KEI TE WHAKATATAHIA
TE WĀ MŌ TE ĀHUAREKA The season for giving is on its way. And this year we are doing something a little different: giving our gift shopping list out in advance to you, our loyal followers! We all know that books are the best gift, and this year with the stock shortages caused by COVID-19, you should definitely get your books in a row nice and early. Buy local, buy independent, and enjoy your gift shopping experience! Also check out Canvas magazine in the NZ Herald shortly for editor Sarah's tip-top picks for this year. Ngā mihi nui,
Sarah Forster, Briar Lawry, Simie Simpson, and Nida Fiazi |
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I AM THE UNIVERSE, BY VASANTI UNKA Magical, vibrant illustrations that will transport you from the furthest reaches of space to the neighbourhoods we live in and the beds we cuddle up in with books. Heaps of cool detail in the illustrations and simple but effective text – and all bundled up in a styley purple hardback cover. |
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KUWI AND FRIENDS: MĀORI PICTURE DICTIONARY, BY KAT QUIN AND PAANIA PAPA We've been blessed with all kinds of gorgeous picture dictionaries for reo Māori learners in recent times, and this recent addition is a total treat – Kat Quin's iconic illustrations are coupled with reo champion Pānia Papa's kupu for a comprehensive tool for anyone at any point in their haerenga reo. |
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THE MIGRANTS, BY ISSA WATANABE As our migrants move from land, to sea, to land, we watch their numbers dwindle. Watanabe shows their character through their clothes, and their expressions, while animal, are also pure human. |
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MIHI, BY GAVIN BISHOP A must-have book for those with wee ones, teaching babies about their whānau and their place in the world. This is an introduction for children of any age to the concept of a pepeha. |
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AMAZING AOTEAROA ACTIVITY BOOK, BY GAVIN BISHOP Based on Gavin Bishop's Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story and Wildlife of Aotearoa – some of the best non-fiction books to have graced our bookshelves these past few years – this fantastic book is chock-full of activities celebrating our nation, its people, and our wildlife. It's sure to keep the whole whānau occupied for hours. |
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WHITI: COLOSSAL SQUID OF THE DEEP, BY VICTORIA CLEAL Join colossal squid Whiti on her journey from hatching out of an ant-sized egg to becoming one of the largest invertebrates on the planet. This book's engaging conversational text, magnificent illustrations, and exquisite design – featuring three gatefolds – make it a must-have for any wildlife fanatic and/or fact fiend. |
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THE NATURE ACTIVITY BOOK, BY RACHEL HAYDON, ILLUSTRATED BY PIPPA KEEL Whether you're into growing your own seedlings, making your own dyes or just looking to discover more about the world around you, this book has it all! With 99 different nature-based activities, this book will engage readers of all ages and make adventurers out of the whole whānau. It's perfect for any occasion, but especially during the school holidays and potential lockdowns. |
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AROHA KNOWS, BY REBEKAH LIPP AND CRAIG PHILLIPS This is the third book in the Aroha Series by Craig Phillips and Rebekah Lipp, focused on empowering tamariki by giving them the tools to navigate the big emotions they might experience. Aroha Knows highlights the effect of nature on our wellbeing and teaches us that by appreciating and protecting our environment, we are taking care of ourselves. |
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HOUND THE DETECTIVE, BY KIMBERLY ANDREWS Need a book for kids who like dogs, details and mysteries? Look no further! Bored kids will be kept occupied poring over the detailed and gorgeous illustrations. And readers of Puffin the Architect will love being reunited with Kimberly's warm and whimsical characters and delightful storytelling. |
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WHEN THE WIND CHANGED, BY RUTH PARK This 40th-anniversary edition of When the Wind Changed is the perfect gift to introduce a new generation to this timeless story that riffs off the old parental refrain of "don't pull that face, the wind will change and you'll stay that way". This is a good belly laugh of a story that kids will enjoy and some parents might even recall from their childhoods. |
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BALLET BUNNIES SERIES, BY SWAPNA REDDY This beautiful series features ballet bunnies helping out the new girl at ballet class, who is facing discrimination. It's not often you see such a flawless melding of social awareness and cute mayhem. |
