Share a New Zealand book for children or teens that
taught you something new
Pocket observology: a field guide.
Written and illustrated by Giselle Clarkson.
Gecko Press, 2026.
Slip this practical field guide out of your pocket to
identify, measure, compare, or find clues to things you encounter every day in
nature. Pocket Observology is the perfect companion to Giselle
Clarkson's nature books The Observologist and Omnibird.
Share a New Zealand book for children or teens that is creative / narrative non-fiction
Queen of the Cosmos: Beatrice Hill Tinsley.
Written by Maria Gill.
Illustrated by Alistair Hughes.
Upstart Press Ltd, 2024.
Beatrice Hill Tinsley lived every day as if she was on
borrowed time. Over her short time on Earth, she was determined to further the
world's knowledge of the stars and galaxies. But it was not easy being a female
scientist in those times. She would have to make a heartbreaking decision in
order to follow her destiny. Find out about this extraordinary woman, who
became one of New Zealand's greatest scientists.
I appreciate that aspects of Beatrice’s life aren’t glossed
over – nor gone into in depth – but are included, even for a child audience.
I am gravity.
Written by Henry Herz.
Illustrated by Mercè López.
Tilbury House Publishers, 2024.
Non-fiction.
Lyrical prose non-fiction.
Families of a feather: a celebration of family diversity.
Written by Fern Wexler.
Illustrated by Kelsey Buzzell.
Little Bigfoot, an imprint of Sasquatch Books, 2025.
Non-fiction.
Who knew bird families were so diverse? From solo parents –
both dads and mums – to groups to same-sex couples – all are represented.
The ordinary life of Jacominus Gainsborough. [Originally
published in French as Les riches heures de Jacominus Gainsborough.]
Written and illustrated by Rébecca Dautremer.
Translated by Charis Ainslie.
Post Wave Children's Books, 2025.
Sophisticated picture book.
One to savour and ponder over. But, may be more for adults,
as children may not appreciate the lessons, or historical details within the
illustrations.
Nightsong.
Written and illustrated by Sally Soweol Han.
University of Queensland Press, 2023.
Australian.
Picture book.
Listening to the world, and the noise made at night –
without the din and bustle of the humanmade world.
The world entire: a true story of an extraordinary World War
II rescue.
Written by Elizabeth Brown.
Illustrated by Melissa Castrillón.
Chronicle Books, 2025.
Non-fiction.
Meet Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a Portuguese diplomat who
went against the wishes of his government, and wrote thousands of visas for
fleeing Jewish refugees.
There is a list at the beginning, of many diplomats who did
similar things, amongst them the Japanese consul in Lithuania Chiune Sugihara –
and you can read his story in Passage to freedom: the Sugihara story.
Sand cakes.
Written by Kallie George.
Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth.
Tundra, 2025.
Picture book
Beyond mud pies – this is a riot of imaginative play told in
rhythmic rhyming text.
The Kerfuffle. [Originally published in French as L'embrouille.]
Written and illustrated by Clotilde Perrin.
Translated by Daniel Hahn.
Picture book.
Die cut pages flaps enhance this story of neighbourly
warfare.
Cinderella - with dogs!
Written by Linda Bailey.
Illustrated by Freya Hartas.
Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025.
Picture book.
Fractured / retold fairy tale.
Who knew you needed a fairy DOG-mother, rather than
godmother?
Read with: Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson and Kevin
O’Malley.
Little Puggle's dance.
Written by Vikki Conley.
Illustrated by Hélène Magisson.
New Frontier Publishing, 2025.
Picture book.
Very cute, like an Australian themed version of Giraffes
can’t dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees (which has better rhymes).
Princess battle royale.
Written by Phaea Crede.
Illustrated by Jen Hill.
Viking, 2025.
Picture book.
An incredibly silly book – but so much fun!
A less-silly unexpected princess book is The princess and
the pit stop by Tom Angleberger and Dan Santat.
Snuggle season.
Written and illustrated by Jaimie MacGibbon.
Quirk Books, 2025.
Picture book.
A comforting rhyming book about the joys of winter and
snuggling.
