Children's Things We Like
The Proud Pūteketeke
Marlborough District Libraries have many wonderful Peter Millett books in their collection, including his latest book celebrating the NZ Bird of the Century - The Proud Pūteketeke.
The NZ children’s author has teamed up with broadcaster Suzy Cato to help produce a fun storytelling video. The puppet was made by Fifi Colston, the book's illustrator.
"Suzy's storytelling skills in this video are superb. She's a national treasure" says Peter.
Peter's full range of books in our libraries can be found here. Put your favourite book on hold today!
In the meantime, you can read along with Suzy by clicking the image below.
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New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults
The winners of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults for 2024 have been announced! Check out the 2024 winning titles here:
Nine Girls by Stacy Gregg
The Margaret Mahy book of the year and winner of the Wright Family Foundation Ester Glen Award for Junior Fiction, Nine Girls weaves comedy, fantasy and history together in a profound exploration of the complexity of identity in Aotearoa New Zealand through the experiences of a young Māori girl finding her place in the world. Historical events are woven into the fabric of the story, grounding her personal journey in a broader socio-political context. Vivid characters animate a fast-paced, eventful narrative with plot twists and emotional highs and lows.
This book celebrates Māori identity, pays tribute to Aotearoa’s rich history, and testifies to the power of storytelling. Nine Girls is a taonga for readers of all ages, resonating long after the final page is turned.
See if Nine Girls is available on our catalogue or place a hold
Paku Manu Ariki Whakatkapōkai by Michaela Keeble
Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai is groundbreaking, deeply creative, and completely original. The story comes from the mouth of a child, and the illustrations are a direct window to the imagination, or maybe to the reality of a child’s mind as they make sense of their identity, whānau, culture, and other big questions.
This is a sophisticated picture book that can be enjoyed by all ages. An inspirational read that will encourage our tamariki and mokopuna to tell their own stories, with their own voices, it deserves to become an Aotearoa bookshelf classic.
See if Paku Manu Ariki Whakatkapōkai is available on our catalogue or place a hold
Catch a Falling Star by Eileen Merriman
Catch a Falling Star is a masterclass in writing that bravely tells the story of Jamie Orange, a complicated and endearing young man who struggles with mental health issues while juggling schoolwork, relationships, and performing in the local musical.
Eileen Merriman has skilfully and sensitively captured Jamie’s journey, allowing readers to step in and experience it alongside him. The result is a remarkably authentic portrayal of his escalating problems, fraught with frenetic energy and leading to a horrifying climax. This book is significant for teens today who may relate to the issues Jamie faces, and better understand them through reading his story.
See if Catch a Falling Star is available on our catalogue or place a hold
Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan To Rewild Every City On Earth by Steve Mushin
In Ultrawild, Steve Mushin leads us on a deadly serious quest to design our way out of climate change. He presents out-there concepts that are ingenious, technically plausible and often humorous, but it’s the way they are communicated that gives this book the wow factor. Pages are filled to the brim with detailed illustrations of his designs, speech bubbles, arrows, calculations, and full-page spreads that show what these rewilded cities could look like. This book about futuristic design is itself an object of outstanding design.
Ultrawild encourages readers to see the explicit connection between creativity and science, and as Steve Mushin puts it, to think ludicrous thoughts and have revolutionary ideas.
Patu: The New Zealand Wars by Gavin Bishop
In Patu: The New Zealand Wars, Gavin Bishop has brought everything in his considerable artistic arsenal to bear on this most difficult and fundamental part of our colonial history, with the ambition and control of an illustrator at the height of their mastery.
A complex and wide-ranging story is told clearly and accessibly at least as much through the illustrations as it is through the words, and most importantly it is told with power. In what is not just a historical recounting, the stark compositions and limited colour palette speak to a deeply personal tale; one of mamae discovered, mamae long felt, and mamae yet to be healed.
See if Patu: The New Zealand Wars is available on our catalogue or place a hold
Nani Jo me ngā Mokopuna Porohīanga by Moira Wairma
Nani Jo me ngā Mokopuna Porohīanga is a beautifully written story about the special memories and bonds that are made when we are intentional in our relationships. Opening with childlike bubbly energy and using repetitive language to capture younger audiences, Nani Jo and her mokopuna guide us through the spiritual and emotional experiences of life.
This taonga uses inclusive language to convey the significance of stories, their role in helping us make sense of our world, and the importance of poroporoaki to the grieving process. It is in itself a journey of creating and sharing stories that will live on in generations to come.
See if Nani Jo me ngā Mokopuna Porohīanga is available on our catalogue or place a hold
Tsunami by Ned Wenlock
As a graphic novel Tsunami is exemplary, with the language of comics intrinsic to its understanding and impact. The toy-like characters with their clean simple lines invite readers to identify with them, even as their diagrammatic performance of the story's central tragedy distances readers from them – thus seamlessly reflecting the book's themes of alienation and the need for connection.
Tsunami respects the ability of its audience to handle ambiguity, to rise to meet its challenges and to find its rewards, however unsettling the journey may be. This is a book that lingers after the reading and seems destined to be studied and discussed for a long time to come.
See if Tsunami is available on our catalogue or place a hold