The bilingual Simmonds whānau has reviewed two new picture books. Read on to find out what Shirley, Tamihana (10) and Raukawa (9), think about them. You can also read a version of these reviews written in te reo Māori. The Smelly Giant, by Kurahau and illustrated by Laya Mutton-Rogers (Huia Publishing) No doubt we all know the stench of smelly feet! As we were reading this book, it was as if we could smell the odour of Toe Jam’s giant stinky toes. Spread from The Smelly Giant

He arotakenga pukapuka ēnei, mō ngā pukapuka pikitia hou nā Kurahau rāua ko Renee Chin. Nā Shirley Simmonds, ko Tamihana Simmonds (10 ōna tau), rātou ko Raukawa Simmonds (e 9 ōna tau) ngā arotakenga i tuhi. He aha ō mātou whakaaro? Me pānui koutou i ēnei pukapuka! Tio Tiamu, nā Kurahau rāua ko Laya Mutton-Rogers (Huia Publishing) Kāore e kore ka mōhio tātou katoa i te haunga a ngā waewae pirau! I te wā e pānui ana mātou i tēnei pukapuka, te ahua nei, ka rongo mātou ki tērā ha

Earlier this year, Hachette New Zealand ran a unique competition: seeking new illustration concepts for Margaret Mahy's classic The Boy With Two Shadows. The competition was open to artists and illustrated who were not yet published – and the winner was designer and artist Sarah Greig. Sarah takes us through her process of applying, and shares some of her gorgeous illustrations and images that inspired her work. Snippets from Sarah's winning submission. This has been the year

October 2017 saw Sunshine Coast local Jessica Townsend hit the big time. Her children’s novel Nevermoor was the biggest-selling Australian children's debut since records began. It swept the world into a frenzy and propelled her into literary stardom. The second instalment, Wundersmith, has been eagerly anticipated and the magic and mystery will hold readers in its grasp until the very last page. Jessica Townsend at an Auckland school visit Having passed a series of dangerous