Electric birds of Pothakudi. [Origianlly published in French
as Les oiseaux electriques de Pothakudi].
Written by Karthika Nair.
Illustrated by Joëlle Jolivet.
Tate Gallery, 2025.
Sophisticated picture book.
Sparked (sorry) by a true story – this is a community and
nature centric story which is solidly (and magically) set in rural India.
A dog and his boy.
Written by Joy Cowley.
Illustrated by Philip Webb.
Copy Press, 2025.
Aotearoa New Zealand.
Picture book.
Rhyming text carries the story of a dog who does his best
for his best friend.
If you like butterflies.
Written by Lola M. Schaefer.
Illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska.
Christy Ottaviano Books, Little, Brown and Company, 2025.
Sophisticated picture book.
Non-fiction.
So many butterflies! With facts and amazing illustrations.
The riding lesson.
Written and illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann.
Walker Books Ltd, 2025.
Sophisticated picture book.
Frances knows about horses – but that’s put to the test when
she has the chance to ride a real one.
Interesting note: that the family who own the horses and
stables are not the obviously white characters.
Going fishing with Nana.
Written by Frances and Lindsay Haji-Ali.
Illustrated by Karen Briggs.
Magabala Books, 2025.
Picture book.
Indigenous creators / First Nations.
Australian.
Rhyming text with Australian outback animals, and counting
by twos and multiplication. A gem.
Read with: Going for pippies by Wilaaran Hunter
Laurie and Tori-hjay Mordey; Ten scared fish by Ros Moriarty and
Balarinji; One lonely kākāpō by Sandra Morris.
Karamū and Maiao.
Written by Lynne Harata Te Aika.
Artwork by Kaitiaki Studios.
Tauti Mai Ltd, 2025.
Picture book.
Indigenous creators / Māori.
Aotearoa New Zealand.
English text with a lot of te reo Māori. Set in
Christchurch, Aotearoa. Introduces local wildlife and explains tikanga
(customs) like rāhui [https://maoridictionary.co.nz/word/6420].
The unicorn who came to school.
Written by Lucy Rowland.
Illustrated by Mike Byrne.
Scholastic, 2025.
Picture book.
Rhyming text.
Chaotic fun and silliness.
Bert and the bubble: a story about sharing.
Written and illustrated by Kim Hillyard.
Ladybird Books, 2025.
Picture book.
Worthy.
The dress with 100 pockets.
Written by Lily Murray.
Illustrated by Jenny Løvlie.
Sequel to A dress with pockets.
Why have one pocket, when you can have 100! All with special
purposes. Rhyming cadence, like a traditional rhyme.
Over or under?
Written by Pip Harry.
Illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper.
Australian.
Picture book.
Body surfing and ocean awareness.
Peta Pūkeko.
Written and illustrated by Nana Sharleen.
Translation by Sandy Ngāmoki and Edith Rolls.
Sharleen Forbes, 2024.
Aotearoa New Zealand.
Picture book.
Bilingual.
Pūkeko lifecycle. Worthy. Message forward.
A good night's sleep.
Written and illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark.
HarperCollins Children's Books, 2025.
Picture book.
A book about problem solving, and getting a good night’s
sleep.
Pow!
Written and illustrated by Neil Clark.
Ladybird Books, 2023.
Picture book.
Finding was to deal with worries and fears. Mainly – using
the power pose. Which is a bit worrying, as the power pose isn’t fully accepted
– mostly debunked.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_posing#Replication_failures_and_meta-analyses]
The boy who painted the world.
Written and illustrated by Tom McLaughlin.
Oxford University Press, 2024.
Picture book.
Art, and being unconvinced that they have any artistic
ability.
Read with Ish by Peter H. Reynolds; Sometimes a
dragon by Viviane Schwarz;
Dot! scribble! go! by Hervé Tullet.
This way up.
Written and illustrated by Tom Percival.
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025.
Picture book.
Perspective – what is up? What is down?
Read along with The Sneetches by Dr Seuss; Inside
cat by Brendan Wenzel.
A pocket full of rocks.
Written by Kristin Mahoney.
