Every good book experience starts with the simplest of things. An excellent board book can open a young mind to the world and their own experience in it. At VOLUME, we are always looking for interesting picture books that will surprise and delight. Board books for the very youngest start the journey of a reading life. Here are a few recently published titles:

Titiro/Look is a bilingual first words book. Another excellent title from Aotearoa children’s author and Illustrator Gavin Bishop. The design is excellent, with its arresting illustrations and clear visual information. There’s a great range of subjects, creating plenty of opportunities to expand vocabulary and create conversations, making it a perfect book for looking at, and interacting with, for parent (or grandparent) and child.

So excited to see a new addition to the playful series from creator Antonia Pesenti. Party Rhyme! is as much fun as Rhyme Cordial and Rhyme Hungry. With hairy bread and party bats it will be hard to keep the laughter and rhyming under control. But not to worry, there will be a bear hug to keep everyone feeling cosy at the end. The lift-the-flap formula works brilliantly with Pesenti’s books, and they are robust and create just the right amount of anticipation.

If you are after a sweet bedtime book, look no further than Good Night Belly Button. Reminiscent of the classic Good Night Moon, the youngster in this story is being tucked into bed, from the tips of the toes up to the chin, all snug and sleepy. This long format board book slowly raises the blanket with each turn of the page. Good night little feet, good night little calves, good night little knees…

And here’s a wonderful title now available as a board book. Press Here by designer Hervé Tullet is brilliant. It’s all about colours and movement. It is clever and interactive without any moving parts, but plenty of lateral thinking. Highly enjoyable and endlessly fascinating! It is magic?

If you are interested in a Book Subscription for a young reader, we have designed some perfect book packages. For the youngest, we recommend WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF BOOKS. We create reading subscriptions for all ages and can adjust to fit your requirements.
Not sure which appeals the most? —Use the ENQUIRE button or just email us to start a conversation.

Welcome back Raccoon, Badger, Fox, Bear, and Crow!  Raccoon is reading a great book. It’s a wonderful adventure. It’s so exciting, he decides it’s time for his own expedition;— a journey around the world! For that he will need a boat, and he knows where he can find one. His friend, Badger, is just the fellow. Badger has everything, and all in their allotted places. Check out his storage shelves — so orderly! Badger also thinks he will be the perfect companion for this journey. Everyone needs a friend on such a journey. Boat and paddles in hand, they are ready to go. Setting off for the river, they meet Fox at the market selling her eggs. What about food? I better come along with you, insists Fox. The three friends are now prepared for their journey around the world. Bear is out fishing and reminds them about sea monsters and jellyfish. You’ll need a bear on your crew. Off to the river the four friends go. Crow flies past, and exclaims, I’ll be the look-out. Of course, they need a look-out for such a grand adventure. All together, they get under way. It’s a beautiful day for a journey down the river to the ocean. What a great adventure! Philip Waechter’s Around the World With Friends, like his previous picture book about our five wonderful friends ( A Perfect Wonderful Day with Friends), captures us. The five friends are adorable, their joyful and positive interactions irresistable, and the story moves at just the right pace, and with a gentleness that is sometimes missing in picture books. The illustrations are delightful and there is always more to see with each reading. Each of the friends has their special talent and all this comes in handy on their adventure down the river. An adventure which mostly goes to plan, but isn’t always plain sailing, so there will be some problem-solving along the way. There will be games on a sandy bank, scrambled eggs and oh dear! — rain. Exciting adventures are wonderful, especially with friends, but what about Fox’s chickens, and Bear needs his teddy at night, and Raccoon forgot to bring his book. Heading home is just fine — especially when there are plans for a new adventure very soon! A perfectly charming picture book for young adventurers. Recommended for gift-giving and inspiring summer adventures, filled with imagination and delight.

Love children’s books? Did you know we have dedicated Children’s Book Subscriptions? Share the world of reading with a special child in your life with a VOLUME Book Subscription. Choose here or let us know if you have a special request. We individually select books for a child’s reading level and interests. No two subscriptions are the same! Need to know more, you can book a ZOOM consultation.

The 2024 Winner of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year is Stacy Gregg (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāti Maru Hauraki) with her latest book, Nine Girls. Gregg is a household name in New Zealand, and in the UK, with over 30 pony books to her name, numerous awards, along with commercial success. Nine Girls is a departure from the pony stories. Gone is the pony, but in its place is a talking eel. Titch and her whanua have moved to Ngāruawāhia. Adjusting to a small town where she feels out of place is no easy feat, but with a best friend, Tania, the lure of hidden treasure and the unexpected encounter with her eel connecting Titch to her past, adventure is never far away.

