Here are reviews of two new picture books that couldn't be more different! One's a whimsical story about refugees; the other's a funky, funny book for new babies. What did our editor and reviewer Jane think of them? Read on. WISP: A STORY OF HOPE by Zana Fraillon and illustrated by Grahame Baker Smith (Hachette) It’s refreshing to come across a picture book about a serious, complex human issue that uses human characters in the illustrations, instead of hiding behind a metapho

Disability consultant, activist and blogger Robyn Hunt suggests 21 books, from picture books to YA, that illuminate experiences of disability. Designing a book list for children and YA on disability is difficult. Such books are not usually at the top of the bestseller list, especially in a small market like New Zealand. Sadly local examples were few and far between, which is a little disappointing, but there are some gems to be found. These books are important as we struggle

If you're a teacher, parent or other friendly person supporting children who are learning English, you'll know it's tricky to find good books for them, especially if they're older than five or six. Today specialist teacher Frank Wilson initiates us into the mysteries of what books suit English language learners: what to look for, and some great examples to search out. Recently, I had the privilege to work with a 14-year-old boy from Burma. Not only could he read and write in