Illustrated by E.B. Goodale.
Alfred A. Knopf, 2025.
Picture book.
A wonderful way to look at the progress of the seasons.
Brave: a story about children's arthritis.
Written by Rachel Weston.
Illustrated by Richard Hoit.
Kids with Arthritis NZ Charitable Trust, 2025.
Aotearoa New Zealand.
Picture book.
Life living with arthritis as a child, with bits of
information about how it is different to adult arthritis. Includes
accommodations made at school to help.
The girl who tested the waters: Ellen Swallow, environmental
scientist.
Written by Patricia Daniele.
Illustrated by Junyi Wu.
MIT Kids Press, 2025.
Non-fiction.
Biography.
Sophisticated picture book.
Miffy and the artists.
Written and illustrated by Dick Bruna.
Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2025.
Picture book.
Interesting premise: comparing Miffy illustrations to famous
art, and encouraging the reader to try their hand, or answer questions.
The Pigeon won't count to 10!
Written and illustrated by Mo Willems.
Union Square Kids, 2025.
Board book.
Ah, The Pigeon. Great piece of reverse psychology.
Sun bird: the amazing journey of the Arctic tern.
Written and illustrated by Lindsay Moore.
Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2025.
Non-fiction.
Sophisticated picture book.
Another recent, and similar, book is Small, speckled egg
by Mary Auld.
Brave bears don't get scared.
Written by Suzy Senior.
Illustrated by Eleonora De Pieri.
Picture book.
Rhyming text.
Cutesy, but reassuring.
Refuge.
Written by Anne Booth. Illustrated by Sam Usher.
Nosy Crow, 2025.
In your face comparison of the birth of Jesus and his family
as refugees.
Sky & Ty. 1, Howdy, partner!
Written and illustrated by Steve Breen.
Pixel+Ink, 2024.
Graphic novel.
First chapter book graphic novel.
Dino poet. 1.
Written and illustrated by Tom Angleberger.
Abrams Fanfare, 2025.
Graphic novel.
Sneaky education about poetry.
The fire-breathing duckling.
Written and illustrated by Frank Cammuso.
TOON Books, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers,
2025.
First graphic novel, great for beginning readers.
A related picture book is Spreckle’s snack surprise
by Sandra Salsbury.
Ducky the spy: expect the unexpected!
Written and illustrated by Sean E Avery.
Walker Books Australia, 2024.
Graphic novel.
I’m not comfortable with the stereotyping found in this.
Cabin Head and Tree Head. 1.
Written and illustrated by Scott Campbell.
Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2025.
I’m not sure about this one – it could just be too weird for
me.
The sky was my blanket: a young man's journey across wartime
Europe.
Written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz.
Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2025.
Simple, yet powerful, biography.
This was a weekend dominated by horse books! I'm preparing for storytimes at the local A&P show - which has a horse theme this year.
Toes, teeth, and tentacles: a curious counting book.
By Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2025.
Non-fiction picture book.
A different counting book, which counts appendages / body
parts of various animals.
A great early non-fiction for curious animal lovers.
Is it asleep? [Originally published in French as Est-ce
qu'il dort?]
Written and illustrated by Olivier Tallec.
Translated by Anthony Shugaar.
Gecko Press, 2025.
Picture book.
Squirrel and Pock (a mushroom) look forward to seeing the
blackbird every day. One day, the blackbird is unmoving. They test to see if it
is alive / asleep – but the blackbird has died.
A quirky introduction to death, which does look at what it
means – physically – to be dead. And, a bit at life cycles.
All the Hulk feels.
Written and illustrated by Dan Santat.
Abrams Fanfare, 2025.
Graphic novel.
A discussion between the Hulk and Bruce Banner about
feelings and anger – and the importance of having a variety of emotions.
Freya and the snake [originally published in Swedish as Freja
och huggormen].
Written by Fredrik Sonck
Illustrated by Jenny Lucander.
Translated by B.J. Woodstein.
Kids Can Press, 2025.
Sophisticated picture book.
A very different approach to dealing with death.