In Nine Girls Stacy Gregg draws on her own childhood, and being an outsider; she explores issues of colonisation, racism and striving to find yourself and connect with your heritage. With Gregg’s expert story-telling this coming-of-age story balances humour, adventure, and emotion — the perfect ingredients for a standout book that embraces important themes and history for both Māori and Pākehā readers.

Find out more:

• The Daunting Prospect of writing Nine Girls

• The Margaret Mahy Book of the Year

• The Judge and the Winner: An Interview

• Read an Extract

• The 2024 Winners

These wonderful books have just won their categories at the 2024 NEW ZEALAND BOOK AWARDS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS.
Read what the judges had to say, and then click through to our website to grab your copies (or to get us to send them to the children or young adults of your choice). These books are selling fast, but more stock of all of them is on its way!

MARGARET MAHY BOOK OF THE YEAR

Nine Girls — Written by Stacy Gregg (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāti Maru Hauraki) (Published by Penguin Books)

In Nine Girls Stacy Gregg masterfully 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.

CATEGORY WINNERS

PICTURE BOOK AWARD

Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai — Written by Michaela Keeble with Kerehi Grace (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou), and illustrated by Tokerau Brown (Published by: Gecko Press)

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.

• Look inside!

WRIGHT FAMILY FOUNDATION ESTHER GLEN AWARD FOR JUNIOR FICTION

Nine Girls — Written by Stacy Gregg (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāti Maru Hauraki) (Published by: Penguin, Penguin Random House)

Using the thread of storytelling, Nine Girls weaves together an exploration of the complexity of identity, the resonance of history, and the transformative power of friendship. Comic action, magical realism, and social history are skilfully combined in this captivating coming-of-age story. Vivid and well-developed characters populate a fast-paced, eventful narrative as we follow the young protagonist’s journey to discovering her Māori identity. Te ao Pākehā and te ao Māori are equally uplifted as the text explores our bicultural history.
Poignant and profound, affirming and authentic, this book is rich with themes of identity, friendship, and cultural heritage – a taonga from a masterful storyteller.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION AWARD

Catch a Falling Star — Written by Eileen Merriman (Published by: Penguin Books)

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 school work, 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.

ELSIE LOCKE AWARD FOR NON-FICTION

Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan to Rewild Every City on Earth — Written and illustrated by Steve Mushin (Published by: Allen & Unwin)

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.

• Look inside!

RUSSELL CLARK AWARD FOR ILLUSTRATION

Patu: The New Zealand Wars — Illustrated and written by Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngāti Awa) (Published by: Puffin Books)

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.

• Look inside!

WRIGHT FAMILY FOUNDATION TE KURA POUNAMU AWARD FOR TE REO MĀORI

Nani Jo me ngā Mokopuna Porohīanga — Written by Moira Wairama and illustrated by Margaret Tolland (Published by: Baggage Books)

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.

N.Z.S.A. BEST FIRST BOOK AWARD

Tsunami — Written and illustrated by Ned Wenlock (Published by: Earth’s End Publishing)

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.

• Look inside!

The finalists have been announced celebrating the best in Aotearoa’s children’s and teen books. There are some exceptional gems, and some of my personal favourites from the past year have made the cut. A finalist for the Young Adult Fiction Award and the NZSA Award for Best First Book is Tsunami.

This excellent graphic novel from Paekakariki-based illustrator, animator, and comic maker Ned Wenlock deals with bullying, being an outsider, and that awkward transition from childhood to adulthood, with raw honesty and clarity.

Meet Peter, a target for the school bullies. His commitment to truth and being right isn’t always the best fit for your final days of primary school. Being twelve is never easy and, for Peter, life is just too much. Peter’s parents are too busy bickering to notice his despair, his nemesis Gus and his cronies are on his case, and there’s a new girl at school just as much a misfit as him. But she’s a badass, and it’s difficult for Peter to navigate her motives. It all feels overwhelming to Peter — like a tsunami is coming and he isn't sure he can stop it.

Told in Ned’s unique and beautifully pared-down style, Tsunami is a taut page-turner, a coming-of-age story, and nuanced examination of early teenage alienation and the unpredictable consequences of our actions. 
Another example of superb publishing from Earth’s End.

