He doesn’t like the dark box he’s in with its old straw, or the movement of the truck the box is on. The box is rocking on the back of the truck… and then… CRASH! It’s fallen off!

Kauri Boy has been told off again by his teacher.

He’s been sent out of class, but instead of sitting where he should, he grabs his back pack and leaves school.

A small, frightened kiwi, and fed-up young boy discover each other behind the school bus stop…

A story of discovery, empathy and understanding, not only between humans and wildlife, but between a teacher and student having trouble “getting” each other.

A lost kiwi is the catalyst for healing this troubling rift, now and in the future.

This tale of boy and bird will be a great way for keen young readers to help bridge a move from picture book text to early chapter books.

Soft watercolour illustrations take Kiwi and Kauri Boy through the story as a child makes good choices and doing the right thing, and a treasured kiwi is returned to the New Zealand bush.

Readers also have the added aspect of a Search & Find for wetas among the pages – followed up with information on these amazing insects in the back of the book.

Author – Linley Edmeades

Illustrator – Meg May Makene

Picture Book

(2026, Little Love, Mary Egan Publishing, Kiwi, Aotearoa New Zealand, School, Teacher, Student, Understanding, Empathy, Making Good Choices, Doing the right thing, Department of Conservation)

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Everyone looks different. It seems he is The Only Dinosaur in School. Worried about not fitting in, Theo decides he’s not going to this human school.

Mum has an amazing solution and she works hard all night on it. It is enough to sooth Theo’s worries the next day, so this time he walks through the school gates. No one is looking at him. His worries about not fitting in have all but vanished. But the more confident he gets, and after making a new friend, his secret is finally out.

But wait! The other children aren’t quite what they seem either.

From multi award winning NZ author Leonie Agnew, comes The Only Dinosaur in School. Illustrations by Julia Hegetusch highlight all the fears and worries of the first day of school, fitting in, and finally being able to be yourself.

This delightful picture book shows a child wanting to be the same as his classmates, who in fact are all wanting the same thing. Celebrating differences, first friendships and new experiences are all things that children can discover in this gorgeous story. The surprise that awaits Theo will delight young readers too!

Author – Leonie Agnew

Illustrator – Julia Hegetusch

Picture Book

(2025, Scholastic NZ, New Zealand Author, Aotearoa, NZ Illustrator, School, Fitting in, Confidence, Making friends)

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A special end of year event is organised for those school leavers, and Priyanka has been chosen to present the leaving certificates. As a student leader, she wants to do the job well, and is a little worried about pronouncing their school’s multi-cultural student’s names correctly.

With a little sage advice from a friend’s kuia, Priyanka puts her heart, mind and pronunciation skills to the task – and is proud of herself on the night.

Such an important book in our wonderful multi-cultural society. At its simplest form – this book recognises the respect and mana of a person’s name by taking the effort to pronounce it correctly. After all – our name is such an important part of us all, no matter where we are from.

As main character Priyanka learns her classmate’s correct names, many are surprised at her wanting to know how to say them properly. We often fall back on nicknames because they are easier, or even stumble over unfamiliar names without taking the time to learn them.

This full colour picture book portrays a student determined to do it correctly to honour not only the important event they will all be part of, but the participants themselves.

Bilingual in English/Maori, What’s in a name is a perfect way to kick off a conversation about this important piece of everyone’s identity – their name.

Author – Renisa Viraj Maki

Illustrator – Isobel Te Aho-White

Picture Book

(2024, Oratia Books, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ, School, Friendship, Names, Pronunciation, Respect, Leaving Ceremony, Student Leader)

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The children looked up to see a small shadow waiting outside.

This shadow was a girl with pale skin, shiny hair, and wide eyes. Their teacher asks them to be kind, but the new girl doesn’t return their smiles.

One boy tries hard to befriend her, but still, she hardly takes any notice of what’s happening around her. All she will do is draw. But the things she drew were surprising to her classmate – upsetting things and lots of tears.

He wants to know why she is drawing such things, and begins to learn about his classmate and her recent past. She still won’t speak.

All at once, he finally realises a way to make her smile.

This picture book is a companion to the multi-award winning novel – The Boy at the Back of the Class.

The heart-wrenching themes of war, loss, grief and powerlessness are gently portrayed on the page through a young girl’s drawings. These are the only way she can try and process what has happened in her life.

Another student can see she is scared, feeling lost and scared to meet anyone’s gaze. His acceptance, understanding, empathy and kindness is what finally breaks through to her as he uses something she knows and enjoys to engage with her.

