World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: Africa

  

Ikenga.

Written by Nnedi Okorafor.

Viking, 2020.

Fiction.

In southeastern Nigeria, twelve-year-old Mnamdi is determined to avenge his police chief father, who was murdered while trying to rid the town of criminals, but Nnamdi feels powerless until he receives a magical object which gives him superpowers.

There is little to no separation of the natural and supernatural – which, in this book, are completely Western cultural impositions on this world. On this culture. Reading – understanding and absorbing – takes a bit as you need to decouple any Western worldviews about nature and supernatural, to understand.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: Oceania

 

The shark prince.

Written by Malia Maunakea.

Penguin Workshop, 2026.

A middle-grade fantasy novel about Nohea, a Hawaiian boy who belongs to a family whose male members inherit the ability to transform into sharks. After his father's disappearance, Nohea lives with his mother and grandmother while trying to manage the family curse. Hoping to win prize money in a surfing competition to help his family remain in Hawaii, he enrols in school for the first time, where he forms friendships and faces personal challenges. As classmates begin to disappear, Nohea investigates whether the events are connected to his family's supernatural inheritance.

Mystery, family drama, making friends – and a world deeply embedded in ‘Ōiwi culture.

As someone with Pākehā (settler colonist) heritage – I could see the strong resonances with te ao Māori (the Māori world). 

Read along side T. K. Roxborogh's Charlie Tangaroa books. 

The author, Malia Maunakea, is Kanaka ‘Ōiwi (Native Hawai’ian).

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: Oceania

  

Charlie Tangaroa and the god of war.

Written by T.K. Roxborogh.

Illustrated by Laya Mutton-Rogers.

Huia Publishers, 2024.

Like every year, the summer brings new people to Tolaga Bay. It's been a full year since Charlie saved his hometown from destruction at the hands of gods, warring sea creatures and natural disasters. Charlie and his younger brother, Robbie, are enjoying their normal lives - fishing off the wharf and helping out at their mum's store - that is, until a visiting scientist is stabbed at the local campground, days before a meeting between local iwi and the government. So begins Charlie's quest to uncover a mystery taking place in the hills above the town.

A middle book in a series can be ho-hum. Thankfully, this is not the case here.

The author, Tania Roxborogh, is of Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri, Scottish, German, and Irish descent.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: The Americas

 

The first rule of punk.

Written by Celia C. Pérez.

Puffin Books, 2018.

There are no shortcuts to surviving your first day at a new school – you can't fix it with duct tape like you would your Chuck Taylors. On Day One, twelve-year-old Malú (María Luisa, if you want to annoy her) inadvertently upsets Posada Middle School's queen bee, violates the school's dress code with her punk rock look, and disappoints her college-professor mom in the process. Her dad, who now lives a thousand miles away, says things will get better as long as she remembers the first rule of punk: be yourself. The real Malú loves rock music, skateboarding, zines, and Soyrizo (hold the cilantro, please). And when she assembles a group of like-minded misfits at school and starts a band, Malú finally begins to feel at home. She'll do anything to preserve this, which includes standing up to an anti-punk school administration to fight for her right to express herself!

Identity, trying to fit yourself into moulds – and be true to yourself. Balancing the different parts of your identity, and people’s expectations. The wonder in finding like-minded people – particularly sympathetic adults.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: Graphic Novel or Comic

  

The ribbon skirt.

Written and illustrated by Cameron Mukwa.

Graphix, an Imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2024.

Graphic novel.

Ten-year-old Anang wants to make a ribbon skirt, a piece of clothing typically worn by women in the Anishinaabe tradition, for an upcoming powwow. Anang is two-spirit and nonbinary and doesn't know what others will think of them wearing a ribbon skirt, but they're determined to follow their heart's desire. Anang sets off to gather the materials needed to make the skirt and turns to those around them - their family, their human and turtle friends, the crows, and even the lake itself - for help. And maybe they'll even find a new confidence within themself along the way.

