The Uppish Hen & Other Poems by Robyn Hyde, edited by Juanita Deely, illustrated by DÏne (The Cuba Press) I've always been a huge fan of Robyn Hyde's work since reading her books at university. So, I was delighted to receive not one but two books with a Robyn Hyde (Iris Wilkinson) theme. (The second book is being reviewed by Sherryl Clark.) Robyn Hyde's stories were published in the 1930s but their timeless beauty has ensured they are still read by English University students and avid readers today. The last book I read of hers for university was for a travel-writing paper. Her trip throu ..read more

Harriet’s Hungry Worms (EK Books, 2023), by: Samantha Smith, Illustrated by: Melissa Johns The publisher’s website summarises this book as follows: This funny, engaging eco story invites young readers to follow the adventures of Harriet’s ravenous compost worms as they munch their way through their wide and wonderful weekly menu. Packed with worm facts, Harriet’s Hungry Worms is the ideal companion for worm warriors and curious composters keen to roll their sleeves up and put their kitchen food scraps to good use. And that is exactly what the book is. But I think it’s more than that ..read more

 Mama’s Chickens (EK Books, 2023),  by: Michelle Worthington, iIllustrated by: Nicky Johnston Mama didn’t really want chickens – “They are noisy and they poop everywhere. I don’t even like eggs,” she said. But once they arrive, with their pretty feathers and their friendly natures, she even gives them names. Her favourite chicken is christened Chooky La La. Mama is affected by early onset dementia. This is stated clearly in the text and reflected in the illustrations too. When Mama started to lose her memory . . . it still made her happy to sit and watch the chickens scratch in the ..read more

The Bad Smell Hotel by Leela Chakraborti and Rajorshi Chakraborti, The Cuba Press) 2023, illus Dan Mills Boys will be attracted by the title of this cheeky little book. It’s set decades in the future, in a society where flatulence afflicts many people – so many that children have to leave their families and live in Bad Smell Hotels. Fortunately humans have all got their own robots to look after them. The trouble is that the robots do almost everything that should really be done by humans. This story about 22-year-old Jerry and how he stopped people from farting all the time was dreamed up by ..read more

Easy Peasy, by: Ky Garvey, Illustrated by: Amy Calautti (EK Books, 2023) Ruby is given brand new, shiny red glitter roller skates for her birthday. She dismisses her dad’s offers of help learning to skate, convinced it will be easy peasy. After a few tumbles she grows disheartened, and packs her skates away in the cupboard. Next morning, she sees them there in all their bright red glittery glory, and decides she doesn’t want to give up. She asks Dad to help her learn and off they go to the skating rink. With Dad’s help, she is soon zooming around the rink with all the other kids. “Thanks, Dad ..read more

Farewell Anahera by Vanessa Hatley-Owen, translated by Kanapu Rangitauira, Illustrated by Scott Irvine (Duck Creek Press) A death in the family, whether it's a close family member, extended family or a pet is hard for young people to understand. Books like 'Farewell Anahera' help children process that someone/something has passed on. Vanessa has approached this delicate subject with tenderness. The language is lilting, rhythmic, and descriptive with the use of alliteration and repetition to good effect.   Out of the warm soft mist came a fine silvery thread of song. It nudged and pulled ..read more

7 Dimensions: Children's Emotional Well-being by Jean Annan (Mary Egan Publishing) Parents are bombarded with huge amounts of disparate and often-conflicting information about how to bring up their children and nurture their well-being. Dr Jean Annan, an educational psychologist, recognised a need for a programme (which led to a book) that helps parents and children recognise young people's feelings, thoughts and ways of responding to their environment.Dr Annan has based the framework on up-to-date neuroscience and brain research.  Right from the first page parents and teachers will lear ..read more

The Real Guide to New Zealand by Mark Danenhauer (White Cloud Books) I thought this book was going to be a guide to New Zealand's fauna and flora. It's more than that. It's a book about why New Zealand has such a large percentage of endemic species, there's information about how New Zealand formed and its climate, the predators humans brought with them when they colonised New Zealand, and the different habitats in New Zealand. There's a whole chapter on the people of New Zealand including a timetable of migrations and introduced mammals into New Zealand, and the destruction humans have caused ..read more

Jason Mason and the World’s Most Powerful Itching Powder,by Jason Gunn and Andrew Gunn (Bateman Books, 2022) Jason Mason (yes, it rhymes), is an ordinary kiwi kid. Even more ordinary than most; as he explains in his introduction, he’s ‘not the try-scorer. Not the hero who came from nowhere and is now the coolest guy in the school. No, no. That was me amongst the bunch of people watching the game. I was the kid who got knocked over and ended up with mud on his knees because he was too busy eating a banana to notice the rugby player diving towards him…. A kind of nobody. A person who watches e ..read more

The New Zealand Seashore Guide by Sally Carson & Rod Morris (Potton & Burton) If you want THE guide to New Zealand's seashore--then this is it. It has 416 pages of comprehensive, well researched, information about New Zealand's marine plants and animals that can be found along our coastal waters.  You might find this surprising... little 'ol New Zealand has the tenth longest coastline in the world, ranging from exposed sandy beaches, rocky headlands to sheltered mudflats and estuaries. In 'The New Zealand Seashore Guild's introduction we're introduced to the zones of life and giv ..read more