The Girl at the Front of the Class is relatable to younger children, easily opening discussions about empathy and understanding for refugees and asylum seekers. 

A gentle but powerful, full-colour picture book.

Author – Onjali Q Raúf

Illustrator – Pippa Curnick

Picture Book

(2024, Empathy, Understanding, Loss, Grief, War, Refugee, Companion story, Asylym Seeker, School, Students, Drawing, Classmates)

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Covered in eczema, tiny Mitchell scratched and scratched, even with covers on his hands and feet. But he never stopped smiling.

As he grew, Mitchell and his parents discovered ways to soothe Mitchell’s red, itchy skin. Special creams, lukewarm baths and cotton clothes helped a lot. His cat falling in the bath – didn’t!

Sometimes Mitchell’s skin became fire-engine red and sore at the same time. His doctor was always on hand to help too. Certain things made Mitchell itch even more, like milk, eggs, washing powders and dust. But Mitchell kept smiling anyway.

The worst things for Mitchell was teasing at school, and adults saying… “Don’t scratch!” But Mitchell couldn’t help it.

The best times for Mitchell were school holidays at the beach and when he was learning and playing his guitar with his uncle. In fact, playing his guitar becomes like a super power among his peers. When he plays, he’s still smiling, and so are others around him.

Mitchell Itches – An Eczema Story follows a boy called Mitchell from birth to school days. He and his family become experts on how to calm Mitchell’s eczema and with it, his scratching.

This story not only shows all these tricks and tips they learn to help Mitchell, but how Mitchell feels when others comment or call him names. Both children and adults can harm eczema sufferers with their words. Normal things around the home or at school trigger Mitchell’s eczema and this story also allows young readers to understand it, and in turn take away the fear and misconceptions of seeing itchy, flaky skin.

Mitchell is a normal boy who loves soccer, his family, and playing the guitar, and with his persistence, finally shows those around him that he is more than just his eczema.

Author – Kristin Kelly

Illustrator – Amelia Jones

Picture Book

Find Teacher’s Notes here

(2024, Exisle Publishing, Skin Condition, Eczema, Misunderstandings, Misconceptions, Bullying, Name Calling, Guitar, Confidence, Distraction, Courage, Triggers, Stresses, Resilience, Self-Care, Symptoms)

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The other boys pull faces and muck about while the girls practice, but Rangi is transfixed as their pois fly and their steps and timing is perfect. Calling out in support, he joins their song, but the other boys instantly begin teasing him, saying Poi is for girls!

Rangi feels embarrassed for the rest of the day until he visits his Nan after school. She knows and understands his love of poi and has a pile of kapa haka competitions on video Rangi loves to watch and follow with his own Poi. Now he can swing and enjoy Poi as much as he likes without ridicule.

On the night of the celebration ceremony, a key member of the Poi group can’t go on stage, and uncertainty spreads through the performers. Who will lead them?

Rangi’s best friend Tū blurts out Rangi’s secret. He’s seen Rangi swinging Poi every morning before school. He can lead the Poi.

The Poi group is surprised at this request. The audience is surprised to see Rangi appear on stage in front of the girls. But no one is more surprised than Rangi on how good it feels to perform his true Kapa Haka love – Poi.

He leaves everyone in awe of his amazing skill with the Poi and the longing to perform Poi with the girls has bloomed into something much more.

Ka mutu pea! How wonderful! This bilingual story is gorgeous with te reo appearing first on the pages with English underneath. te reo is used within the English portion too, with these words listed in small print at the bottom of the page. This is a great way for any reader to add more te reo Māori to their knowledge.

Rangi is a gorgeous boy and he yearns to join in with the girls and their Poi. He struggles with the teasing that results, but has support in his grandmother to pursue his love of Poi. When he does finally get his chance to perform with the girls, he not only saves the performance and shines on stage, he shines right off the page as he achieves his dream.

The illustrations add so much to this wonderful story with swoops of colour and Māori design behind the action and characters as they tell the story. A story of diversity, acceptance, inclusivity and being your true self – all wrapped up in a purely New Zealand story that can be read and enjoyed anywhere in the world.

Simply beautiful!