Freya’s father kills a snake, which could have bitten one of
the family. Freya cannot forgive the snake murder, even after his reasons are
explained. Freya has to deal with her anger at her father, but also her love of
him.
Hilwa's gifts.
Written by Safa Suleiman.
Illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan.
Candlewick Press, 2025.
Picture book.
Set in Palestine, this book looks at olives and their
importance to the people – and how many ways olives are used.
It is also a tale of family and love.
The greedy wolf.
Written by Timothy Knapman.
Illustrated by Jean Jullien.
Walker Books, 2024.
Picture book.
A twisted fairy tale.
Similar to That is NOT a good idea! by Mo Willems,
but not as competently delivered.
The Moon Rabbit: a celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Written by Eva Wong Nava.
Illustrated by Jason Chuang.
Walker Books, 2025.
Picture book non-fiction.
A lush and atmospheric introduction to a traditional festival.
Wash day love.
Written by Tanisia Moore.
Illustrated by Raissa Figueroa.
Scholastic Press, 2025.
Picture book.
I can only imagine the trauma of the hair washing process, as
detailed in this picture book.
Yes, there is trauma – but there is also so much empathy and
love.
Big, little: a book of opposites.
Written and illustrated by Didier Cornille.
Post Wave Books, 2025.
Picture book.
Some unexpected juxtapositions here – and a few pages of
fold outs.
Deceptively simple.
The invisible parade.
Written by Leigh Bardugo.
Illustrated by John Picacio.
Orion Children's Books, 2025.
Sophisticated picture book.
The horseman from the night of Día de Muertos, and a story
of grief, combine in a stunning sophisticated picture book.
The pony club.
Written and illustrated by Gwenda Turner.
Puffin Books NZ, 1998.
Aotearoa.
Picture book.
A Gwenda Turner classic. Every time I re-read one of her
books, I grieve again that we lost her too soon.
There’s something quintessentially New Zealand in her books.
Horse meets Dog.
Written by Elliott Kalan.
Illustrated by Tim Miller.
Balzer + Bray, 2018.
Picture book.
This would be a riot to read as a duo / readers theatre!
It’s also a lesson in assumptions.
Whose poo?
Written and illustrated by Jeannette Rowe.
Lothian Children's Books, 2023.
Lift-the-flap picture book.
I am not a fan of poo / bum / far books. This one is ok – it
could vaguely be educational. Maybe. Around the edges.
If I was a horse.
Written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall.
Lothian Children's Book, 2023.
Australian.
Picture book.
Imagination, whimsy, and family fuel this story.
A friend for Little Bear
Written and illustrated by Harry Horse.
Walker Books, 1996.
Picture book.
I’m struggling to come up with reasons why this is kept in
our stack collection. It’s slight and a bit meh, really.
There are much better books about friendship and sharing
around these days. Try Mine! a story of not sharing by Klara Persson, Nichola Smalley, and
Charlotte Ramel.
Giddy-up! Let's ride!
Written and illustrated by Flora McDonnell.
Walker Books / Candlewick Press, 2002.
Picture book.
An expansion of the traditional rhyme: ‘this is the way the
lady rides’ – with some great additions, like drummers and fairies.
Unicorn (and Horse).
Written by David Miles.
Illustrated by Hollie Mengert.
Familius, 2018.
Picture book.
Jealousy rears its head, but Horse learns that there’s not
much difference between himself and Unicorn. Deadpan humour means this is more
suitable for older readers / listeners.
More sensitive souls may be upset with the kidnapping of Unicorn.
Lucy and Copper.
Written and illustrated by Mandy Foot.
Lothian Children's Books, 2021.
Picture book.
Lucy doesn’t want anything to do with Copper, the new horse.
She wants to stay riding Smudge, the family’s old pony.
Smudge is old now, and Lucy is too big.
Like Lucy transitioning from childhood pony to big horse,
this is a great book for those wanting a slightly longer, and more storyline-forward,
book.
Noni the pony counts to a million.
Written and illustrated by Alison Lester.
Allen & Unwin, 2021.
Australian.
Picture book.
Noni the pony has appeared in previous books. This is a
story of numbers, and friendship.
