Carla Martell

Reviews: Four New Rhyming Christmas Books

Christmas books go out from the library at any of time of the year (well at least they do in Tākaka), but obviously Christmas time is the best time for diving into these festive reads. Linda Jane Keegan reviews the…

Reviews: Five Picture Books

Annelies Judson brings us another batch of reviews of some of the latest picture books to hit the shelves. Lucy and the Dark, written by Melinda Szymanik and illustrated by Vasanti Unka I’m front-footing this review because it deserves to…

2023 NZCYA Picture Book Award Finalists

Editor Linda Jane Keegan took the picture book finalists to Tākaka Primary School to get the opinions from some of the junior classes. They were very receptive and engaged, and loved sharing their thoughts on the books (and anything else…

Book Reviews: Brilliant Picture Books

To kick the month off right, we’ve got four wonderful books from New Zealand publishers, with everything from a parable on bravery, to some unlikely housemates, an unlikely friendship, and a soothing book for bedtime. All reviewed by the incomparable…