Grace keeps centred with martial arts. Jeet Kune Do is her lifesaver, but will it be enough to get her through the summer? Can the words of Bruce Lee hold the world steady when everything is about to change? Grace is eighteen, working cleaning motel rooms, hoping she can save enough to go to uni, worried about her Mum, and watching out for her Gran. She’s a teen with more responsibility than most, and when her childhood friend, Charlie, jumps out of a suitcase (literally!) unexpectedly in front of her, life’s going to get a little more chaotic. Fall back a few years. Charlie and Grace met when they were five and were inseparable. Grace, a small Asian overprotected child, and Charlie, with his achondroplasia, are drawn to each other instantly and share a curiosity for the world and a fierce loyalty to each other. When Charlie’s academic mother gets a posting overseas, Grace feels abandoned, and has never forgiven Charlie for not keeping in touch. Now he’s back, their friendship is rekindled and it’s not what either of them expected. If this was the most complex issue in Grace’s life, no problem. But there are greater mysteries. Frustrated by her mother’s refusal to tell her anything substantial about her birth in Taiwan or her father who died, Grace is determined to find out more. A DNA test comes back with a surprising result, but her Mum’s in a precarious state, especially after Gran dies. Grace wants to confront her, but doesn’t want to tip her over the edge. Mandy Hager’s Gracehopper is brilliant; she writes about PTSD, bullying, relationships, drugs, trauma, and difference with sensitivity and honesty. Grace and Charlie are complex and compelling characters, who you can’t help but like. This is a novel for older teens about love, acceptance and forgiveness. Highly recommended.

Everyone needs to brave sometimes. Rebecca would rather be invisible. Looking down seems a good option. In Jane Arthur’s Brown Bird, we meet the kind and quiet Rebecca. She’s eleven, an excellent baker, and loves to have her head buried in a book. It’s the holidays and her plans are about to be disrupted by the whirlwind called Chester. What will Rebecca find out about herself, and is Chester as carefree as he seems? Jane Arthur, award-winning poet, perfectly captures the voice of eleven-year-old Rebecca, and expresses the uncertainties, awkwardnesses and hopes that we all experience, in her debut children’s book.

• Read Stella’s review.

• “I do love a good funnysad novel.”

• Personal histories are everywhere.

• Birth, death, and love poems.

• Calamities!

• Craven

Rebecca is the best timid character to grab my attention this year, and Jane Arthur’s Brown Bird has flown straight to a VOLUME Favourite. Why? One: there’s a map! For me, it was reminiscent of my childhood readings and rereadings of Milly Molly Mandy — I loved those maps showing the village (despite being a million miles away from my childhood experience in Aotearoa — no thatched roofs in any direction). This map is more akin to the small avenue of  my childhood. Brown Bird takes place on Mount Street — a small no exit of twelve houses. And each of these houses and their inhabitants will have a part to play. Two: there’s the wonderful Rebecca and the delightful Chester. Rebecca doesn’t like to be noticed and her preference for an excellent day is reading and baking. She’s a whizz at both. The school holidays mean Mum’s at work a lot, and Rebecca visits Tilly, their neighbour. Rebecca has it all planned. She’s got her stack of books ready to go. But then there’s Chester. A ball of energy that disrupts her calm (not that she is really calm — in fact, she’s often quite anxious and overly aware of her surroundings). And Chester has a plan. A plan that involves knocking on doors, meeting people and offering their services doing odd jobs. To Rebecca, Chester doesn’t have a care in the world and is all exuberance. It’s exhausting, nerve-wracking but also exhilarating. Three: Brown Bird is a story about friendship. Chester isn’t like her, but for the first time since they moved to their new place, Rebecca has a friend. They sleep in the tent, eat treats and laugh, but also disagree and work out what’s important. Chester may be full of vim, but his life is far from plain sailing. Four: It’s a spot on depiction of that moment in childhood — Rebecca is eleven — when things change, emotionally and physically. Rebecca’s anxiety and frustration is all there and well articulated, but so too is her kindness and tenacity. She’s the perfect companion for anyone who feels awkwardly at odds with the world. Five: I love the quietness of Brown Bird. It’s a book that draws you in (without shouting you into the action or screaming nonsense), lets you think, and also makes you smile. It’s warm-hearted and you’ll be backing Rebecca and Chester to be the lovely and brave humans they are. Six: It’s also sweetly written. You’re in the story before you know it, and Arthur has a knack for quirky humour popping up in just the right places, alongside the more daunting prospects for the protagonists, as well as feeding in issues of diversity and difference without being heavy handed. Highly recommended for 9+. Excellent for anyone who’s taken a while to believe in themselves. Here’s hoping we meet Rebecca again.

