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

Hearing the wonderful news that six more towns are going to be Refugee Resettlement centres, we got thinking about what books might provide the best and friendliest introduction to a new life in Aotearoa New Zealand. Here's our starting list of picture books for newly arrived former refugees. What favourites would you add? Detail from Kia ora, You can be a Kiwi too, by June Pitman-Hayes, translated by Ngaere Roberts, illlustrated by Minky Stapleton The books that form our chi

Are your kids intersted in the wilder world? Or do they love to cook? These books have tips on how to save the environment, and what you will find there if you look hard enough, reviewed by mother and journalist Tara Ward. Animals of Aotearoa by Gillian Candler and Ned Barraud (Potton & Burton) Animals of Aotearoa is the latest in the popular ‘Explore and Discover’ series about New Zealand flora and fauna, and what a beautiful resource it is. It’s a treasure trove of fascinat

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

Each of these three new non-fiction titles presents fascinating information in an engaging and imaginative way. Coincidentally, they all deal with themes of journeys and/or exploration. Gillian Candler wrote a Reckoning about factual books, while Maria Gill had some thoughts on creative non-fiction, and Ned Barraud took us through a day in the life. Here, Philippa Werry reviews their latest work. Toroa's Journey, by Maria Gill, illustrated by Gavin Mouldey Maria Gill’s twin p

The superb New Zealand writer and illustrator team, Gillian Candler and Ned Barraud, have recently released their sixth collaboration in the Explore and Discover series, Up the River. Today Ned gives us a peek behind the scenes and tells us about the daily life of a New Zealand illustrator. Inside spread from From Moa to Dinosaurs, by Gillian Candler, illustrated by Ned Barraud, before the text is overlaid. Thalia Kehoe Rowden, for The Sapling: Is there such a thing as an ave

Mary Walker reviews one British and three Kiwi non-fiction books for children of various ages and finds that, generally, they're being done well. Here are books on biodiversity, space, sharks and feet! A spread from Lots by Nicola Davies (Walker Books) Books are big in our house. As a homeschooling family (with children aged nine, six and five years old), books of all kinds make up a large portion of our learning. Fiction gets a lot of airtime. But it’s the non-fiction books

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