This is a land of riotous colour. A land of colourful balloons that swim in the sky. A Sunday family activity is to pop a balloon – but this activity soon becomes a national past time, popping more and more balloons, with bigger, better, stronger machines. No longer is a stick with a pin enough, as the sound of the Pop! is so satisfying.

Before long, the colour leaves the sky, as less, and less, and less balloons float above. Until there is only one.

Can their desire for the Pop! be overcome to allow the last balloon to survive?

When they realise their mistake, instead of joy, there is conflict and blame.

Can they fix their huge mistake?

A sophisticated tale of diversity, threatened by power, control and mistakes made by the masses. The creatures portrayed in a land called Nowhere in Particular might be rabbits, but they are all black with a human eye. They walk on two legs too and use machines to achieve their desires.

They realise almost too late, that they have destroyed the diversity that they cherished in their world. Only one voice is speaking reason among them.

This is a powerful and sobering tale about our environment, working together to take care of it, and taking stock of what we want and what we actually need.

Readers can enjoy the rabbits and colours, or dig deeper in a classroom environment to lead to discussions of diversity and responsibility.

Author / Illustrator – Ian Chapman

All Ages

(2025, OneTree House, NZ Author, Aotearoa, New Zealand, Environment, Diversity loss, Community, Forward thinking, Care, Responsibility, Sophisticated Picture Book)

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As pages pass, the narrator points out all the annoying things in books they don’t like. Words, words, words. Which of course make up sentences, and who wants to read sentences?

Lots of sentences form paragraphs of course, and they are even worse than sentences and words, in the narrators opinion. They go on and on, and the narrator would much rather be doing something involving YouTube or cake or even better, both at the same time. Who has got time to read a book?

Words with silent letters are up for debate, along with long words that mean the opposite. How ridiculous!

Even the most famous part of books gets a hard time by this very cranky narrator (by now), even if THE END, is possibly the best part of the book. But in fact of course, this book has now been read.

Funny, clever and entertaining with many different fonts and colours – and of course, lots of words scattered across the pages.

This is one of a series of picture books aimed especially at non-book connoisseurs, but will make everyone who reads it smile. This will be perfect for years three and four (NZ), breaking through to reluctant readers with humour, and narrator authenticity.

Author – Max Greenfield

Illustrator – Mike Lowery

Age – 7+

Picture Book

(2021, Scholastic, Books, Reading, Reluctant readers, Sentences, Paragraphs, Different stories, Humour, Funny)

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“This book is two hundred and ninety-three day overdue.”

With a wink to his grandson, and a finger tapping his top lip, Grandad begins to explain.

Their story begins with an upset penguin looking down at her ice cream on the ground. To cheer her up, Grandad read her the overdue book. It made the penguin so happy she forgot all about the ice cream and wanted them to read it all over again!

But then…

Another sea creature overheard the penguin’s excitement and thought she would like to know what all the fuss was about.

Grandad and his grandson knew they had to get the book back to the library and an exciting pursuit begins.

Winged and finned creatures are all clamouring to read the book! Will they ever get it back to the library?

The most exciting excuse for a late library book I have ever read or heard as a librarian! The love of reading and story is alive between these pages among human and animal alike.

Swapna Haddow’s humour and Daron Parton’s illustrations build the action and tension as you read. Just when you think the library book will be recovered it’s snatched up and off on another exciting journey.

This librarian isn’t cranky about the overdue book. She’s thrilled so many have enjoyed it and offers even more adventure in the form of a library card.

A perfect book for librarians and story lovers alike.

Teachers – could your class write their own excuses for an overdue book?

Author – Swapna Haddow

Illustrator – Daron Parton

Picture Book

(2024, Scholastic, New Zealand, NZ Author, Books, Library, Librarian, Late Book, Overdue, Excuses, Animals, Penguin, Seal, Seagull, Whale, Stealing a book, Story, Stories, Far fetched excuses, Adventure, Book Lovers, Reading, Humour, Funny, Action)

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But wait. What? They have to read a book in the holidays? A WHOLE book? What is her teacher thinking!? She HATES books!

Her friends aren’t fazed by the task ahead, but she shares the terrible news with her mother, who knows just the place to help. The library.

There are soooo many books. And they all look soooo boring. Her mum shows her a book she once enjoyed, and it is issued out for the school holidays.

With trepidation, the girl begins to read. But wait. Hang on a sec. Woooow!

Suddenly she meets a strange masked creature who leads her on a quest. There is quicksand and pirates. Enchanted forests and Houses of witches! They must gather special ingredients whilst swinging swords, dancing with frogs and distracting a witch!

Dinner comes too soon, but the young girl keeps the book close by, knowing there is more adventure to come. There is a special spell that must be cast, and soon she is right in the centre of it!