For the shy, and the brave and the thoughtful. Let’s start with the shy…

Mole has been invited to Rabbit’s Moon Harvest Party. It’s a dilemma. Mole wants to go, but what if they don’t know anyone apart from Rabbit? Mole knows Rabbit likes cream puffs, but what if no one else does? Mole decides they will go. They make the cream puffs, wrap them up and tie the gift box of goodies with a beautiful yellow bow. Mole starts on the journey underground, not very sure they will get there. Maybe it would be better to just go home and try again another time. Mole makes a deal with themself: if they get past sleeping Snake, they will carry on. Snake sleeps and Mole is both pleased and apprehensive all at once. Maybe I should go home, Mole thinks. I wish I had stayed home exclaims Mole as they continue along the tunnels. In spite of the desire to turn back, and the endless deliberation, Mole finds themself popping up from underground at Rabbit’s place. Apprehensively, with the gift clutched in their paws, they venture above ground. But wait, there's someone else there! Hiding in the bushes. A someone just as shy as Mole. This is the cutest picture book I’ve come across recently. It’s sweet, without being saccharine, and delightfully illustrated. The depictions of the characters’ personalities are spot on; from the wonderfully shy Mole, to timid Skunk, clever Rabbit, and the more adventurous animal friends. There’s a charming picture of the walk to Rabbit’s house. Here is Raccoon pushing a cake on a cart, followed by Chipmunk playing a tune, Bear clutching some tasty drink, Fox with a fresh baguette, and rounding off the line, Hedgehog with a bunch of balloons. Below them, you can’t see Mole, but there’s some distinctly Mole-ish mumblings popping up in speech bubbles. And if you look carefully, you might spy Skunk. Maya Tatsukawa’s illustrations are joyful, brimming with humour and delightful detail. Check the books in Mole’s home — Moomins by the bed, the History of Burrows and Tunnels 101 on the reference shelf, to mention just a few. Mole is Not Alone is a lovely story about being unsure, of trying new things, and most of all, about being comfortable with who you are. The illustrations and the text fit together well and work seamlessly to give depth of understanding with subtlety and quiet humour.

And now a complete contrast. Things in the Basement is the latest graphic novel for kids from Ben Hatke. Milo has twin siblings, the household is busy, and the babies are crying. One of them is missing a pink sock and Milo has been sent to the laundry to find it. The laundry is in the basement. The pink sock is there somewhere, along with something else. Or many something elses! In Milo’s search for the pink sock, he will find stairs that keep going down, much further down than in any ordinary house, secret doors, trapdoors, strange cracks in the walls, rooms that open on to other rooms, and a world that is both fascinating and strange, and a little bit terrifying. Milo’s determined to get the sock back, so in spite of his fear he ventures forth. Not all things in the Basement World are foe, there are friends to help as well. Hatke’s murky colour palette adds to the feeling of imminent danger and contrasts nicely with the shining torches, glimpses of pink wool and humorous moments. The curious, if nervous, Milo is our guide through this underworld and don’t worry he’ll get you back to the world above with a pink sock, of sorts. This is aimed at 7 years up, but not for the faint-hearted. It’s wonderfully imaginative and magical, and an excellent graphic novel for those that like their stories with a spooky edge.

And as thinking is a wonderful pastime, here is the latest from the excellent pen of Shinsuke Yoshitake. Here, our protagonist, Akira, wonders about growing up — “When I’m big..,” ; is frustrated by having to rely on others — parents; and imagines themselves being super competent! Well, doesn’t everyone? In I Can Open It For You, we have screwed up faces, too tight jars, packages that won’t release their yummy food contents, tantrums and just plain old frustration. When you’re too little to manage, you have to ask for help. But when you grow up, you’ll be running about in demand: open this, that and everything else. Akira imagines all the things he will be able to open — jars, packets, houses, the earth, purses, suitcases, bottles and animal cages — when he’s bigger. Luckily, while he’s small, there’s always someone to help and show Akira all the wonderful ways to open boxes, packets, windows to views and a box with a new pet. A book about growing up, being open to new experiences and finding out together. Funny, thoughtful and enjoyable for small children who will instantly relate to Akira’s dilemma, and enjoy the experience of opening a book together.

Ella loves horses. She loves her gran Grizzly and her home in a southern rural town. She’s most at home on her pony Magpie and cantering across the hills, especially at her favourite time of the day — the grimmelings — a time when magic can happen. Yet she’s lonely and wishes for a friend for the summer. Mum’s busy, and grumpy, looking after everyone and running the trekking business; Grizzly’s getting sicker, although she still has time to tell Ella and her little sister Fiona strange tales and wild stories of Scotland; and the locals think they are a bunch of witches. Ella knows there is power in words and when she curses the bully, Josh Underhill, little does she know she will be in a search party the next day. With Josh missing, and a strangely mesmerising black stallion appearing out of nowhere, this is not your average summer. When Ella meets a stranger, she strikes up an unexpected friendship. Has her wish come true? Why does she feel both attracted and wary of this overly confident boy, Gus? With Josh still missing, Mum’s made the lake out of bounds. That’s the last place Dad was seen six years ago. The lake with its strangely calm centre is enticing. What lurks in its depths — danger or the truth? Rachael King’s The Grimmelings is a gripping story of a girl growing up, of secrets unfolded, and a vengeful kelpie. Like her equally excellent previous children’s book, Red Rocks, King cleverly entwines the concerns of a young teen with an adventure story steeped in mythology. In Red Rocks, a selkie plays a central role, here it is the kelpie. King convincingly transports these myths to Aotearoa, in this case, the southern mountains, and in the former novel, the coast of Island Bay. There are nods to the power of language in the idea of curses, but more intriguing, and touching, are the scraps of paper from Grizzly with new words and meanings for Ella — and for us, the readers. Words are powerful and help us navigate our place in the world and ward off dangers when necessary. Yet the beauty of The Grimmelings lies in its adventure and in the courage of a girl and her horse, who together may withstand a powerful being, and maybe even break a curse. Laced with magical words, intriguing mythology, and plenty of horses, it’s a compelling, as well as emotional, ride.