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THE INKBERG ENIGMA, BY JONATHAN KING Miro collects antiquarian books, pawning old things from his attic to feed his addiction. On his way home one day, he sees mysterious tentacles – and a bad guy straight out of Scooby-Doo. He and his friend Zia have to get to the bottom of the town's secrets in this fast-paced first graphic novel by Jonathan King. |
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MOPHEAD TU, BY SELINA TUSITALA MARSH We were obsessed with the first Mophead and its incomporable mix of poetry, giggles and possibility. Mophead Tu is more moppy mayhem, with our heroine Dr Mophead AKA Selina Tusitala Marsh tackling the intersection of creativity and colonialism. |
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ACROSS THE RISEN SEA, BY BREN MACDIBBLE Surprising alligators, mysterious energy sources, and a kick-ass heroine combine to make this book yet another fabulous read from Bren MacDibble. Set in a post-climate change / ocean rise world, Australia has been reduced to a series of small islands, but the story is one of hope. |
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EGG & SPOON, BY ALEXANDRA TYLEE AND GISELLE CLARKSON Ever seen a fully illustrated cookbook before? We hadn't either! It is the character-filled illustrations that make this cookbook fantastic. It's great to see consideration of kids with allergies and intolerances too. |
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RED EDGE, BY DES HUNT Every new book by Des Hunt is a cause for celebration. This one takes us into present-day Christchurch, with the shadow of the quakes still looming large, and a dastardly array of characters making trouble. Great scene-setting, and edge-of-your-seat action scenes. |
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THE PŌRANGI BOY, BY SHILO KINO A taniwha lies in the waters of Taupere, where the prison is set to be built. Twelve-year-old Niko has been called Pōrangi Boy his whole life, but he realises this might be the source of his strength as he bands with others to save their town and its taniwha. |
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PASIFIKA COASTWATCHERS, BY DAVID RILEY David Riley does amazing mahi sharing the stories of amazing people of the Pacific. Pasifika Coastwatchers is one of several new releases this year, and it explores the lives of some of the Coastwatchers throughout Te Moana Nui A Kiwa in WWII. |
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A TRIO OF SOPHIES, BY EILEEN MERRIMAN This is definitely a book for the older range of young adult readers, not for your ahead-of-their-age-reading-level intermediate kids. But for that 15+ audience, A Trio of Sophies is a absolute page-turner. Intrigue, mystery, outrage. |
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HALF MY LIFE, BY DIANA NOONAN Look past the cover, and when you crack open this YA novel, you're in for a compelling combo of relationship drama, mental health examination, taking you from the streets of Wellington to the hills of Greece! |
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NEANDS, BY DAN SALMON Something strange is happening to Charlie's friends, and his father was the first one to spot the phenomenon. After a friend of his parents calls, Charlie is thrust together with two other still-humans to defend himself, with no way of knowing who the genome disease will strike next. A dystopian YA choice with some stunningly good writing. |
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RISE OF THE REMARKABLES: BRASSWITCH AND BOT, BY GARETH WARD Another steampunk delight from Gareth Ward, featuring the inimitable Wrench on a journey of self-realisation as she comes into her full powers. There's some Voldemort-scale evil at play, and Wrench needs to figure out who to trust as she fights to stop wholesale destruction. |
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CHILDREN OF THE FURNACE 3: HEARTSBLOOD, BY BRIN MURRAY This is the third in the Children of the Furnace series by Brin Murray, telling the story of a post-climate-change world overtaken by a dangerous religious cult bent on persecution. A fantastic story comes to a gripping end. |
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ASPIRING, BY DAMIEN WILKINS Look, it won best YA at the NZCYA Awards for a reason. Damien Wilkins is a national icon in the adult space, and his shift to a young adult audience loses none of the deftness and sophistication. It's a coming-of-age-ish story with a touch of weirdness and a whole lot of Central Otago and St Louis. |
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SNOW, BY GINA INVERARITY Snow doesn't know who she truly is, but she knows she is going to survive. This post climate-change retelling of Snow White is a dark, delicious adventure into forest wilds with a little bear as a companion. |
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THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR Things we're looking forward to as we round out our publishing year include: a bilingual review of Hari Pota me te Whatu Manapou, an interview with the wonderful Maxine Beneba Clarke by the wonderful Swapna Haddow, and more reviews of wonderful books from Aotearoa and beyond. Enjoy! |
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