I purchased this wonderful book for my own collection as it portrays the astonishing moment of realising how incredible a story can be! 

When you open the front cover, there are several illustrations of the main character with a device in her hands, on her ears, or on her lap. By the end of the book, the devices have been replaced with all kinds of books.

Getting kids addicted to story is one of the best parts of my profession as a children’s author and bookseller. Seeing their faces light up as the latest in their favourite series arrives in store for them, or they chatter excitedly about their latest read at our Tweens Bookclub to other members – is magical.

Books and story take us anywhere and everywhere with no restrictions except the human imagination. This is turn feeds young reader’s imaginations, which can then take us all into amazing things in our future.

I Hate / Love Books captures this moment with humour, wonderful illustration and exciting adventure.

Brilliant!

Author – Mariajo Ilustrajo

Picture Book

Age – 4+

(2024, Allen & Unwin, Quarto Publishing, Books, Reading, Funny, Humour, Cat, Library, Story, Wonder, Adventure, Quest, Book lover, Storybook World, Magical, Witches, Spellcasting, Fantasy)

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Not far away are small pockets of land above the water that were once a zoo. Buildings long since left to drown poke through the water. A top of an arch here, points of a wrought iron fence there.

Exotic animals left to survive on their own are pleased to see a battered, yellow, towering robot with nöa marked on its outstretched arm, and hands full of food. This robot was once a dam builder along with others but has seen a need. Pandas on a rock, tigers on a small stretch of dirt and elephants in the soggy zoo entrance.

When a storm races in and yet more ground is lost, nöa takes further action, collecting the terrified animals and placing them out of the rising waters. A skilled worker, he builds a vessel to help them escape for good. And still the waters rise. And still storms rage. He too is now at risk.

He is not alone after all, as soon there is another robot and another means of escape. Is there anywhere left that is safe for them all?

A powerful silent picture book showing a world with no human life, just what they’ve built, lost and left behind. Also left behind are a collection of animals facing rising waters. Zoos are a human invention, but what about the robots that come to the animal’s aid? Aren’t they a human invention too?

Climate change and the huge effects on the environment are well known and a future we all may face is within the pictures of this book. There are no humans within these pages, but human characteristics are present. Care, thoughtfulness, empathy and planning are strong in the AI of the robot characters as they strive to save deserted zoo animals.

As in all of Aaron Becker’s books, The Last Zookeeper is one to pore over to fully experience the story that begins as soon as you open the cover. The robots themselves are fascinating, fueled by different types of green energy sources, but showing human emotions and actions.

For me, humankind redeems itself a little through these robots, no matter the blame that lies at its feet. Lets hope this new nöa is not needed.

Beautifully illustrated, thought provoking and leaving me with the desire to ‘read’ it again and again to make sure I didn’t miss a thing.

Author – Illustrator – Aaron Becker

Picture Book

All Ages

See The Last Zookeeper come to life here

(2024, Walker Books UK, Future, Environment, Climate Change, Flooded world, Flooding, Storms, Rising Waters, Zoo, Exotic Animals, Escape, Rescue, Empathy, Care, Silent Book, Wordless Picture Book, Thought Provoking, Robots, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Noah’s Ark Retelling)

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But this is something that’s happened before.

A family stands in shock. They can’t quite believe it.

Dad’s bum has gone nuclear and now they have to retrieve it!

Dad’s bum is off out the door with everyone off after it. Dressed in nothing but bright boxer shorts, Dad’s bum is off on an adventure through town. But no matter how fast they run, they cannot catch up. It’s even worse when they realise that the smell coming from Dad’s bum alerts everyone to it, even if they hadn’t seen it race by.

Walkers, joggers and bikers stand stunned at the sight and smell, and soon the police are involved in the chase. They are determined to catch this runaway bum as it upsets children, a choir and even the local wildlife.

But wait! It’s coming back! Watch out!

The eighth book in this silly series, My Dad’s Runaway Bum will have fans of toilet humour laughing out loud. Imagine seeing a runaway bum race by!

The rhyme and rhythm of the story is catchy, ensuring young listeners or readers will be glued to every piece of action, and the bright illustrations hold tons of laughs too.

For more action and laughs, find more Bum escapades here

Author – Dawn McMillan

Illustrator – Ross Kinnaird

Picture Book

(2024, Oratia Books, Series, Funny, Toilet Humour, Family, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ Author, NZ Illustrator, Fantasy, Silly, Father, Dad, Police Chase)

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One day in the school library, a boy chooses a book from the shelves. He’s the first to admit he doesn’t like reading. The title of his chosen book is very strange – The Book That Wouldn’t Read.

The next thing he notices is a word on the cover that seems to vanish. What?

