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

Here's the latest in exciting new picture books here in Aotearoa, reviewed by Nida Fiazi – including the debut picture book from The Sapling's very own co-editor Thalia Kehoe Rowden. There's tries to score, oceans to clean up, voices to find and scary poems to read with your very best spooky voice! Rugby 123 / Whutupōro Tahi Rua Toru by Thalia Kehoe Rowden, illustrated by Myles Lawford, translated by Ngaere Roberts (Scholastic) I couldn’t quite believe my eyes when I saw this

As part of our coverage of this year's NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, we've asked the publishers of the picture book finalists to explain why that story caught their imaginations and demanded to be told in published picture book form. The journey to meeting and making Mini Whinny Stacy Gregg is a hugely popular and masterful storyteller, so when the opportunity arose to publish a series of playful pony-themed picture books that would reach out to a younger audi

Hardcover non-fiction or poetry can be a great choice of gift for the special or hard-to-buy-for child in your life. Here are three gorgeous, recent international books, all themed around nature. I AM THE SEED THAT GREW THE TREE: A POEM FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR selected by Fiona Waters and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon (Nosy Crow) Whatever you think of kids using digital devices these days (evil or harmless…?), there is no denying that this mighty tome offers the oppos

On 28 November 1893, Māori and European women voted in national elections for the first time in New Zealand, having won a law change on 19 September of that year. Today we introduce two new books for children on the topic of women's suffrage. Illustration from Kate Sheppard: Leading the way for women, by Maria Gill, illustrated by Marco Ivancic Kate Sheppard: Leading the way for women, by Maria Gill, illustrated by Marco Ivancic (Scholastic) 'On 28 November 1893, 85 percent o

Do you want to be sure you're getting top-shelf books for your favourite people this Christmas – or on any gift-giving occasion? We are making it easy for you! Here is our selection of the very best New Zealand picture books of 2018. The Bomb, by Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan What do you do when you’re no good at everyone’s favourite summer activity? In Sacha Cotter’s story of learning to do the perfect bomb, our young hero has to face failure and fear, and find his own path t

This month, Kay Benseman and her niece and nephews are reviewing four recently published books, including translations of older English editions and a bilingual book, too. From Tauranga Moana, Hinengākau Cameron is 12 years old, her tungāne, Te Kaponga and Mangō-Ururoa are nine and just newly seven years old respectively. Ko Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Rangiwēwehi, Ngāti Hinerangi ō rātou iwi. Detail from Te Hīnga Ake a Māui i te Ika Whenua o Aotearoa, he mea kōrero anō nā Donovan

It seems to impossible to think of a New Zealand childhood without certain things: jandals, gumboots, lolly cake and of course, Lynley Dodd. Two of her newest titles are reviewed here by Simie Simpson, alongside Little Hector and the Big Blue Whale, Kia ora, You Can Be a Kiwi Too, and The Taniwha in our Backyard. Little Hector and the Big Blue Whale, by Ruth Paul (Puffin) Ruth Paul always seems to manage cute and endearing in equal measure and Little Hector and the Big Blue W

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

Dear Donald Trump, by Sophie Siers and Anne Villeneuve This book is gold! Dear Donald Trump tells the story, in a series of letters, of a little boy called Sam who doesn’t want to share a room with his older brother any more. His brother plays on his phone after lights out, and steals his stuff. He is done with him – and he wants to build a wall. Sam ... doesn’t want to share a room with his older brother any more. His brother plays on his phone after lights out, and steals h

Humour authors Scott Tulloch and Myles Lawford interview one another about their careers, and about their most recent books - Where’s Kiwi Now? for Lawford, and Keep an Eye on that Kiwi, for Tulloch. The two do quite different things within the medium of (mainly) picture books, and this piece gives great insight into how each of them work. Myles Lawford and Scott Tulloch Scott Tulloch: I’ve just been looking through some of your books, and it’s the Where’s Kiwi? illustrations

As World Cup Fever sweeps, well, some of the nation, how well do you know your Aotearoa sporty books? Test yourself, share with a friend, and let us know on Facebook or Twitter how you do! 1. In Tessa Duder's Alex quartet, Alex Archer is a champion swimmer. What other sport does she excel at? A. Netball B. Hockey C. Tennis D. Bowls 2. Gecko Press has a new picture book out, Sports are fantastic fun. Who wrote it, and originally in what language? A. Ole Könnecke, in German B.

Since Beatrix Potter and before, animals have been a staple subject of children's literature. How well do you know your literary dogs, from the canon of Aotearoa New Zealand picture books? Test yourself, share with a friend, and let us know on Facebook or Twitter how you do! 1. In Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop’s Cowshed Christmas, what kind of dog brings a present to Jesus and Mary at the cowshed door? A. Alsatian B. Beagle C. Collie D. Dalmatian 2. In Marmaduke Duck and the Ma

Matariki Williams reviews three books: The Anzac Violin: Alexander Aitken’s Story, by Jennifer Beck and Robyn Belton; The New Zealand Wars, by Philippa Werry and The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga, by Debbie McCauley. Matariki Williams' daughter, engrossed in The Anzac Violin. How do we teach our children our history? The messiness, the complexity, the beauty and the gore – it is what shapes us. History is quite literally at our fingertips, available via a quick search, but i