If you are interested in making up stories, playing games, and looking for an alternative to the screen, you need one of these brilliant myriorama storytelling card games. With their great graphics — there are different illustrators for each set; archetypal characters — there’s a wolf in the woods, a mad scientist experimenting in the lab, and a butler lurking in the hall; and numerous paths to take the possibilities are endless. Your imagination is the only impediment and the key. In The Shadow World, the graphic designer Shan Jiang's two-tone palette of black and yellow with a hint of metallic blue creates an underworld industrial park meets steampunk meets science lab with a hint of mad obsession as a scientist delves into a theory that may have disastrous implications. Anything could happen in this underworld where space and time meet chaos. The Mystery Mansion recalls 1920s glamour with a splash of country gentry and Agatha Christie. Foul play is at hand, the butler is grumpy, revenge is in the air and there are too many accidents. The game is afoot. Lucille Clerc’s illustrations are charming and cleverly detailed leaving a trail of clues. Make your own rules and invent your mystery in this grand country house. If howling at the moon is more your style, then a walk in The Hollow Woods is on the cards. Rohan Daniel Eason’s excellent black and white pen illustrations are apt for these fairytale-inspired storytelling cards. Beware! On your journey, you may encounter a giant, a wolf, or a fire-breathing dragon. Sinister shadows abound, so keep moving and keep to the path. The most beautiful in this series so far is The Endless Odyssey. The stunning drawings are the work of award-winning illustrator Marion Dechars. Inspired by the Greek myth, here the Minotaur will roar, the warrior endure, magical creatures race across the landscape, and gods and goddesses help or hinder your journey. Fire up your imagination and let the telling of tales begin.

Let me introduce you to a wonderful bedtime story. It’s not your usual “goodnight, sleep tight” tale. In fact, it is possible it could you keep awake with thinking or make you dream of elusive blue rhinoceroses. Ludwig and the Rhinoceros: A philosophical bedtime story by Noemi Schneider and Golden Cosmos is an amusing gem of a book. Let’s start with the illustrations. The bold colour palette and drawing style call to mind a combination of 1930s Soviet children’s books and 1960s pop art, but with their own twist the duo who are Golden Cosmos give the book an energetic pulse. Those pinks, yellows, and blues bounce off each other and require action on the part of the characters to search and announce, while the darker blue pages perfectly fit the more reflective nature of the night and the concept at the centre of this book. For this is a story of a rhinoceros who is and isn’t there.  This is a picture book about the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and his discussion with Bertrand Russell about the limits of language. There is a nice explainer at the end about their difference of opinion, as well as information about Wittgenstein and a 'What is a philosopher' paragraph. So plenty of room for further discussion. Yet the charm of the book is in the straightforward and lively text. The back and forth of the child Ludwig and his parent as they disagree on whether the rhinoceros is in the room. Enjoyable for children and adults alike. What’s there not to like about a philosophical bedtime story?

