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?! 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 26

Share a NZ book for children or teens: that is a seasonal read (any season). 
Remember that November. 
Written by Jennifer Beck. 
Illustrated by Lindy Fisher. 
Huia 2012.
ISBN 9781775500100. 

Remember Parihaka. 

 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 25

Share a NZ book for children or teens: published this year
The hunt for the whistle: a cleft adventure. 
Illustrated by Scott Pearson. 
Huia, 2024. 
ISBN 9781775508236. 

I think this is a well-meaning book. 

I also think you can tell that is is written for a purpose, and by a committee. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 24

Share a NZ book for children or teens that you bought in a local bookshop. 
Atua: Māori Gods and heroes
By Gavin Bishop. 
Puffin 2021. 
ISBN 9780143775690. 

How could I not? 

Weekend Reads: 21 October 2024

I Follow the Fox

By Rob Biddulph. 

HarperCollins, 2024. 

ISBN 9780008627676. 

From my notes: Read the copyright info! 

London on a snowy day. 

Rhyming couplets tell the story of a possible dream journey through snowy, Christmas-time, London in search of lost little foxes. 

A gentle story, with diverse characters. 

Note: possible black-washing: the characters are non-white. 

A Damsel Not in Distress! 

By Bethan Stevens. 

Frances Lincoln, 2023. 

ISBN 9780711275171. 

The damsel objects to being stuck in the narrator's stereotypical story and shakes things up. 

Nobody Likes Mondays. 

By Kelly Lee. 

EK Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781922539847. 

Australian. 

If you're going to personify the days of the week, and some of the personifications are based on what their names come from, then why not all? 

I know most children won't notice / object - but some will. 

Monday = Moon ✓

Tuesday = Twi / Týr ☓

Wednesday = Woden / Oden ☓

Thursday = Thor ✓

Friday = Frigg ✓

Saturday = Saturn ✓ ? 

Sunday = Sun ✓

Courage Out Loud: 25 poems of power. 

By Joseph Coelho and Daniel Gray-Barnett. 

Wide Eyed Editions, 2023. 

ISBN 9780711279193. 

A wonderful collection of poetry, which includes ideas / suggestions for presenting / responding to them. 

Moggie McFlea: the Witch's Cat. 

By Anna Kemp and Adam Beer. 

Simon & Schuster, 2024. 

ISBN 9781471193385. 

Rhyming. A tale of redemption and friendship. 

Imelda and the Goblin King. 

By Briony May Smith. 

Flying Eye Books, 2023 (also published in 2015). 

ISBN 9781838741655. 

Autumnal colours.

A tale of greed and comeuppance. 

Has a classic fairy tale feel - with a modern twist. 

This damsel can save herself - and her adopted family and friends. 

The Incredible Freedom Machines. 

By Kirli Saunders and Matt Ottley. 

Scholastic Press, 2018. 

ISBN 9781760275228. 

Australian. 

The power of reading in an allegorical tale. 

Sophisticated picture book. 

This Is the Tree We Planted. 

By Kate McMullan and Alison Friend. 

Alfred A. Knopf, 2022.

ISBN 9780525579472. 

A cumulative tale, a la 'The House that Jack Built'. 

The importance of trees as part of an ecosystem - and community. 

Do! Scribble! Go! 

By Hervé Tullet. 

Allen & Unwin, 2024. 

ISBN 9781761181214. 

My brain is full of ideas on how to make this into a library programme! 

The Verts: a story of introverts and extroverts. 

By Ann Patchett and Robin Preiss-Glasser. 

HarperCollins, 2024. 

ISBN 9780063064553. 

Sigh. Well-meaning. Worthy, but not notable. 

It Stars with a Raindrop.

By Aimee Gallagher and Sally Anne Garland. 

Words & Pictures, 2024. 

ISBN 9780711285934. 

No author or illustrator information on cover! Illustrator on title page, author only on copyright. 

Rhyming. 

Diversity in illustrations, including race and one in a wheelchair. 

Information about the water cycle. 

Free to be Fabulous! 

By David McMullin and Robbie Cathro. 

Clarion / HarperCollins, 2024. 

ISBN 9780063239685. 

Bullies try to stop Daniel being fabulously himself, but, with the encouragement of others, he wins. 

You never know how you appear to others, and how much they appreciate you. It is the haters who dominate the discourse. 

Something I had re-enforced to me just today.

Opposing this, are the comments made about one of my great-niblings embracing their identity. And how that has encouraged others to do the same. 

Kia Ora Baby: a book about baby siblings for Kiwi kids. 

By Donovan Bailey. 

An Upstart Press Book, 2024. 

ISBN 9781990003974. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Nothing too negative about a new baby - which is a change! So many new baby books are negative, which parents may be trying to avoid. Simple and bright. 

The Butterfly Fluttered By. 

By Kate Preece and Pippa Ensor. 

David Bateman, 2024. 

ISBN 9781776891146. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Rhyming couplets. 

Insects in Rēkohu / Wharekauri / Chatham Islands. 

One Little Word. 

By Joseph Coelho and Allison Colpoys. 

Frances Lincoln, 2023. 

ISBN 9780711279094. 

How one little word can lead to an argument, which grows and spreads and takes all around it. 

Diversity of characters. 

Spiro. 

By Anna McGregor. 

Scribble, 2024. 

ISBN 9781761381010. 

Australian. 

Sparkles!

Perseverance. 

Spiders! 

Twisty ending. 

Everybody Feels Fear! 

By Ashwin Chacko. 