A joyful story of acceptance, in many guises – and the importance of role models. I love that Anang’s grandparents are so accepting and matter-of-fact. As are the friends and mentors from the non-human world. And some humans.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: Europe

 

Feather.

Written and translated from the Welsh by Manon Steffan Ros.

Firefly Press, 2024.

Originally published in Welsh as Pluen.

Huw always pops in to see his nan on the way home from school – she bakes him cakes and never fusses about his homework. So it's a great shock when, one day, Nan forgets his name, and calls him Johnny – the long-unmentionable name of her late brother. As Nan slowly slips into the grip of dementia, Huw and his friends go on a quest to learn more about Johnny and what happened to him. Exploring themes of friendship, family bonds and the history of conscientious objection in WW2, Feather is both modern and historical, as well as being relatable, particularly for children who may have grandparents with a similar dementia struggle to Nan.

Sympathetic and gentle, with moments of strength and sadness. Huw standing up to his father and asking for some attention is so brave.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: A Language with a Non-Latin Script

 

The village beyond the mist.

Written by Sachiko Kashiwaba.

Illustrated by Miho Satake.

Translated from Japanese by Avery Fischer Udagawa.

Restless Books, 2025.

A mountain town that's not on any map, a messy bookstore with infinite doors, and a spoiled prince under a forgetful wizard's curse... this summer might hold more than Lina bargained for! When a gust of wind carries off her umbrella, it leads Lina down a secret path between the trees to a strange and incredible world. In the hidden village of Misty Valley, centaurs roam the cobblestone streets and gnomes visit shops stuffed with spellbooks and enchanted desserts. All magic has a dark side, though, and sometimes even sorcerers need a human's helping hand.

For the younger age group – more 12 to 14 years.

Ethereal and mystical.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: Asia

The line they drew through us.

Written by Hiba Noor Khan.

Andersen Press, 2025.

Fiction.

Three best friends are born on the same day under miraculous circumstances. But by their twelfth birthday, Jahan, Ravi and Lakshmi's lives are about to change forever. The British announce Indian independence and draw lines of Partition that tear apart the country, and the friends. One of them flees, one of them disappears, and the other is left wondering, could a miracle bring them back together?

Heart-breaking. Touches of the mystical.

Stories of British genocide / cruelty / horrific behaviour are embedded into the story.

My caveat is the introduction, which makes it seem as though Bangladesh was created at the same time as the Partition in 1947. Which, to me, feels like a negation of the trauma and horror of the Liberation War of 1971 – and all that led up to it. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 21

Share a NZ book for children or teens that deserves more attention: 
When the Kehua Calls / When the Kēhua Calls
Written by Kingi McKinnon.
First published by Scholastic, 2002. 
ISBN 1869435222. 
Republished by Scholastic, 2024.
ISBN 9781775437734. 

    

I was so pleased to see this has been republished! It blew my mind - and creeped me out - when I read it all those years ago. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 17

Share a New Zealand book for children or teens: 
Picked by a young reader in your life. 
Duffy and the Bullies 
Written by Jeff Szusterman. 
Illustrated by Ant Sang. 
Created from an original play by Lauren Jackson.
Oratia Media, 2024. 
ISBN 9781990042560. 

 

This was highly recommended by a couple of great-niblings*, who attend a Duffy school and have their own copies. 

*a gender-neutral term for siblings' children. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 13

Share a New Zealand book for children or teenagers: written for ages 8 to 12 years old. 
Stellar Star
Written by Bridget Feehan. 
Scholastic NZ, 2005. 
ISBN 1869436741. 

Gosh, has it really been 20 years since this was published?! I'm really feeling my age! 

It must be time for a re-read. 

And, it would be interesting to see how it stands up. It felt pretty timeless when I read it the first time. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 12

Share a New Zealand book for children or teens: with a black-and-white illustration. 
The Silent One
Written by Joy Cowley.
Illustrated by Sherryl Jordan. 

Whitcoulls, 1981; ISBN 0723306303. 