Moominsummer Madness by Tove Jansson

Reading aloud is always a pleasure and listening is even better, especially when you are revisiting a favourite book. I first discovered the Moomins in the sale bin of the Stoke Library (when it was housed in the little wooden building). It was a 5-cent book and I thought it was magical. I knew nothing at that time about the Moomin series nor the author Tove Janssen, and didn’t know I would meet someone who had grown up on these Finnish classics, and that then I would discover the rest of the Moomin books. My copy of Moominsummer Madness was a well-read paperback with the usual library markings of a deaccessioned book, some dog ears, a few pages taped in, and the usual library stamps declaring cancelled. The copies we keep in stock at VOLUME are lovely hardbacks with the original illustrations, wonderful Moomin Valley maps, and gorgeous endpapers. In Moominsummer Madness, the family wakes up to a flooded valley and the water keeps rising. They move to the roof and make a getaway in the boat, along with the table and chairs, a supply of tea, and a few provisions. Fortunately, they come across a new home to make into a temporary abode. It’s a rather strange place. One wall is missing. Here hallways come to dead ends and some doors open to nowhere. There are moving curtains and painted scenery that changes unexpectedly and mysterious rooms filled with things that don’t quite work as one would expect. There is a strange sound coming from one corner of the main room and the owner of the mumbling voice won’t show themselves. Despite all this, the Moomin family, along with the irrepressible Little My, her scolding sister the Mymble’s daughter, the lamentable Misabel, and the philosophical Womper, make the best of the situation. All is going along well, until Little My falls through the trapdoor and disappears into the water, Moomintroll and the Snork Maiden are left abandoned in a tree during an overnight camping expedition, and the strange building floats away after the contemptuous stage manager Emma heaves out the ‘anchor’. As the Moomins find out about theatres and acting and plan a play, Moomintroll and the Snork Maiden make their way to land, only to be arrested for a crime they didn’t commit. The culprit of this ‘crime’ has just taken on 24 small woodies and rescued Little My. The culprit being the freewheeling Snufkin. Keep an eye out for glowing Hattifattners, dramas on the water and on the stage, and wonderful characters who will become your best friends. If you haven’t read the Moomin stories yet, you are missing out. And yes, it all works out well for everyone, almost.

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo (illustrated by Julie Morstad)

Forgotten in a trunk. Left in the dark. Unwanted. Once they had been on display, crafted with care. They belonged together and they had a story. Would they be together again, and would there be a new story? Kate DiCamillo works her magic with The Puppets of Spelhorst. With the texture of a folk tale, she reveals the story of a girl, a boy, a king, an owl, and a wolf. An old man sees a puppet in the window of a toy shop and the memory of a love is rekindled. He wants to take her home and look into her eyes so like those of his sweetheart long gone, but, bothersome: he has to have all the puppets. And so, it comes to be. In the night the girl sitting atop a dresser sees the moon and describes its beauty to her companions. The old man sleeps and does not awaken. And then an adventure begins. A journey that will take them through the hands of the rag-and-bone man, to an uncle with two inquisitive nieces, where a new story will be made — one which involves all of them; even though they will have their fierce teeth tampered with (the wolf), be mistaken for a feather duster (the owl), left abandoned outside and kidnapped by a giant bird (the boy), be snaffled into a pocket (the girl), and left alone with no one to rule (the king). Yet this is not the only story. Emma is writing, and Martha is making mischief. A story is ready to be told. An extra hand and a good singing voice are needed. In steps the maid, Jane Twiddum — someone who will have a profound impact on the fate of the five friends. The Puppets of Spelhorst is an absolute delight with its clever story. A spellbound tale. "Now it all happens," whispered the boy. "Now the story begins." Perfect for reading and gifting.

• Look inside!

We believe in the power of stories, and in the power of giving.

The Kiwi Christmas Books scheme collects donations of brand new books to give to children in Aotearoa who would otherwise go without at Christmas time. 

Be part of this!

Either choose a book through our website and put "Kiwi Christmas Books" in the 'notes' field, or make a donation and let us choose the books. 

After a request for children’s picture books about making friends and getting on with others, we had a decent stack on our table. Here’s a selection from the pile.

You and Me and Everybody Else is a wonderful book about what makes us different, but more importantly what we have in common. Its bold colours, playful design, and Playmobil-like characters are instantly appealing. On every page, there is action (plenty of activities are taking place), but also quiet spaces where children rest, read, chat, and relax. The text at the bottom of each page has repeating lines creating a sense of familiarity which works well as a read-aloud. Each paragraph starts with ‘everybody’, then moves on to ‘some’. Everybody loves to play. Everybody learns new things. Everybody gets angry, Everybody dreams. / Some like to play with others. Some learn by doing it themselves. Sometimes things don’t work out. Some dream of things that don’t exist yet. Children play, get bored, are happy and sad, are lonely and scared, laugh, eat and sleep. They dream and are surprised. The illustrations show children building with blocks, on swings and slides, waiting and watching, alone, and with friends, giving gifts and frights, falling off bikes, playing chess, making music, and making art. There is a diverse range of activities and cultures on every page and the table spread for lunch has noodles and fruit, pizza and popcorn, couscous, and sushi. [>>Look inside.]