Dorling Kindersley, 2022. 

ISBN 9780241569016. 

A bright and reassuring message. 

The creator is Indian, living in Dublin. 

We Are All Brave. 

By Paul Crumble  and Jonathan Bentley. 

Omnibus Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781761524653. 

Australian. 

Illustrated through use of animals. 

Simple. Okay. Nothing outstanding. Nothing offensive. 

Solid. 

Bear's Lost Glasses. 

By Leo Timmers, translated by David Colmer. 

Gecko Press, 2024. 

ISBN 9781776575947. 

Translator is Australian. 

So much fun! 

We've had conversations like this in my house / family!

Not just the 'lost' glasses - but also what 'bad' eyesight can reveal. 

Merry Christmas, Little Wombat. 

By Charles Fuge. 

Walker Books Australia, 2024. 

ISBN 9781760655105. 

Australian. 

Underlying a cute tale of friendship and imaginative play, is the reality of pollution and rubbish on the beach. 

It sort of sucked the joy out of the story for me. 

A Mind of Her Own: the story of mystery writer Agatha Christie.

By Robyn McGrath and Liz Wong. 

Beach Lane Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781665917933. 

A sophisticated picture book biography. 

There is so much to look at, and for, within the pages. 

Prunella. 

By Beth Ferry and Claire Keane. 

Simon & Schuster, 2024. 

ISBN 9781665921732. 

Individuality and a love of the different - and finding your place and people. 

Diverse characters. 

Just the Two of Us. 

By Polly Noakes. 

Andersen Press, 2024. 

ISBN 9781839134241. 

Imaginary friends and growing up and away from them. 

Follow My Food books: 

Shelly Hen Lays Eggs. 

Polly Bee Makes Honey. 

By Deborah Chancellor and Julia Groves. 

Scallywag Press, 2023 / 2024. 

ISBNs 9781915252142 / 9781915252159. 

Also available: Milly Cow Gives Milk and Granny Pip Grows Fruit. 

Basic introduction to where various food items come from. 

The Spotless Giraffe. 

By Peter Millett and Alison Hawkins. 

Happy Yak, 2024. 

ISBN 9780711296343. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Inspired by a true story. 

The first day of school and not fitting into the boxes. 

An earnest book. 

Kiwi Bees Have Tiny Knees: native bees of Aotearoa New Zealand. 

By Rachel Weston. 

Weston Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9780473713966. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Informative and entertaining. 

A Lot of Silly: a book of rhymes and nonsense. 

By Joy Cowley and David Barrow. 

Gecko Press, 2024.

ISBN 9781776575978. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

The inimitable Joy Cowley at her fun and silly best. 

That doesn't mean there aren't the occasional moments of pathos. 

Fish Farts: and other amazing ways animals adapt. 

By Joanne Settel and Natasha Donovan. 

Atheneum Books, 2024. 

ISBN: 9781665918831. 

A great animal science book, with animals as diverse as a bombardier beetle and a capuchin monkey. 

Open Wide!: jaw-dropping mouths of the animal world. 

By Letizia Diamante and Ed J. Brown. 

What on Earth!, 2024. 

ISBN 9781804661352. 

More animal science. Perfect for inquisitive people of all ages. 

Tasting With Your Feet: the amazing ways animals make sense of the world. 

By Ned Barraud.  

Potton & Burton, 2024. 

ISBN 9781988550688. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Animal senses, and how different they can be from what we use. 

All really good information, but also still using the debunked human tongue tastebud map. 

The Dragon Atlas: legendary dragons of the world.  

By Anna Claybourne and Pham Quang Phuc. 

Laurence King, 2024. 

ISBN 9781510230590. 

Not just dragons, but dragon-adjacent. 

Definitely across the world, which is refreshing. 

Miles and Jones 1: The anaconda attack. 

By Sam Smith and Cėsar Lador. 

Little Moa, 2024. 

ISBN 9781869715564. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Graphic novel with a massive cliffhanger ending. Fun and silly. 

Duffy and the Bullies. 

By Jeff Szusterman and Ant Sang. 

Oratia Media, 2024. 

ISBN 9781990042560. 

Aotearoa New Zealand.

Graphic novel with a message. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 23

Share a NZ book for children or teens by an author you discovered this year. 
The three little tardigrades: a slightly scientific fairy tale. 
Written and illustrated by Sandra Fay. 
Godwin Books / Henry Holt and Company 2024. 
ISBN 9781250776099. 

Ok, the author has only released two books. And they were published overseas.

This one was a chance discovery. I picked it because... tardigrades! 

And, so good! 

PS I'm currently listening to a podcast about tardigrades, ie Invincible Moss Piglets. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 22

Share a NZ book for children or teens by an illustrator whose work you enjoy: 
Vasanti Unka. 

I first came across Vasanti's work with The Bean's Story (text Tatiana Aslund; Scholastic 2007).

I used it for talks I gave on picture book design. 

Then, each book I saw added to my admiration.

Vasanti has a style that is all hers - but not the same. 

Each book's style is distinctly its own.

Vasanti has also illustrated: 

• Hill & Hole (text Kyle Mewburn; Puffin 2010). 
• The Boring Book (Puffin 2013). 
• Stripes! No, Spots! (Puffin 2015). 
• Who Stole the Rainbow (Puffin 2018). 
• I am the Universe (Puffin 2020). 
• My Elephant is Blue (text Melinda Syzmanik; Puffin 2021). 
• Lucy and the Dark (text Melinda Syzmanik; Puffin 2023).