He tries to tell his teacher but she tells him it’s reading time, no talking. He looks back at the book, thinking…

“What could I do? I had to keep reading.”

All is fine for a moment, then the words jump high, then slink down low. Some even flip upside down!

Again, he tries to tell his teacher. But she hushes him quiet.

Another look down at the page sees ever wilder things happening. The words swirl, change colour and even leap straight out of the book! What the heck!

Searching for the runaway words around him in the library bring more…

“SSSHHH!” 

Words whizz and pop and spin in between a whirlwind of pictures. No story is to be found, but the boy begins to recognise things in this book. It doesn’t want to be read. It finds it hard to concentrate. It even tells him to be disruptive in class!

More wild things happen between the pages as he works his way through, until finally he reaches the end. Pleased with himself, he reaches for another book…

Such an imaginative premise for a book! A book that doesn’t want to be read. A book that makes it difficult for any reader to concentrate on its words and illustrations, hiding any story that might be there. A book whose contents won’t lie still no matter how much its reader tries to read it.

Many Dyslexic or Reluctant readers will be able to identify with all that is happening within the pages of this disruptive book. Except it’s not them struggling to read it, trying to focus, or gain any kind of understanding – it’s the book itself not playing the game.

In a school library setting, we can focus on the boy and the contents of his mischievous book as he works his way through. Book and boy finally make peace and he reaches the end with the joy of finishing a book. I love it that he reaches for another one.

Also available in te reo – Te Pukapuka ka Kore e Pānuihia

Author – Tim Tipene

Illustrator – Nicoletta Benella

Picture Book

(2023, Oratia Books, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Reading difficulties, Dyslexia, Books, Dyslexic, Reluctant Readers, Library, Quiet Reading, Reading Time, Funny)

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The townsfolk believed the forest was haunted but they would still cross the river to take the firewood they needed. The only person with a boat is Leina, a girl who smiled but never spoke. Her favourite passenger is a young name named Oren, with smiling eyes and a welcome joke.

Then, just like the rumours, he too vanishes on a trip to the forest. The townsfolk don’t look for him but Leina doesn’t believe he is gone forever, and looks out for his lantern to return from the darkness. When she finally sees a light she ventures in, only to find a man sized toad.

He needs a ride across the river, which Leina provides. But soon this toad who claims to be Lord of the Toadstools is back, upset at the treatment he received. Leina is unnerved but brave, following the toad into an underground palace.

She can hardly believe what she finds, but must conjure even more courage and even more cunning to not become another soul lost to the forest.

Told like a fairytale, this sumptuously illustrated hardback picture book is something special. It reminded me of the classic Rumpelstiltskin where thinking clearly and being cleverer than your captor is the only way to escape.

Essentially, Leina and the Lord of the Toadstools is about not just taking what you want, but also giving back. Being grateful for what you have and forgiving those around you – all spun with a touch of magic.

Authors – Myriam Dahman & Nicolas Digard

Illustrator – Júlia Sardà

Sophisticated Picture Book

Look Inside here

(2022, Fairytale, Magic, Animals, Courage, Palace, Truth, Friend, Ferrywoman, Forest, Haunted, Fantasy, Historical)

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‘A perfect day to read,’ decided Violet.

Violet has a LOT of books! She begins to search through her books in her bedroom. But she’s read them all.

‘I wish our town had a library.’

She decides to write a letter. She addresses it to the Mayor of her town, asking if they could have a library with lots of children’s books to borrow.

Back to her search, she scours the house. Aha! There’s one. No one will miss that one, thinks Violet.

Pleased to have finally found a new book, Violet doesn’t realise the chain of events that will kick off after choosing that particular book!

What follows includes a cat with a tummy-ache, a puddle where it shouldn’t be and letters lost off a balcony. But maybe, one letter might just find its way to the right place.

This bright, fun picture book is perfect for all young book lovers or any who have sent a wish out into the world. One Book Was All It Took to change an entire community, through a parade of flow on events via a missed bus, a vet visit and a hole in a roof.

This story would be a great way to spark imaginations about consequences – as in…’What if….?’

Author – Wenda Shurety

Illustrator – Amy Calautti

Picture Book

(2022, Exisle Publishing, EK Books, Reading, Library, Mayor, Animals, Cat, Consequences, Flow on effects, Library, Wish)

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Now we have the beginnings of an action packed what-happens-next story.

Shall we begin with an angry dog? No?

What about a smart cat and a dog always super alert? No?

Guess the story as you go along, trying out all the possibilities with just a cat, a dog a mouse. You just might surprise yourself.

Or will the mouse surprise everyone?

Told in 15 double page spreads and very few words, 3 traditionally enemy animals have an adventure with no one sure what will happen next.

