Sarah Elton tells us about her journey to becoming the librarian at Bellevue School, the joy of reading aloud, and how to encourage creativity and enthusiasm when it comes to reading and creating a safe space for kids to be…
Belinda Whyte reviews two new collections for children and educators. Get Out! Go Wild! Outdoorsy Stories for Kids, by Marion Day As a literacy teacher in regional New Zealand, I meet many students who are passionate about hunting, fishing, and…
Erica Harrison and Hannah Tunnicliffe met at the school gate, and discovered a shared passion for children’s books. They chat with Annelies Judson about their new collaboration, Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum. I meet Erica Harrison and…
Claudia Palmer encounters Dunedin City Libraries’ mobile library service, the bookbus, and learns about its legacy across the city. After 75 years, this unique service has become much more than just a place to borrow books. It’s Wednesday, 9.38 am,…
Alex Adank and Becks Popham review four new picture books. The Tractor Has A Wobbly Wheel, by Tim Saunders and Carla Martell A new picture book from Tim Saunders, writer and farmer, and Carla Martell (best known for last year’s…
Bee Trudgeon shares a list of manga featuring characters with disabilities. Over the past decade, Japan has made strong progress affirming the rights of people with disabilities, working towards removing the physical and social barriers that have stymied their interactions…
Saadiyah Musa introduces us to My Little Library, the first Islamic children’s book and lifestyle store in New Zealand. The idea for My Little Library was born in 2020, shortly after the birth of our daughter, during the height of…
Becks Popham and Claudia Palmer review New Zealand Weather, Hidden Stories of Heroism for a Peaceful Planet and My Sore Throat. I’ll freely admit I had to squash my inner judgemental imp when I received these pukapuka to review. I…
Musician Kiki Van Newtown talks with writer and former musician Rachael King about playing in bands, opportunities for girls in the music scene and her new book, Violet and the Velvets: the Case of the Missing Stuff. When Rachael King…
The University of Otago has announced that the future of the Children’s Writer Residency is uncertain, following a funding cut. Ella West looks at the significance of the residency. This year’s Children’s Writer resident, Samantha Montgomerie from Dunedin, could be…