In Eva Lindstrom’s Everyone Walks Away things aren’t so straightforward. Frank is always alone. The others (Tilly, Paul, and Milan) are having fun, and they have each other to play with, and they laugh together, not always kindly. When Frank wanders off to the surprise of the others, Tilly, Paul, and Milan become curious. Where has he gone? They follow at a distance. Frank has gone home to cry, and like Owl (in Owl at Home) he’s making tear-water tea letting his tears fall straight into the pot. Later when the tea has been made with the much-needed sugar (if you look closely, you will see Frank is a jam connoisseur) and cooled by the breeze from the window, Frank makes toast and gets things ready. Will anyone come to drink and eat? Maybe. Or will the others keep larking about outside? Lindstrom’s illustrations are a mix of watercolour, gouache, and pencil giving the pages a delightful and sometimes dreamy aspect juxtaposed with deft detail. Her colour palette for this book of yellows, blue-greens, and oranges is strangely attractive. Humour threads its way through the illustrations; there are suggestively sly side glances, and her children’s personalities are expressed by their quirky, slightly animalish features. Tilly’s braided green hair sticks up like perky animal ears, two of the children have snouts rather than petite noses and Frank’s yellow helmet hat gives him a mole-like aspect. The more times you read this sweet sad story, the more you will notice. And I think there might be a happy ending. [>>Look inside.]

There’s more crying in The New Friend, but don’t worry; this is an optimistic tale. Having a best friend is excellent. Losing a best friend is difficult. The excellent author Charlotte Zolotow manages to talk about betrayal, sadness and anger, and the empowering action of overcoming a difficult situation without resorting to easy saccharine answers. At the beginning is memory. Memories of all the wonderful things you did with your friend. Walking in the woods, listening to the rain, picking flowers, eating apples in a tree, and reading books together. And then, they are no longer there. They are with a new friend, sharing all your wonderful friendly things. You’re sad and mad. You cry until you fall asleep. You dream of a someone else. They take you on new paths with different adventures to places you have never been before. When you wake up, it’s time to go in search of this new friend. Looking for them is an adventure in itself, and your memory of your first friend is tucked inside. This classic Zolotow story (first published in 1968) has fresh joyful illustrations by Benjamin Chaud. Chaud’s style is both quiet (the rain falling over the rooftops, the soft wallpaper that cocoons the child in bed) and effervescent (running across the field, a jaunty sun umbrella for a reading shelter) capturing the different moods of the text. There are small birds flittering through the pages and a rabbit popping up when least expected which add little, surprising details to this dreamy thoughtful, and hopeful landscape. [>>Look inside.]

If you have a young aspiring artist in your household, or a keen block builder, then one of these lovely art books would make an excellent gift. For the absolute beginners, My Art Book of Adventures is the latest in a charming series of board books for pre-schoolers. This series introduces the very young to a range of fine art images alongside relevant childhood experiences. Exploring their world, going on a picnic, being a baby, sleeping, and dreaming. The book is designed to appeal to and be practical for youngsters with its firm pages, only one or two images per page (there are 35 artworks), and short, sweet texts.
Building up and breaking down, find out all about buildings in 100 Things to Know About Architecture. This is an excellent book featuring both iconic buildings and simple structures, early builders, and famous architects. What I enjoy about this book over others that cover similar ground is the inclusion of technical information, architectural concepts, and socio-cultural context. Have a look at a few images on our website and you will see what I mean. Here you’ll find out the relationship between topography and buildings, what it takes to build a bridge, and how we live in houses. The attractive illustrations are immediately appealing and the text is informative, yet incisive. Each entry (100 in all) has a 100-word descriptor alongside its illustration.
And for something more hands-on, just published, a wonderful and inspiring art activity book, Ziggle! - The Len Lye Art Activity Book. The education team at the Len Lye Centre has gathered together 65 activities and plenty of information about the playful and inventive artist. This is fun, fascinating, and brimming with ideas. You might get a wind wand in your garden or get to enjoy an avant-garde film experience!
Recently, the art of Hilma af Klint has been showing up at galleries around the world. This renewed interest reflects the re-examination of influential women artists who have previously been sidelined. A Swedish artist, she was part of a circle of female mystics. Her work is grounded in her philosophy. Her paintings are among the first abstract works known in Western art history, predating Kandinsky and Mondrian. The Art and Life of Hilma af Klint is a great introduction to this artist, their distinctive style, and their passion for art and ideas.

Click on the book jackets to look inside!

• Other art books for children.

Some things grow down and other out and up. In Dig, the potato tuber takes centre stage while in Wilder Girls a plant-like toxin is trying to take everything over, including the inhabitants of an island. These two teen novels are both excellent. Dig by A.S. King deals with some big issues in the world of a group of teens in a Southern town in America while Wilder Girls by Rory Power lands us in Raxter, a girls' boarding school on an island. Each explores the ferocity and grit of teens to overcome challenging situations. 