Perfect to build storytelling skills in Year 2’s – 4’s. With imagination the sky’s the limit!

Author – Mem Fox

Illustrator – Mark Teague

Picture Book

(2021, Penguin Aust, Animals, Cat, Dog, Mouse, Enemies, Humour)

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They have been best friends for a long time, loving to race. They have been training to enter a world famous race and are finally old enough to enter.

Chase comes first! Ace is really happy for him.

They loved to race and did not care about place.

But the organising committee were NOT happy. How did a black car win the race without the best tyres and motor?

Next year friends Chase and Ace lined up to race. This time Chase’s track is different to Ace’s track.

Chase still did well, but wondered later on why he wasn’t allowed to use the same bridge as Ace? Was something wrong with him?

Next year’s race was different again and Chase doesn’t place. The new rules say, no place, no race.

Chase feels terrible, and finally someone called Grace is brave enough to speak out. Why are there different rules for Chase than Ace?

When Ace discovers the real reason Chase didn’t place in last year’s race, he finally learns the truth.

On first reading, this book made me angry. It is written so cleverly with rhyme and action and friendship, and blatant prejudice and racism underneath. The author is a psychotherapist, specialising in providing anti-racist psychotherapy to children. She is also passionate about helping adults, particularly white adults.

The race car theme is attractive and exciting and will capture children’s interest on reading but then goes deeper every time Chase does better than Ace. The white Committee Cars don’t like it and do everything in their power to stop Chase’s success, even though he is the undoubtedly the best race car. 

There are tips in the front of the book on how to read Race Cars with children and more in depth discussion notes at the back of the book.

Author – Jenny Devenny

Illustrator – Charnaie Gordon

Picture Book – Age 6+

(2021, Allen & Unwin, Cars, Racing, Friendship, Self Esteem, Feelings, Unfairness, Cheating, Racism, Prejudice, Staying Silent, Speaking up, Injustice, Bullies, Rules, Change the Goalposts)

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This book throws all those rules out the window!

Books are made to be savoured, enjoyed, and taken places.

Books are to be tasted, smelt, touched (with more than just your fingers), and heard as you flip the pages!

Wrap them, dress them, read them upside down. Hug them, wear them and turn them into presents!

Books are not just to be looked at, read and slid back on a shelf. They are to be enjoyed, shared and imagined.

This new book in the Wreck this series, banishes all the rules we’ve every heard about books. It even has a page to bend (shock – horror!). The text encourages the reader to shake, smell, touch, tap, knock the book. The black capitalised text is handwritten by the author and is clear against predominantly white backgrounds.

The bright illustrations are a fun jumble of collage, drawings, paintings and signs. A picture book like no other, taking Herve Tullet’s Press here interactive concept even further. Brilliant, but I still don’t think I could bend the pages…..  

Author – Keri Smith

Designers – Keri Smith & Jason Henry

Age – 5+

(2020, Penguin UK, Imagination, Collage, Creativity, Fun, Humour, Different, Change, Going against the norm, Breaking rules)

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Through his village, the park, the shops and the streets, Hound sniffs out each clue. He collects them all up to ponder over back in his office. AHA! He’s solved the case! But has he…? Something is waiting for him, that he wasn’t expecting.

This lusciously illustrated picture book not only holds great rhythm in its rhyming pages, it’s a mystery and a Search and Find too!

Follow the clues, and help Hound find them throughout his village. There is just so much to look at! A critter is also hiding on each page. Can you find them all? What is waiting for Hound?

From the talented author and illustrator of the award winning Puffin the Architect, Hound the Detective is sure to win just as many hearts.

Author / Illustrator – Kimberly Andrews

Picture Book

Check out Kimberly Andrews’ new book

Click on the Cover for a Review

(2020, Penguin NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand Author, Kiwi, Award winning author illustrator, Mystery, Search & Find, Clues, Animal, Dog, Riddle, Secret)

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Everyone he asks including a boat builder, seamstress, pet shop owner and more, exclaim, ‘No thank you!’

The boy doesn’t realise that this thing that is so undesired by most, is perfect for someone else.

A clever fun story, visualising something that is essentially nothing – into reality.

Author/Illustrator – Kelly Canby

Picture Book

(2024, Freemantle Press, Humour, Funny, Clever)

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Wow! The illustrations are something special, with a mixture of drawings and words which make up the illustration themselves.

With a nod at those who have lost their imaginations (adults), this little girl reminds the boy of a whole new magical, fantastical, scary, fun world out there, just waiting for him.

Look closer at the pictures for a surprise or two.

Author / Illustrators – Oliver Jeffers & Sam Winston

Picture Book

(Books, Reading, Words, Creativity, Confidence, Self-belief, Friendship, Imagination, Wonder, Make-believe, Adventure, Dreams)

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