Author – Tangaroa Paul

Illustrator – Rebecca Gibbs

Picture Book

See the sequel here

(2024, Oratia Books, Kapa Haka, School, Performance, Celebration Ceremony, Practice, Bilingual, Te Reo, Poi, Different, Diversity, Culture, True Self, Acceptance, Courage, Self Belief, Confidence, Nana, Video Tapes, Natural, Feelings, Teasing, Teased, Laughed at, Expectations, Authentic Self, Queer, LGBTQ+)

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Each of Jamie’s classmate’s names are called out at the beginning of class then they sing a waiata too. This is all new to Jamie, but the teacher and students are kind and helpful.

There is reading and writing, numbers and counting, and a trip to the school hall to swing poi. Jamie also learns that the sun is actually a star. But the most important lesson of Jamie’s first day at school, is that it’s lots of fun!

Perfect for any child about to begin school, this bright picture book shows a new student on their very first day of school.

Following a standard junior school routine of song, literacy, maths, story and co-operation within the classroom, any child can see lots of fun things on the page that they can experience at school. Play, kindness, respect, curiosity, teamwork and doing your best is all part of The Great Kiwi School Day.

I loved the busy illustrations, story text and speech bubbles, giving any reader tons to look at each time they open this picture book. The inside cover also has 16 items that can be found in any school and among the illustrations of the book – yet another way to experience this quintessential kiwi kid experience.

Author / Illustrator – Donovan Bixley

Picture Book

(2023, Upstart Press, New School, First Day of School, 1st Day of School, Classroom, Teacher, Search & Find, Classmates, Activities, Poi, Waiata, Fun, Speech Bubbles, Multi Award Winning Author & Illustrator, Numbers, Counting, Letters, Reading, Literacy, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa)

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But Mum isn’t worried.

“You left your shoes at school. Bring them home tomorrow.”

The next day, Eleanor wears her gumboots to school, but there are no gumboots allowed in the classroom, and they are far too loose to climb on the jungle gym.

The same sinking feeling hits Eleanor again on the way home in the school bus. She has bare feet. Not only has she forgotten to bring home her shoes, but now she’s left her gumboots behind too!

Mum has a solution, but not a perfect one. Once again, Eleanor looks down at her bare feet on the way home.

Mum is getting a little cross, and Eleanor ends up going through all her footwear, growing her pile of shoes in the school cloakroom.

When the end of the week comes round, and Eleanor is barefoot on the way to school too, she finally remembers what she is supposed to do. Bring her shoes home.

But hang, on. Something else is missing!

I laughed out loud at the end of this story. We can all relate to leaving something behind at school, from our own memories or with the antics of our own children.

Author Eleanor Nell has included a photo of her five-year-old self on the inside cover of Shoe Trouble with the admission that this story is based around her own forgotten shoes.

Lisa Allen’s soft pastel palette catches the innocence of young children on the bus, at home and on the school playground, and of course, busy little brains forgetting to bring shoes home from school.

This picture book would make a great going-to-school, or first-day-of-school gift, as well as entertain children aged 4+

Author – Eleanor Neil

Illustrator – Lisa Allen

Age – 4+

(2023, Upstart Press, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, School Bus, Remembering, Shoes, Footwear, Life Lessons, Going to School, Humour)

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But they weren’t always just the Cool Beans. They were part of a pod of four, but one of the beans was left behind in the coolness stakes. They just drifted apart as sometimes even good friendships do.

The fourth bean watched his pod mates and their personal cool skills. Playing the guitar. Drawing superheroes. Dunking baskets on the court. He tried to be cool, but just didn’t have it in him. In fact, he was the least cool bean in his class.

He didn’t understand it. How can some beans be cool, and some not?

Just when he thought things couldn’t be any less cool, something happens. And then again… and again!

Could it really be that being cool wasn’t all about the clothes, the sunglasses or even the skills? Could it be just a smile, or a helping hand when needed?

Maybe this uncool bean could be cool like the Cool Beans after all!

This is what good books are all about, boiled right down into the most important ingredient of stories. Empathy.

One bean can’t understand why his friends are suddenly cooler than him, and this happens on the playground all over the world. Watching his old friends become even more and more popular, he tries to emulate them in their clothes and manner.

It’s not long before he discovers why they are so cool and popular – they are also kind, helpful and having really left him behind after all. Following their lead after they help him find some much needed confidence in himself, he becomes just like them.

Author – John Jory

Illustrator – Pete Oswald

Picture Book

(2022, Harper Collins, School, Resilience, Too Cool for School, Image, Self Esteem, Friendships, Kindness, Empathy, Fitting in, Confidence, Belonging, Cool Kids, Popularity)

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They are doing something special in her classroom the next day and Huia isn’t sure she wants to take part.