Also published: Puffin, 1986; Puffin NZ, 2000. 

And, made into a movie in 1985. 

    

    

There were so many I could choose from - but I thought I'd share a blast from the past. 

Check out Joy's author picture!

And, this was one of Sherryl Jordan's first publications. We are so blessed that she focused on writing in the years to come. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day Six

Share a New Zealand book for children or teens: that is part of a series. 

The May series 
Author: Phyllis Johnston. 

1. No one went to town. Illustrated by Christine Brown, with maps by Ernest Papps. Price Milburn, 1980. 
2. Black boots and buttonhooks. Illustrated by Erneset Papps. Price Milburn, 1982. 
3. A comet in the sky. Illustrated by Adriana Tuscia. The Tauranga Moana Press, 1985. 
4. No lily-livered girl. Waiatarua Publishing, 1993. 
5. The fortunate ones. The Phyllis Webby Trust, 2018. 

Old classics. The sort of books we grew up reading, but are not in fashion now.

However, there's something to be said for reading about our history, through the tales passed on.

If I was sharing these with young readers today, I would try to balance with books from a te ao Māori perspective. Or, at least start a discussion. 

Tales of our pioneering forebears, tends to gloss over / romanticise the dispossession and subjugation that comes with colonisation. 

World Kid Lit Month 2023: Batchelder Award

A translated book awarded the Batchelder Award: 

Do fish sleep? 
Written by Jens Raschke; illustrated by Jens Rassmus; translated from German by Belinda Cooper. 

Enchanted Lion, 2019. 

*Sigh* another book featuring death and grief. 

It is such a universal, that there is no surprise it features in translated works. 

Simple and poignant. 

World Kid Lit Month 2023: Bonus Middle Grade Book

Bonus: A Middle Grade Book: 

Glitter boy
By Ian Eagleton.

Scholastic, 2023. 

I will admit to haunting our library catalogue in the hopes that this would eventually arrive! I was getting very close to making a purchasing suggestion.

Yet again, death features in one of my choices. 

Those books don't usually come with a whole heap of Mariah Carey love! 

The under-the-radar, low-level bullying of James is something that hits close to home.

Again, those middle years can be complete hell. They were the worst years of my bullying - and by those who were, ostensibly, my friends. 

Through it all, James keeps his glitter on. I quashed mine down. 

World Kid Lit Month 2023: A Middle Grade Book

A Middle Grade Book: 

The secrets of Cricket Karlsson. 
Written by Kristina Sigunsdotter; illustrated by Ester Eriksson; translated by Julia Marshall. 

Gecko Press, 2022. 

Me and books about death - again. 

This age is such a tough one to write about - and to live through. 

That balance between being a child, but sometimes stepping into adult waters. 

There's friendship issues.

The impact of adult mental health issues on those around them.

There's growing up. And growing away. And growing closer. 

World Kid Lit Month 2023: A Book from Africa

A book from Africa:

The kaya girl.
By Mamle Wolo. 

Little, Brown and Company, 2022. 

If you want to travel to another culture - to experience division and the effects of colonialism - then this middle grade book is what you're looking for. 

I live in a colonised land. I am the descendants of colonisers. I am working on seeing the impacts on Māori - the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa. 

I appreciate how 'different' this world is, to my Anglicised world view. 

World Kid Lit Month 2022: Day 24: A book from Southeast Asia

Bingo: A book from Southeast Asia:

The tiny boy and other tales from Indonesia 

Retold by Murti Bunanta; illustrated by Hardiyono.

World Kid Lit Month 2022: Day 21: Graphic novel translated from another language

Bingo: Graphic novel translated from another language:

I remember Beirut

By Zeina Abirached; art by Zeina Abirached; translation by Edward Gauvin

World Kid Lit Month 2022: Day 20: Middle grade fiction translated from another language

Bingo: Middle grade fiction translated from another language:

The raven's children By Yulia Yakoleva; translated from the Russian by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp.