jim is shot ... and finds himself face-to-face with an enemy soldier. A sensitively-written war story that shows the...

"When velvety dark descends, the whole colony wakes and the hollow comes alive with twitching and chittering." Bats are Aotearoa New Zealand’s only native land mammals. This book is set in an ancient forest and follows Pekapeka, a short-tailed bat, on her nocturnal adventures as she forages for food, evades predators, and plays a crucial role in pollinating native plants,...

Young Joe is living in pre-World War II Berlin, with his British father and NZ mother, attending school and witnessing the excitement of his friends who are enthusiastically joining the Hitler Youth Movement. Joe feels uncomfortable with the growing mistreatment of local Jews, and after the arrest of his father as a spy, he is forced to escape from Berlin...

"I have been accused of whitewashing the Nazi leadership in my memoirs. Some people say I make them seem human. But therein lies the problem. I saw these men up close. They were human. If we think of them only as monsters and demons we may lose sight of the fact that they were very much like you and I....

Bullied at school about his stutter, and feeling ignored at home by his mum, stepdad and stepsister, Thomas takes off to the beach with the family dog, Lucy. The dog begins barking outside a cave. Bold enough to investigate, Thomas finds an injured dragon. He is frightened at first, but something about the dragon’s eye reassures him and invites him...

This story is based on the true experiences of a remarkable horse called Bess, one of 10,000 NZ horses sent overseas to battle in World War One. Tragically, at the end of the war, the horses could not return to New Zealand due to quarantine laws and a shortage of ships. Luckily for Bess, her master battled to have her...

An exploration of life on a New Zealand farm during a long, dry spell. Through lyrical rhyming text, readers are taken on a journey across paddocks, barns, and treetops, encountering the animals and landscapes that make up the farm’s rich ecosystem. From the circling kahu in the sky to the hardworking sheepdogs, restless horses, and a watchful rooster, each page...

Join Rapeti and friends as they embark on a hunt in the outdoors to find their treasure ... which may come as a surprise to readers!

Tahi, Rua, Toru, Wha, let's race, e hoa ma! Little Rapeti (Rabbit) races with his friends, but he keeps hurting himself ... can he be brave and reach the finish line?

Rapeti's friends are having fun at the swimming hole, but Rapeti is too afraid to get in the water. Can Mum help? Can little rabbit be brave enough?

Po marie, e Ika. Po marie, Pukeko. Po marie, e Hipi. Little Rapeti (Rabbit) wants to say goodnight to all his friends ... is he going to be late for bed?

Look, my friend! Happy Easter. Ngā mihi o te Aranga! In this seventh adorable bilingual adventure, little Rapeti, the rabbit, works hard to surprise all his friends at Easter time. He is a happy, hoppy Easter bunny! Run, Rabbit: Easter Surprise / E Oma, Rapeti: Te Kura Huna o te Aranga invites children to experience the joy and excitement of...

Behind dusty orange hills, where the sky stretches down to the sea, there’s a magical, wild, windy place called Te Mata Hapuku. Sam and Te Rerehua love to visit their Grandma and Poua at Te Mata Hapuku (also known as Birdling’s Flat). They enjoy listening to the stories, set against a backdrop of whipping wind, flashing torchlight, and the splash...

A child describes all the delightful occasions where she might wear her gumboots in and around her day in both the town and countryside in NZ. Familiar NZ tropes are recalled and recaptured in this playful English and Maori singalong: Red Band gumboots, marmite, and NZ flora and fauna. Translated by Ngaere Roberts.

There's a new bird in the bush. Flit is bored. And hungry. A tasty mozzie lures him out of his nest. "I CAN fly," he calls, before he hits the ground with a THUD. How will he get back to his nest? Join Flit and his friends, Kiki the kaka, rascally robins Bit and Bob, Keri the kiwi, and wise...

Ko Flit, te Tirairaka, me nga Heki Muna is a delightful adventure where Flit, a young fantail chick, embarks on a discovery in the misty forest. Practising his landings, Flit finds himself flapping, flopping, slipping, then flipping over something peculiar. Flit's discovery? Eight rubbery white eggs! But the question is, whose eggs are they? Join Flit as he enlists the...

Kia ora! Join hands with us and explore this country we call Aotearoa. Welcome to the shores of New Zealand, where you can be a Kiwi too! From the creator of Tawhirimatea A Song for Matariki comes a playful new singalong in English and Maori.

There is much fun to be had with this uniquely Kiwi version of a popular children's song. Lots of potential for actions that young children will adore performing as they sing along. Also includes lyrics in te reo Maori.

In The Fairies' Night Before Christmas, we discovered a glade full of fairies preparing for Christmas. Now, in The Fairies' Night Before Christmas Activity Book, join the fairies and get creative with loads of mazes, dot-to-dots, games, and activities to complete and colour in! Featuring two pages of full-colour, Christmas-themed stickers.

Number 1 Bestselling Children's Book 'Tis the day before Christmas And all through the trees The fairies are working As busy as bees... Have you ever wondered what Christmas is like for fairies? This Christmas, step into the hidden world of forest fairies and see how resourceful, clever, and adventurous they are. This modern take on Clement C. Moore's A...

Nau mai, hoake tātou ko Aroha Te Whai Ora, i a ia e kaupare ana i te taiatea, i te mataku, i te māharahara, me te anipā, ki ana tukanga māmā ka taea e te katoa. Nā te ringatuhi rongonui nō Aotearoa, nā Craig Phillips, nāna ngā pukapuka o The Adventures of Jack Scratch me Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts (te...

He kiwi ihupuku, he kiwi rangirua hoki a Kuwi. Kua whanau mai tana hua hou hei tiaki mana, i tana kotahi. Kaore ano ia kia tiaki hua... Kuwi is a young and confused kiwi who has found herself alone with her newly laid egg. She has never had an egg before... He paki ngahau, he paki whakaaroha tenei ma te...

Te Toro Huhu a Kuwi is a superb book from a well-known author and illustrator. It offers a simple celebration of the parent/child bond, crafted for young children, with a story that parents can enjoy and relate to. The book features amazing, detailed, and vibrant illustrations, with delightful native gems hidden throughout its pages. The Kuwi the Kiwi™ series proudly...