Each student has been asked to bring a photo of their family as part of a new class topic. But Huia knows her family is different and isn’t sure what her classmates might say and think?

Her efforts to avoid it are waylaid by her mum who visits school with what Huia needs. Huia soon learns that hers isn’t the only family that is a little different from ‘Mum, Dad and the kids.’

There are adopted children, children raised by aunts, or grandparents, or only one parent. There are step mums and step dads too.

Huia finally shares the photos of her own whanau. She’s surprised to hear her friends exclaim with joy,

“You are so lucky! You have two mums!”

The perfect picture book to show that all families are special no matter their make up. 

Many things worry children and being different in any way from their classmates can cause uncertainty. Written in both te reo Māori and English (te reo appears first on the page), My Beautiful Family is a book for every shelf, whether at home or school which can help counter these fears.

Illustrator Izzy White captures main character Huia’s apprehension, dread, then realisation that everything is going to be okay – perfectly.

Author – Rauhina Cooper

Illustrator – Isobel Joy Te-Aho White

Picture Book

(2023, Oratia Books, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Bilingual, English, te Reo Māori, Family, Whanau, School, Photograph, Fears, Feelings, Different, Two Mums, Fitting in, Confidence, Kindness, Inclusivity, Diversity, LGBTQ+)

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Until…. there is a growling coming from outside the classroom. What could it be? Suddenly they are wide awake!

A shadow slips across the wall in the corridor and the sound of a roar leaves the children spellbound. Could it be? In their school? A real life Spinosaurus!

The roary Spinosaurus

stomped along the corridorus

Wait! Here comes another one. Making sure they are not seen or heard, the children see one dinosaur after another stomping down the hallway.

Watching them all go into another room, they know they just have to follow…

Young children and dinosaur lovers alike will love this brightly illustrated, cleverly constructed picture book from multi award winning author Kyle Mewburn and illustrator Daron Parton.

The word play is fun to read aloud and tension builds as three children try to stay hidden as they watch the most awesome thing to happen at school ever.

Dinosaurs are big. Dinosaurs are scary. They have teeth and spines and great big feet. Why are they in school? The children follow to find out that dinosaurs might not be so scary after all.

Author – Kyle Mewburn

Illustrator – Daron Parton

Picture Book

(2022, Scholastic NZ, Funny, Dinosaurs, School, Corridor, Hallway, NZ Author, NZ illustrator, New Zealand, Friends, Exciting, Courage)

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One day at school, a Teddy Bear’s Picnic is announced. All the children are excited but Jonah isn’t sure. Freddy doesn’t exactly look like a teddy. What should he do?

Attempts at making Freddy look ‘Teddy’ don’t go so well. Jonah wonders whether he should take his old teddy instead? But that doesn’t feel right.

When it is time to reveal his teddy, he chooses Freddy, even though he looks different from all the others.

A gentle story about inclusion and true friendship. A little boy’s courage will melt your heart as he braves being different amongst his young peers.

This has been described as a wonderful book for those who feel a little different, but I also see it as a boy standing up for his friend no matter what, and making another friend along the way.

Adorable. 

Author – Kristen Schroeder

Age – Hilary Jean Tapper

Picture Book

Teacher’s Notes here

(2022, Exisle Publishing, Teddies, Soft Toys, Being Different, True Friends, School, Courage, Friendship, Love)

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Oh no, the dog is still inside. Chase him around the house and out the back door! Now off to school! Mama has still got ideas to delay the school day, but the little girl finally gets her there.

A funny picture book where a mum and daughter swap places one morning. This would be great to read to a child 4+ going off to kindy, or very young school children.

This is ingenious reverse psychology for young readers – pointing out some of their tricks to delay getting out the door in the morning.

Mum is supposed to be at school too though. Watch for the wink!

Author – Sharon Giltroe
Illustrator – Arielle Li
Picture Book

(2022, Exisle Publishing, Family, School, Role Reversal. Cute, Humour, Funny, Wise Mum, Clever Conclusion)

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Tell us about your Dad!

Leo doesn’t know his dad. It’s always been him and Mum. He decides to ask Mum at home but she’s busy saving the world in her new story.

Leo’s searches high and low looking for clues or a solution, until he realises it was in front of him all along! He’s ready to do his presentation in class!

Many children have one parent or care giver who is lots of loved ones rolled into one. Mum/Dad or Dad/Mum. Grandma/Mum/Dad or a plethora of other possibilities.

Leo’s realisation is wonderful.

