Revitalising a language and raising a family are both harrowing, amazing tasks. What happens when you do both at the same time? In celebrating Māori Language Week, Louise Whaanga (Ngāti Kahungunu) shares a wonderful account of the role Māori language children’s literature plays in their whare. Louise, Piki, Te Manako, Matangirau and partner Paul. Photograph by Louise Whaanga There’s magic in books. Magic that lets you escape your reality and see the world through someone else

A few weeks ago, John McIntyre wrote his final replies to the last round of Dear John letters we received before he died. One of the letters asked for suggestions of must-haves for a first library, and we thought John's answer deserved its own post. A spread from Roadworks Dear John, My wee bubba is 18 months old, and I am getting stumped for what types of books are most likely to pique their interest. We are keen not to go down the road of gender-marketed books, so we’d love