Childrens' & Young Adult / Teen Books > New Zealand Childrens' Books > New Zealand Childrens' Picture Books

WINNER OF BEST FIRST BOOK AWARD NEW ZEALAND POST BOOK AWARDS 2008 This is a reworked version of the traditional tale of the hardworking, unaided Little Red Hen who befriends the offspring of the lazy cat, a rat and a pig. Together they play and, by the end of the day, each baby learns a new lesson in forgiveness and sharing. First published 2007.

The fierce little woman lived in a house at the end of a jetty. She knitted socks in blue and green wool, to sell to sailors who had got their feet wet. But when there were no ships at her jetty, she was quite alone. One stormy day, a pirate came to the house on the jetty. He stood on his toes, and starting tap-tap-tapping on the window ...

The fierce little woman lived in a house at the end of a jetty. She knitted socks in blue and green wool, to sell to sailors who had got their feet wet. But when there were no ships at her jetty, she was quite alone. One stormy day, a pirate came to the house on the jetty. He stood on his toes, and started tap-tap-tapping on the window. Joy Cowley's classic story, out of print for many years, has now been republished by Gecko Press in this wonderful new edition, superbly illustrated by Sarah Davis. With a strong female main ... read more

There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile. He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse. And they all lived together in a little crooked house. Gavin Bishop is equally distinguished as author and illustrator. His awards include: Book of the Year, NZ Post Book Awards (2000, 1993, 2003); the Russell Clark Medal for illustration (1981, 2006); Grand Prize winner of the NOMA CONCOURS (Japan 1984); the 2003 LIANZA Elsie Locke Medal. He has exhibited internationally, f... read more

Ten cats hobnob happily, until Scarface Claw makes an appearance. Honour Award winner at the 1999 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. First published 1998; this edition 2007.

Slinky Malinki is an adventurous cat, cheeky and cheerful, friendly and fun. But at night he becomes a thief. Third place winner in the 1991 AIM Children's Picture Book of the Year Award. First published 1990; this edition 2007.

Will Slinky Malinki and Syd the lorikeet open the door to more trouble than they can handle? Shortlisted for the 1994 NZLIA Russell Clark Medal. First published 1993; this edition 2007.

First, a heart-warming story - with lots of fun wordplay - about a grumpy farmer whose animals keep him awake at night singing and dancing by the light of the moon. Eventually he is won over by the moon and the animals and learns how to be happy. Classic Margaret Mahy!Secondly, marvellous illustrations that will delight children and their parents - and that take the story to another level. David Elliot returns to picture book illustration with a gem of a book.
Added to this are beautiful book production values with die cuts ... read more

Scoop and Scribe are two young reporters who search for the secret of Matariki. The boys set off in the Wicked Waka, and with the guidance of a mystical kaumatua they travel to Northland, Tauranga, Rotorua, Napier, Wanganui, Ohakea and down through the Southern Alps to Queenstown. In doing so they save the seven stars of Matariki and put them back where they belong. A lively, modern take on an ancient legend. Excellent Maori vocabulary is woven throughout the story.

Created by well-known children's writer and illustrator Gavin Bishop, this is the story of a little white kiwi. When he is born his mother doesn't recognise him because he's not brown. Little Kiwi looks to the moon as his mother instead because it is white and bright and round. In the background of this story we see the changing times of a nearby pa. Through illustrations only we see intertribal warfare, the death of the chief, English soldiers arriving and then the burning of the pa. This fire spreads and the two stories become on... read more

Winner of the Storylines Notable Picture Book 2010.

All the farmyard animals - the jersey cow, the collie, bantam hens, sheep and lambs, ducks, kune kune, and the ginger cat - come to the cowshed door to visit Baby Jesus. They all come bearing Kiwi-sylte gifts - a rugby ball, a pavlova, jandals, a Kiwi toy. The classic Christmas story is given a New Zealand twist in this warm and evocative retelling, with gorgeous illustrations by Gavin Bishop.

First published 2009.

Based on the true story of Gavin Bishop's great aunt, Katarina is the fascinating story in Maori of a young Maori woman's life in the early 1860s. It tells of her long and treacherous journey from the Waikato to Otago to join her Scottish husband. This poignant story gives us a very clear insight into Katarina's conflicts between the old Maori ways and the 'new' Pakeha pioneer ways. It is also an amazing snapshot of the times - the land wars between the English and Tainui counter-pointed with the gold rush in Gabriel's Gully, Otago... read more

DoP - August 2008 First published in 1990. Based on the true story of Gavin Bishop's great aunt, Katarina is the fascinating story of a young Maori woman's life in the early 1860s. It tells of her long and treacherous journey from the Waikato to Otago to join her Scottish husband. This poignant story gives us a very clear insight into Katarina's conflicts between the old Maori ways and the 'new' Pakeha pioneer ways. It is also an amazing snapshot of the times - the land wars between the English and Tainui counter-pointed with the ... read more

Aunt Concertina & Her Niece Evalina is a wondrous book - a feast of words by well-known poet Paula Green accompanied by a visual feast of stunning paintings. Aunt Concertina is an avid junk shop shopper who takes her unwilling niece along with her and, to Evalina's great delight, they find a magic kite which takes them on adventures throughout the world. They go to Mt Everest, the Nile, a volcano, Greenland, the Sahara, Venezeula, Tokyo, the Amazon and finally back home. It's a whirlwind of exploration. On every page there is ... read more

An adventurous young man called Mitai lives with his seven handsome brothers in the village of Maketu. He watches as his brothers are bewitched by seven beautiful women, and under their spell, the brothers no longer eat, look after themselves, work in their gardens or hunt. Realising the women are 'patupaiarehe' - fairy women, he knows they must be cast far away. They are given to Urutengangana, the god of the stars, and he places them in the heavens farthest from the earth. Yet once a year, at winter solstice, he allows their bea... read more

An adventurous young man called Mitai lives with his seven handsome brothers in the village of Maketu. He watches as his brothers are bewitched by seven beautiful women, and under their spell, the brothers no longer eat, look after themselves, work in their gardens or hunt. Realising the women are 'patupaiarehe' - fairy women - he knows they must be cast far away. They are given to Urutengangana, the god of the stars, and he places them in the heavens farthest from the earth. Yet once a year, at winter solstice, he allows their be... read more

Old MacDonald has retired. Luckily, Young MacDonald has lots of modern machinery to help him on the family farm. Meet his tractor going broom-broom. And his digger, and quad bike, and tractor, and dump truck and hay baler and harvester. Young MacDonald is very busy indeed. But not too busy to arrange a wonderful family surprise. A delightful Kiwi twist on an old favourite, that perfectly captures rural New Zealand, and will appeal to children who love big trucks, diggers, tractors and things that go.

Piggy Pogget wants to go outside and explore the big, wide world. He wants to eat lots of yummy, yummy corn. But instead poor Piggy Pogget has to stay inside and eat porridge and peas for breakfast. Yuk! Then one day Farmer Pants leaves the gate open by mistake and Piggy Pogget gets his wish. But can a little piggy have too much of a good thing?

Willy is a fairly average small boy, who lives at home with his Mum and Dad. While Mum is very sensible and holds a very responsible job, Willy's Dad is not quite normal. His boundless enthusiasm is a pain in Willy's butt, and poor Willy is getting used to being embarrassed in front of all the other children at kindergarten. But when Willy's Mum goes away on a business trip, leaving his father to look after Willy, it's not long before Dad is out of control. In a heart-warming and delightfully comic story of role reversal, it soon b... read more

An award-winning New Zealand counting book featuring rhyming text and illustrations of New Zealand animals.