Do you know any kids who love to explore and discover? Nature lover and environmental educator Linda Jane Keegan gives a rundown of New Zealand native species identification guides and other non-fiction nature books. When I was a kid, I wanted to make a booklet of flowers and weeds found in my parents’ suburban garden. Sadly I gave up this fine endeavour, because I struck the tricky problem of how was I going to figure out which flowers were flowers, and which flowers were we

Thalia reviews four new picture books from Aotearoa: a whimsical gumshoe story, two books introducing our wildlife taonga to children, and a sensitive portrayal of the grandparent-grandchild relationship, and the Vietnam War. Detail from the cover of Whose Home is This? by Gillian Candler, illustrated by Fraser Williamson Whose Home is This?, by Gillian Candler, illustrated by Fraser Williamson It’s not often I think a picture book is flawless, but I’m going to declare today

Fraser Williamson is a freelance artist and illustrator, whose works are frequently seen in books, early readers, magazines and art galleries. We asked him to outline a day in his life, to celebrate the publication next month of the third in his series of nature books with Gillian Candler, Whose Home is This? (Potton & Burton) My day usually starts with a walk around the block. I’m not fond of daylight saving, as I love to see the dawn. A little quiet meditation or some bead

An excerpt from Suzanne Main's How Not to Stop a Kidnap Plot, a Junior Fiction novel that tells the tale of how Michael's desire to get revenge on rich kid bully Angus backfires. Chapter 3 recounts the germination of a plan, and the introduction of the marvellous Miss Munro. from Chapter 3 The final lesson that day was art. There was a buzz of anticipation before class. Everyone took their seats, eyes forward, waiting for Miss Munro to arrive. Art class is interesting, but n

Gillian Candler argues for more recognition of the importance of New Zealand non-fiction books for children, while at the same time wishing there was another term to describe these bound paper receptacles of creativity, serendipity and juicy, rich morsels. Spread from In the Bush by Gillian Candler and Ned Barraud (Potton and Burton, 2015) I wish there was another name for ‘non-fiction’. It seems a shame to use a negative to define what can be such imaginative and creative wo