There’s such a tremendous range of books available for children that we’re spoilt for choice. However, finding the best and most suitable books on our own isn’t always easy. We’ve asked our reviewers – professionals in the genre of children’s books – to give us some good leads. We hope you enjoy some of their suggested top reads. Happy reading!
These books are full of facts and true stories that will feed the individual interests of young readers.
By Margaret Mahy Edited by Tessa Duder Illustrated by David Elliot HarperCollins, 2009 ISBN 9781869507077 Hardback $44.95 Margaret Mahy is a New Zealand treasure and this book contains her poetry from the last 50 years – some previously unpublished, some found in publications like the School Journal and picture books – many now out of …
Lisa Loveday & Julie Dick Penguin 2009 ISBN 9780143011903 Paperback $30 The summer holiday is a great opportunity for kids to spend more time in the kitchen, gaining experience in creating great things to eat. All these recipes were created for the Project Cook teaching resource for schools around New Zealand so are perfect for …
By Vasanti Unka Puffin 2010 ISBN 9780143204060 Spiral bind $25 A bright new craft book with lots of zany creatures to make from all those single socks and gloves. They have cool names like Kissy Cat and Nerdy Bird and come with simple instructions: minimal equipment and extra materials required – a few buttons, thread …
By Phil Baines Penguin 2010 ISBN 9780141326146 Paperback with flaps $55 Published to celebrate 70 years of Puffin Books, it’s packed with cover illustrations with panels of text about particular authors, series of books and commentary on the cover designs. Whilst not written specifically for children, it will be a great book for the family …
By Masayuki Sebe Gecko Press, 2010 ISBN 9781877467592 Hardback $32.99 ISBN 9781877467561 Paperback $19.99 This bright, graphic picture book provides heaps of puzzles and games to keep children happily occupied with some crazy looking dinosaurs. There are matching games, coded messages, hidden animals and mazes, and fortunately the answers are found at the back of …
By Roger Sutton & Martha V Parravano Candlewick Press, 2010 ISBN 9780763632809 Hardback $34.99 This is a fine guide to books for children and teens and includes contributions by famous authors and illustrators such as Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are). Entertaining and informative with book lists for all ages. A good read in …
By Aleksandra Machowiak & Daniel Mizielinski Translation from Polish by Elzbieta Wojcik-Leese Gecko Press, 2010 ISBN 9781877467660 Hardback $39.99 A vibrantly illustrated book featuring 35 extraordinary houses from around the world. These are not ordinary buildings – imagine a house in a tree, packed into a suitcase or with no walls. Information about the architects, …
By Tim Grabham et al Illustrated by Gary Parsons Walker Books, 2010 ISBN 9781921529870 Hardboard box $39.99 This is a fantastic kit to help aspiring movie-makers create films using a mobile phone or digital camera – video for film and still camera for animation. Find out about all the stages of making a movie from …
By Sandra Morris Walker Books Australia, 2010 ISBN 9781921150661 – Flexi $29.99 This book is both beautiful and useful. Sandra Morris is an award-winning author/illustrator who specialises in the watercolour wildlife illustrations that fill this book, along with easy-to-read text and infographics that include both everyday and unusual facts about the amazing array of creatures …
By Timothy and Sandra Bowden Exisle Publishing, 2010 ISBN 9781921497476 – Paperback $22.99 Low self-esteem is a problem for many children and this book provides some helpful tools. Told in colourful cartoon style we meet Holly who is feeling hopeless and alone. She follows a bird who takes her on a journey where she learns …
