October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 31

Here endeth the month in which a group of New Zealand children's literature people shared NZ books for children or teens.

The bingo card challenge for today is: 

share a New Zealand book for children or teens that you learned about during this challenge. 

After 20+ years in children's librarianship, with a few of them spend in children's literature charities, and judging panels - that's a hard ask. 

And, as the participants dropped off - as they do - the spread and chance of finding a rare gem has lessened. 

So - this is offered as pretty much the only book I hadn't heard of. 

Here upon the tide 

By Blair McMillan. 

Bateman Books, 2023.
ISBN 9781776890613

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 30

Share a NZ book for children or teens you saw at a launch, event, or book signing
Hideout 
Written by Lorraine Orman. 
Longacre Press, 2007. 
ISBN 9781877361814. 

I'm sure I've been to more launches and events - but I wanted to highlight my friend Lorraine's book. 

 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 29

Share a NZ book for children or teens you wish you'd read earlier. 
Pōtiki. 
Written by Patricia Grace. 
First published Penguin, 1986. 

Maybe I'm mis-remembering, but I *think* Pōtiki was an assigned book at high school. (In which case, it counts as for teens.) 

If it wasn't, it represents what NZ literature came to mean for me: books I was supposed to read - the 'good for you' books - which were forced on me, at a time when I wasn't ready for them. 

To be honest, it could have been Witi Ihimaera's Pounamu, pounamu. 

But, to teenaged me, they all had the flavour of good-for-you vegetable reading. 

Now, reading them, I appreciate them so much more. I am older, and my world view has grown. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 28

Share a NZ book for 15 to 18 year olds. 
Smiling Jack. 
Written by Ken Catran. 
HarperCollins, 2010. 
ISBN 9781869508128.  

So chilling and terrifying. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 27

Share a NZ book for children or teens: that you borrowed from the library
Miles and Jones. 1, The anaconda attack. 
Written by Sam Smith. 
Illustrated by César Lador. 
Little Moa 2024. 
ISBN 9781869715564. 

Tongue-in-cheek, self-referential, completely over-the-top.... with a cliffhanger ending! Where is the sequel?!