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From the Shop Floor: The Kiwi Kids’ Bookstore

The Kiwi Kids’ Bookstore is an online bookstore that exclusively sells children’s and YA books by New Zealand authors and illustrators. It’s run by New Zealand author Kate Gordon-Smith, who writes junior fiction adventures and mysteries. Give us a one-paragraph…

School Librarians of Aotearoa: Alan Dingley

Alan Dingley, as well as being Aotearoa’s Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador, is the Library Manager at Freyberg High School in Palmerston North. Here he tells us about his journey to becoming a librarian, and the passion he has for…

Quiz: Booklovers Awards 2024

The 2024 Booklovers Awards shortlist has just been announced. How much do you know about this year’s shortlisted titles, authors, and categories? Rack your brains with our first quiz of the year, focused on all things Booklovers Awards-related! Questions 1….

The Reckoning: Lost in Translation?

Award-winning author Melinda Szymanik shares her realisations about the skills and challenges involved in translating children’s books. Prompted by the publication of her books in foreign languages, Szymanik talks to Bill Nagelkerke about his experiences of translating and all that…

The Sampling: The Impossible Story of Hannah Kemp

By Leonie Agnew This Sampling was provided by the publisher for a limited time only. It is no longer available. As part of our Summer Excerpt Series, we are showcasing the junior and YA 2023 Storylines Notable Books, and this…

From the Shop Floor: Diversity Books

Sarai Tuhua founded Diversity Books in 2023, an online bookstore dedicated to stocking stories that uphold inclusion and celebrate diversity. In our first From the Shop Floor segment of the year, Sarai gives us the rundown on her shop’s kaupapa,…

Interview: Gavin Bishop on Patu

With his latest book, Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngāti Awa) delivers a powerful tale of the New Zealand Wars and the painful history of colonisation in Aotearoa. Simie Simpson (Te Ati Awa) talks with Gavin about Patu and how it came…

Book List: Inspiration for Bug of the Year

This is the second year of New Zealand Bug of the Year. Step aside, Bird of the Year, the Entomological Society of New Zealand is keen to get our nation more interested in the lesser known heroes of our environment….

Quiz: A Kiwi Christmas

The last time The Sapling did a Christmas quiz was in our founding year, 2017. Since then, Aotearoa’s canon of Christmas books has continued to grow. Test your knowledge with our festive-themed quiz! Questions 1. Heather Haylock’s Granny McFlitter series…

End of Year Shopping List 2023

The Sapling editors have compiled a list of our favourite books from the last year or so for when you’re doing your Christmas/New Year/birthday/graduation/end of year/just because shopping. Don’t forget to check out BookHub for buying from your local independent…