I love you, Little Horse.
Written and illustrated by Gianna Marino.
Philomel, Penguin Random House , 2025.
Picture book.
Love throughout the day, including love and enjoyment of the
natural world.
If a horse had words.
Written by Kelly Cooper.
Illustrated by Lucy Eldridge.
Tundra, 2018.
Picture book.
On the day of his birth Red Badger, a foal, is helped by a
boy. When Red Badger bucks the boy off, the boy’s father sells him. The pair
are reunited years later.
There’s beauty in the words, and white space on the page.
But, there’s something unsettling about the story and the underlying message.
Mini Whinny Goody Four-Shoes.
Written by Stacy Gregg.
Illustrated by Ruth Paul.
Scholastic, 2019.
Aotearoa.
The Mini Whinny books do not do it for me, she’s too
much of an obnoxious preschooler-type.
This does show problems with assumptions – Mini Whinny
assumes Goody Four-Shoes is too prissy and perfect, but given a chance, they
are the same and become friends.
Sugarlump and the unicorn.
Written by Julia Donaldson.
Illustrated by Lydia Monks.
Macmillan Children's Books, 2013.
Sugarlump is a rocking horse, whose wishes are granted by
the magical unicorn.
After many adventures, Sugarlump is content with his final
life.
What should a horse say?
Written by Fleur McDonald.
Illustrated by Annie White.
New Frontier Publishing. 2018.
Australian.
Picture book.
A simple picture book, but one that works for younger
readers / listeners.
I cannot draw a horse.
Written and illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper.
Union Square Kids, 2022.
Picture book.
A demanding cat, and a concerned narrator team up in this
quirky tale.
If I had a horse.
Written and illustrated by Gianna Marino.
Roaring Brook Press, 2018.
Picture book.
A young child dreams of what life would be like, if they had
a horse.
The silhouette illustrations mean that you can read into the
characters whatever you wish.
A horse named Steve.
Written and illustrated by Kelly Collier.
Kids Can Press, 2017.
Picture book.
Steve is desperate to be ‘exceptional’ – but his initial
attempt earns derision.
This does not really represent a message or moral I’d want
shared. It tries to be humorous, but comes across more ‘worthy’ and ‘earnest’.
Do you believe in unicorns?
Written and illustrated by Bethanie Deeney Murguia.
Candlewick Press, 2018.
Picture book.
An unreliable narrator, juxtaposition between text and
illustrations – this is a subtle story. Do you believe?
Hello, horse.
Written by Vivian French.
Illustrated by Catherine Rayner.
Walker Books, 2018.
Picture book.
First horse riding lesson.
A luminous and gentle book, in both text and illustration.
Arno and his horse.
Written by Jane Godwin.
Illustrated by Felicita Sala.
Scribble, 2020.
Australian.
Picture book.
A bit confusing, with disconnects between text and
illustrations – but not in a good way.
It’s also a story about death and grief, but that seems
almost an afterthought. Rhyming text.
Unicorns 101.
Written and illustrated by Cale Atkinson.
Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2019.
Sophisticated picture book.
Older readers will appreciate the humour and cartoon-style
illustrations.
The horseback librarians.
Written by Jane Yolen.
Illustrated by Alexandra Badiu.
Albert Whitman & Company, 2023.
Based on the Pack Horse Library Project, this is a tale of
literacy and community.
Wandering Star.
Written by Natalie Jane Prior.
Illustrated by Stephen Michael King.
Scholastic Press, 2019.
Australian.
A dreamlike tale, with suitably dreamy illustrations. How
much is real, and how much is imagination, is left entirely up to the reader.
Rhyming text.
A horse named Jack.
Written by Linda Vander Heyden.
Illustrated by Petra Brown.
Sleeping Bear Press, 2018.
Picture book.
Jack is bored, so breaks free and runs amok. Along the way,
he encounters numbers one to 10, then back to one, as he returns home.
Rhyming text.
Doris.
Written and illustrated by Sarah Jacoby.
Roaring Brook Press, 2023.
Doris escapes life in the circus to explore – only to
question her decision. A friend appears, who helps settle her.
