Your Christmas Shopping List 2022

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The Sapling editors have compiled a list of recommendations of this year’s releases for your Christmas book shopping!

Picture Books

Brianne’s heartwarming debut picture book follows a young boy’s journey learning about the significance of Matariki customs and his attempts to uphold them after the passing of his koro. Available in both English and te reo Māori, this beautifully illustrated story of coping with grief and loss, through family bonds and tikanga Māori, is a lovely read for young’uns and grown-ups alike.

A beautifully illustrated not-your-classic-princess story with lots of New Zealand flavour and the writing is delightful. A princess is not stuck at her lighthouse and does not need rescuing, but when she rescues someone else she delights in having company.

This is the te reo translation of The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke, a story about an octopus who loves collecting whatever treasures he can find—a hobby that soon lands him into trouble…

“Juliette MacIver is so far ahead of the pack when it comes to perfect, lip-smacking rhyming books that you nearly have to run to keep up with her. The Grizzled Grist does not Exist! features the same hilarious class as the pair’s award-winning That’s Not a Hippopotamus!, and it’s a delight to see them all in action again.” Read the rest of Thalia’s review here.

From roadworks to construction to all things wheely, wheely cool—now Sally Sutton takes us on a crane guy’s-eye view of a city to play spot-the-thing-starting-with-the-letter. Vibrant illustrations by the wonderful Sarah Wilkins work perfectly with Sally’s infectious rhyme, making this an absolute winner for any keen-eyed little reader.

Ruth Paul followed up her 2018 NZCYA Best Picture Award win (for the much beloved I Am Jellyfish) with the very same award in 2022—this time for a land-side animal tale. Lion Guards the Cake is a fabulously fun story of party protection gone wrong.

“Kyle Mewburn’s latest picture book is a bouncy rhymer with fun wordplay that ensures you’ll all be giggling throughout. It’s impossible to read it aloud without smiling, and, very probably, putting on a bit of a silly voice.” Read more from Thalia’s review here.

Based on the true story of two kororā who really did try to nest under a sushi shop in downtown Wellington in 2019. A fun, rhyming read for animal lovers, and a great addition to the ‘A New Zealand Story’ series all wonderfully illustrated by Jenny Cooper.

Nikki Slade Robinson cleverly uses this common idiom to open up a timeless (and highly relevant!) conversation around judging and labelling others. Little Pigeon has you thinking critically, questioning the status quo, and eager to go against the tide. The story is a celebration of our multifaceted identities and makes for an engaging read for the littlies, and it’s a lovely reminder for the biggies too.

A lovely collection of bilingual board books perfect for those wee tamariki in your lives. Get one or get them all!

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Junior Fiction & Middle Grade

Paula Green’s latest is what you would get if you took Winnie the Pooh and Aesop’s fables, and made it Kiwi. This cozy compilation of stories tells an endearing tale of unexpected friendships and learning to appreciate the ordinary. Filled with little nuggets of wisdom and Kimberly Andrews’ magical illustrations depicting a whimsical yet unmistakably NZ farm scene, this book is one to be enjoyed by the whole family. Read our interview with Paula here.

Lauren Keenan’s action-packed time travel tale of two siblings on a quest to rescue their missing mum is a captivating read for avid and reluctant readers alike. The fast pace, the high stakes, and the sensitive coverage of Māori history make it a must-have addition to any pre-teen’s collection.

Emeli Sione tells her story of her family’s experience of the Dawn Raids, highlighting a dark time in New Zealand’s history. You can read more about Emeli’s story here.

Fifi pulls the tale of the mishaps of Masher together with her characteristic humour and skill. The pace is perfect, and the illustrations are divine. AND you get instructions to build your own Masher. What more could you want?

Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea won the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year and the Junior Fiction Award in 2021. Read about it in te reo here, and in English here.

Two powerful Antipodean voices come together to weave The Raven’s Song, a story of stepping into the unknown and all that comes with it. Packed with intrigue and the ramifications of a life lived off-grid.

The Last Fallen Moon is the follow-up to the New York Times bestseller The Last Fallen Star and is the second book in the Gifted Clans trilogy. We continue on protagonist Riley’s journey in this action-packed fantasy that effortlessly weaves Korean mythology with the modern world.

The third installment in Richard Fairgray’s graphic novel series sees main character Dash and his crew attempt to save their summer vacation home from various competing evils.

Carol Garden’s fiction debut is an environmental sci-fi that imagines a future where the climate crisis has spurred artificial islands, eco criminals and continually rising sea levels. It won the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award in 2021 for the best novel written by an unpublished author.

Mata Lulu is an anthology of ten stories inspired by Samoan legends and mythology, embellished with illustrations and additional writing by youth artist Bella Young.

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Young Adult

Kate De Goldi’s latest is a YA-adult crossover that takes us along the coming-of-age journey of 19-year-old Eddy Smallbone. Loosely inspired by A Christmas Carol and set over the festive period in post-earthquake Christchurch, Eddy, Eddy is a perfect read for older teens to delve into during the holiday season.

Foul Lady Fortune is the first book in the new duology by Chloe Gong, following her New York Times bestselling duology These Violent Delights. Inspired by Shakespeare’s As You Like It, the book follows spies Rosalind and Orion as they investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai.

The Katipo Joe series is great for teens who are into war history and adventure. Blitzkreig and Spycraft are the first two in the series.

This time-travelling story from veteran author Fleur Beale toggles between 2019 and 1869, and you can read Sarah Forster’s review about it here.

“This is a fantastic novel, mixing comics and just astounding writing…You are with Mandy all the way, compelled to watch intimately as she tries to get back control as everything is falling to pieces around her.” Read more of Sarah’s review here.

“If you love the old myths and retellings, gorgeous art, important conversations, and a huge cast of interesting characters, then I can definitely recommend this series.” Read more from Cassie Hart’s review here.

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Non-Fiction

Amongst Philippa Werry’s latest releases is an eye-opening ANZAC book that offers a fresh perspective on the Gallipoli attacks and the parties involved. Set in Turkey and New Zealand, in both 1915 and the modern day, this colourful tale explores the complex and lasting bond between the two nations.

This beautifully illustrated book features 18 stories that tell of the many ways the Matariki constellation is recognised and celebrated around the world.

One of my favourite bird books out this year. A lovely collection of our native birds cheerfully illustrated and accompanied by facts and jokes. The writing is perfectly pitched to a young audience and is a great introduction to some of our favourite species.

A sensitive, engaging, and informative book about what autism can look and feel like. A perfect read if you want to better understand yourself, someone you know, or if you simply want to understand more about the autistic experience in general.

This graphic biography and bird conservation book is a must-have for every nature-loving household. It tells the story of Sylvia Durrant, aka The Bird Lady, in comics and prose, accompanied by illustrations and photographs. There are fact pages and activities as well—this book is a treasure.

A delightfully illustrated Māori-English dictionary. Perfect for primary school age and anyone who loves pictures to go with their words!

A lushly illustrated nature book from Ned Barraud. Covers six marine reserves around New Zealand and the creatures within them.

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More Books To Check Out

2022 Storylines Notable Book Winners

2022 NZ Children and Young Adult Book Award Winners

2022 NZ Children and Young Adult Book Award Finalists