Author – Dimity Powell
Illustrator – Nicky Johnston
Picture Book

(2022, Exisle Publishing, Family, Dads, Mums, School Project, Fitting in, Class speech, Presentation, Fathers, Author mum, Truth, Love)

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It would be great to have some idea as to what is going to happen on this very important day in every little person’s life. This is where The Wild Guide to Starting School comes in!

From waking up, what to wear and what to take, to feelings before and at the all important drop off.

This and much more is explained by critters big and small who have all been right where the reader is. There is guidance on what to do at school too, with very good advice for what is okay and what is not.

eg. Do NOT eat your teacher!

A normal day is mapped out for the new entrant in fun, colourful pages right up to bedtime, signing off with a friendly good luck.

This guide is told by and based on Australian animals, but it is all relevant to kiwi kids. There are many books on the First Day of School, but this one stands out – Funny, cute, colourful and most importantly helpful. I’d love to see a NZ version.

Author / Illustrator team – Laura and Philip Bunting

Picture Book

(2021, Starting School, Animals, Australia, Critters, Birds, First Day of School, Funny, Humour, Self Esteem, Confidence, Guidance, Heads up, School)

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As soon as he was able he began to draw, at first on the slate path with his bucket of chalk.

He still loved to sit on the swing with his family, feel the breeze and listen to stories read out loud. He decides the best thing in the whole world is to write stories. First step is to read stories, which proves much harder than at first thought. Aaron feels like giving up on his dream.

Soon he is old enough for school. He’s ready, he’s bright and keen to show the world who he is. Now is when he’ll learn to read! Alas, it isn’t to be, and he can’t understand it. His friends seem to have the knack, why not him?

The test comes when his new, fresh teacher gives her class an assignment.

‘Write me a story. Write something true.’

Aaron tries, and tries and…. tries, but as he’s already learnt, pictures are his thing, not words. But maybe, just maybe there is another way to tell a story.

The fourth picture book in the amazing series called The Questioneers – Aaron Slater, Illustrator is also told in rhyming verse.

Aaron is keen to learn to read and write like his friends, but for some reason it comes so much harder for him. As his confidence suffers so does his personality. He wants to hide his inability to read and does so by trying to blend into the background. His skills in drawing eventually bring him back out into the open and reveal his true self as he realises there are other ways to tell stories.

I liked the way he struggled on with his reading, making gradual progress. This shows a young reader that they too can achieve this with help and determination, and that although they may not be like their peers in one way, they will have their own way to shine.

Aaron’s confusion with reading and writing is aptly illustrated in jumbled letters and words often scattered at his feet, portraying the learning difficulty of dyslexia.

Aaron Slater, Illustrator is designed in a dyslexia-friendly font and other learning difficulties are discussed in the Author’s Note in the back of the book.

Author – Andrea Beaty

Illustrator – David Roberts

Picture Book

Take a peek inside here

Read a review of other books in this series (Click on a Cover)

(2021, Abrams Books, Thames & Hudson, Feelings, Dyslexic, Dyslexia, Reading, Writing, Story, Confidence, School, Art, Drawing, Imagination, Classroom)

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They bounce onto the bus…

The Dinos on the bus go Roar, Roar, Roar!

The teacher is trying to control his chaotic class!

The Teacher on the bus goes Sit Down Please!

Dinos can sit down and still STOMP! And stomp they do! Until…

The grannies on the bus go Shhhh, Shhhh, Shhh!

There is even more excitement to come! Slowly but surely these dinos begin to tire with all that is going on, and begin to Yawn, Yawn, Yawn.

Sung in the well loved tune of The Wheels on the Bus, The Dinos on the Bus is a bright, fun, full colour Picture Book, with a class of wee dinos instead of humans. They roar and stomp and squeal on their day out, and just like little humans they are yawning near the end of their adventure.

This is going to be great fun in kindergartens and early childhood centres, and I’m sure 5 year olds will have a blast acting out the actions too!

Author – Peter Millett

Illustrator – Tony Neal

Picture Book

(2021, Penguin NZ, Transport, Singing, Song, Excitement, Class trip, School trip, Fun)

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It is only when she shows her hurt that someone sees the problem and helps her work them out. Some worries are simply squashed, and others set aside for someone else. Others are let out slowly until they shrink into almost nothing.

A fabulous way to approach the ever increasing burden of anxiety in children.

Author – Virginia Ironside

Illustrator – Frank Rodgers

Picture Book

(1996, Speak out, Tell someone, Worry, Worries, Depression, Anxiety, Fears, Feelings)

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