Wilder Girls has been described as The Power meets Lord of the Flies. Hetty, Reese and Byatt are firm friends and become even more dependent on each other as the situation on Raxter escalates. And what a situation it is! The Tox, a robust and vigorous plant-form is suffocating and mutating the environment, as well as the children and teachers that live on the island. Some merely succumb to the plague and die, while others are damaged or find themselves with a variety of growths — extra spinal structures, silvered arms. The island is in quarantine awaiting, the girls think, rescue. Each girl has her role to play, and when Hetty is chosen to be one of a small team to go to the jetty to collect food and other supplies, she realises that the teachers (who are still alive — just two of them) are not being up-front about the school’s predicament. It’s dangerous outside the gates of the school, and at night the mutated forest creatures are hungry beasts who need to be warded off from entering the school grounds. With this mix of illness and fear, the girls, while living chaotically and dividing themselves off into groups pitted against each other, are kept at arm's length from the truth. No one is coming to rescue them. When Byatt has a relapse and disappears from the school infirmary, Hetty and Reese go in search of her, in search of the cause of the Tox and a way off the island. This gripping, imaginative tale where many can not be trusted, where a fierce friendship will help overcome devastation, where you will keep reading despite a sense of unease (it’s a little creepy — the intruding vines and branches) and you will hold your breath until the surprising end.

Dig is quieter in its telling but no less powerful. Bringing together of the lives a group of teens whose stories ultimately will intertwine, A.S. King’s young adult's novel is a brilliant piece of work. Set in the South, we are introduced to the characters through their eccentricities: The Freak — a girl who is off the rails and bullied, The Shoveler — a boy who has arrived in a new town (for the umpteenth time) always the outsider, CanIHelpYou? —  a girl who works in a drive-thru handing out junk food and hustling hash on the side, Loretta and her flea circus who live in a trailer home with an abusive father and down-trodden mother, and Malcolm — who doesn’t eat lamb. The teens live normal lives, go to school, make some pocket money, regret or despise their parents, try to make their own decisions and go their own way when they can, but reality throws them curve-balls. And then you also meet the young thugs of the town. Bill and Jake, along with the respectable elderly couple, Marla and Gottfried. and as the story progresses you realise that they are tarred with the same brush. Dig down a little and the past, its injustices and prejudices make a quick route to the surface. King does not shy away from the racism, abuse and double standards that permeate middle America and the small-town attitudes that act as a fertiliser. Why are Marla and Gottfried in a position of superior wealth? Why has The Shoveler’s mother moved them to this small town? Why can’t HowCanIHelpYou? remain friends with Ian (her closest friend since primary school)?  And why do they all see The Freak unexpectedly flickering in and out of their lives  what is she trying to tell them? Dig down and it’s all there underground. Rot, as well as hope.

Sarah Laing and Joanna Emeney have produced an inspiring graphic biography of Sylvia Durrant, who helped over 140,000 sick, injured and lost birds during her lifetime and serves as an exemplar of caring for and learning about the natural world around us. SYLVIA AND THE BIRDS: How The Bird Lady saved thousands of birds, and how you can, too is also a practical — and enjoyable — guide to protecting our birdlife. It blends natural history and mātauranga Māori, photographs and Laing's wonderful illustrations, and details the wonders of our native birds, the threats they face and how we can help them. The book has just been announced as a finalist in the 2023 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

• Genius. 

• But who has the most cats? 

• Anyone can be a hero in their own back yard. 

• Look inside the book. 

• Hungry penguins. 

• See some images/get the book!

• Other finalists in the 2023 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman {Reviewed by STELLA}

You will know Philip Pullman’s 'His Dark Materials' trilogy and you may be a fan awaiting the third installment of 'The Book of Dust' — fingers crossed for later this year. In the meantime, you can always delve backward. Pullman's excellent 'Sally Lockhart' series is worth seeking out. Sally Lockhart’s father has drowned at sea. Orphaned sixteen-year-old Sally doesn’t wait around to be rescued from her plight. Marriage? No thanks. She’s ready to head into the world and is spurred on by a letter of anonymous origin. The letter contains a warning of dire consequences and adds fuel to the strangeness of her father’s death. Sally sets out to unpick the mystery. Not an easy task. It’s Victorian England and young women are not meant to be independent, let alone smart or feisty. That won’t hold Sally Lockhart, Detective back, and with a little help from some new acquaintances including the young photographer Frederick (rather hapless yet brave and quick-witted), Jim (the sharp office lad), and an assortment of useful but not necessarily trustworthy characters, Sally Lockhart delves into the underbelly of London. It’s a risky business of cutthroat villains, aspirant investors, the pull of the opium den, poverty, and the allure of wealth; and at the heart of it all is a jewel with a bloody history. Fortunately, Sally’s father has equipped her for a life of independence, schooling her in accounting and marksmanship — useful; even if her French and embroidery are lacking. The Ruby in the Smoke is the first in the series and it’s a rip-roarer — gripping drama, daring escapades, an excellent heroine, humour laced through, and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure; as well as some spiky history (the dark side of the Victorian era) and intriguing social commentary. Great for 12+ and appealing to older teens as well.