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

In response to a request The Sapling put out on Twitter, teacher and author Sarina Dickson has compiled this wonderful list of New Zealand titles for those young readers who have finished Harry Potter and are reading above their age level at primary school. Advanced readers, assemble! As a child I loved to read. By the age of eight, I was reading anything I could get my hands on and in desperation had moved onto the books my mother had read. I read all about what Katy did at

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

Over Summer, my nephews and I read some recently published te reo Māori and bilingual children’s books. Nō Tauranga Moana rāua, Te Kaponga and Mangō-Ururoa are almost 10 and 7 years old respectively and te reo Māori is their first language. Ko Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Rangiwēwehi, Ngāti Hinerangi ō rāua iwi. These are our thoughts. Te Pohū, nā Sacha Cotter i tuhi, nā Kawata Teepa (Tūhoe) i whakamāori, nā Josh Morgan (Te Aitangā-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata) ngā pikitia i tā Te Kapong

The images and the story of Margaret Mahy’s “A Lion in the Meadow” have almost become a part of the collective consciousness of children who grow up in Aotearoa. This year, the Māori language translation of the book: “He Raiona i roto i ngā Otaota” by Piripi Walker, was released. Krissi Smith was lucky enough to chat to Piripi about this classic book which has been given new life in te reo Māori! (Read this interview in te reo Māori here.) Tēnā koe Piripi! Despite the many be

Ko ngā pikitia me ngā kōrero o Lion in the Meadow nā Margaret Mahy, he mea tuhi ki te rae o te tamaiti i tipu ake i Aotearoa nei. I tēnei tau, i puta mai ki te ao He Raiona i roto i ngā Otaota nā Piripi Walker i whakamāori. I kōrero tahi a Krissi Smith rāua ko Piripi Walker mō te pukapuka tawhito kua ara mai anō hei pukapuka hou i te reo rangatira! (You can read this interview in English tomorrow.) Tēnā koe Piripi! Ahakoa ngā painga o tēnei ao matihiko, ehara tēnei i te kōrer

Amy Austin, Deputy Principal and PhD student, asks ‘Can children do philosophy?’; ‘What does it entail and who benefits?’; ‘What stimulates philosophical thinking?’ Detail from Frog and Toad, by Arnold Lobel For many, the picture that first comes to mind of a philosopher could be that of an academic or scientist: white, male, old, perhaps wearing a cardigan (or even a toga). However, any conversation with a three year old (“But why?”) should prompt one to question, are childr

In the 16th of our regular comics from Giselle Clarkson, she ruminates on the unusual history of one of the most-loved works of literature in New Zealand. GISELLE CLARKSON Giselle Clarkson is a freelance illustrator and comic creator from Wellington. Her work has appeared in a bunch of School Journals as well as Gecko Press’ ANNUAL. Her secret talent is rescuing moths from the shower without accidentally drowning them. She illustrated the 2018 picture book Secret World of But

Margaret Mahy's The Christmas Tree Tangle was originally published in 1994, and a newly illustrated edition was released by Puffin in November 2017. We ​asked illustrator​ ​Sarah Davis​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​the​ ​process​ ​of​ ​re-illustrating an​ ​existing​ ​book, to which she said 'You ​are​ ​very​ ​important​ ​and​ ​terrifying​ ​people,​ ​so​ ​I​ ​better​ ​do​ ​what​ ​you​ ​say, or​ ​else.' Sarah Davis Re-illustrating a well-loved classic The​ ​most​ ​important​ ​thing​ ​a

Founding Sapling editor, Jane, has been away from The Sapling for the past three months due to having a baby, Pete. Here she offers ten thoughts about books and reading in relation to hanging out with a new human every day. Jane and Pete-the-newborn. Photo by Daisy Day. 1. When you’re holding a very new baby and only have, maximum, one free hand, it is far easier to turn board-book pages than paper pages. 2. Children’s books give caregivers something to say so we don’t have t

Jordan Watson is better known - to millions of YouTube viewers - as How to Dad, giving hilarious advice on the practicalities of dad-hood to parents all over the world. Today he tells us about the books that were most important to him, growing up, and what he's reading with his children now. Inside spread from How to Dad Volume 2 by Jordan Watson, published by Allen & Unwin, RRP $24.99. G'Day, How to DAD here. Maybe I'm getting too old but I can't remember exactly what I was

Ahead of Father's Day, four Kiwi Dads let us in on what their family reading lives are like. Here are some excerpts from previous The Sapling articles by music journalist Nick Bollinger; founder of the Ngaio Marsh Awards and writer at Crime Watch Craig Sisterson; political cartoonist, comic artist, illustrator, and writer Toby Morris (aka The Pencilsword), and journalist, writer and editor of The Spinoff Books, Steve Braunias. First up is Nick Bollinger, with an account of re

Poet, historian and Green Party candidate Leilani Tamu shares the importance she places on words and ideas in her family – and the one book that suits everyone. My husband and I have two children: Kahlei, who is six (going on 16!) and Luka, who is two and full of energy. Given the four-year age gap between them, trying to find a book that appeals to them both can be a challenge. Nonetheless, the magical Margaret Mahy always comes to my aid with Down the Back of the Chair. Eve

Every two weeks we compile, for your browsing pleasure, cool children's book happenings (and peripherally related news) from around Aotearoa, the world and the internet. The enticing children's book section at Nelson bookstore VOLUME. A little US-centric but here are some great ideas to get your whole family thinking about feminism. And here's an article about feminism in YA books. And from closer to home, Nelson bookshop VOLUME have put together a great post about their femi

Hooray, it's a quiz! Test your children's book knowledge every month – first up is a quiz to celebrate Margaret Mahy's birthday. Answers are at the bottom of the page. Good luck... 1. What's the name of the 14-year-old protagonist in The Changeover? A. Kate B. Laura C. Carmody D. Lucy 2. Where was Margaret Mahy born? A. Whakatane B. Christchurch C. Petone D. Tauranga 3. Margaret Mahy's first published story, 'Harry is Bad', appeared in the Bay of Plenty Beacon. How old was sh