The booksellers of Unity Books Auckland and Wellington review a handful of children’s books sure to delight and inspire readers of all ages.
AUCKLAND
Reviews by Elka Aitchison and Roger Christensen, booksellers at Unity Books Auckland
The Bread Pet: A Sourdough Story by Kate DePalma, illustrated by Nelleke Verhoeff (Ages 4+)
I’m a big fan of sourdough, having had my own bread pet for the last 23 years, so am overjoyed to see a picture book that celebrates the joy and responsibility of my slavish weekly ritual. I’ve ended up taking my pet on holiday with me due to the regular demands of feeding and in this fun story of a young girl and her mum left in charge of a friend’s sourdough starter I can so relate to how the sticky bread pet soon takes over the house. The illustrations playfully show the mathematical extent of the takeover but with some quick thinking and community spirit the rising bread pet problem is solved. With a starter recipe as well as care and baking tips at the back of the book you will soon be spreading the sourdough love as well. Reviewed by Roger.
Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish by Michael Foreman (Ages 5+)
How did we get it so wrong? It’s never too early to nurture a love for the planet as is demonstrated in Michael Foreman’s poignant environmental picture story written over 50 years ago and featuring stomping, talking dinosaurs no less. This is a simple tale of human greed gone awry and a valuable lesson about looking after the place you live for everyone to enjoy and share. I love the bold and playful illustrations combined with the spare, concise text to evoke such a strong message that will last well beyond finishing the book. RC
The Letter with the Golden Stamp by Onjali Q Rauf (Ages 9+)
In celebration of all those superhero carers out there quietly keeping their loved ones alive behind closed doors. Onjali Q Rauf is a deserved award-winner for her previous books, notably The Boy at the Back of the Class, and here she tells the story of nine-year-old avid stamp collector Audrey who is the sole carer for her increasingly sick mum and her two younger siblings. With the threat of her family unit being torn apart Audrey takes some drastic action to turn things around. As she recounts her sometimes hilarious and often tense adventure we end up where the story begins in a London police station. Onjali has captured so well the voice and innocence of the young protagonist dealing with very adult challenges. RC
How to Draw Almost Everything: An Illustrated Sourcebook by Chika Miyata (Ages 8+)
The title of this whimsical guidebook doesn’t lie. It offers visual instructions for drawing a plethora of things from the commonplace to the bizarre. The pages switch between bright, pastel colours and classic white or brown paper to create sections, making it such a lovely object to handle (satisfying for a book about art!). Miyata has included a wonderfully peculiar range of objects: if you head to the ‘Around the House’ section you’ll find, on a single page, instructions for drawing both a mounted deer head and an air-conditioning unit! It’s a lovely reminder to be observant, pushing the reader to notice the mundane and teaching them to break objects down into building-block shapes. You can piece together drawings from across the book, and change the colours, medium or details of your illustrations, this adds endless possibilities to the already 2000+ things you’ll learn to draw. Reviewed by Elka Aitchison.
You Can’t Kill Snow White by Beatrice Alemagna (Ages 14+)
This darkly beautiful picture book is unlike any other, not least because it’s for teens and adults. It’s breathtaking right down to the format, the unique binding allows it to lie flat revealing Alemagna’s sprawling illustrations in full. The story is a retelling of Grimms’ grizzly version of Snow White through the eyes of the stepmother. Alemagna’s version strikes a clever balance: she gets inside the villain’s mind and reveals the dark, obsessive jealousy, but our Queen’s violent actions are not rationalised or softened. Layered illustrations are what make this book so evocative and compelling. Eerie, surreal characters and settings loom in green and brown shadow or leap off the page in fluorescent, luminous pink and red. The beauty of the images is simultaneously undeniable and sinister. They’re gruesome and haunting but rich with emotion; each page is a surprise and it’s something one can pour over for hours. EA
And the Unity Books Auckland children’s bestsellers for July:
1 Matariki by Gavin Bishop (Puffin, $16)
2 Maui & Other Legends: 8 Classic Tales of Aotearoa by Peter Gossage (Penguin, $40)
3 At the Bach by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper (Walker Books, $30)
4 Big Ideas for Curious Minds: An Introduction to Philosophy by School of Life (School of Life, $45)
5 Edmonds My First Cookbook by Goodman Fielder (Hachette, $28)
6 Lego Games Book by Dorling Kindersley (Dorling Kindersley, $37)
7 The Grimmelings by Rachael King (Allen & Unwin, $25)
8 Wild Robot by Peter Brown (Picadilly Press, $19)
9 Tu Meke Tui! by Malcolm Clarke, illustrated by Flox (Mary Egan, $20)
10 The Observologist: A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions by Giselle Clarkson (Gecko, $40)
WELLINGTON
Reviews by Rachel Pilois and Rei Henfield, booksellers at Unity Books Wellington.
Piki te Ora: Your Wellbeing Journal by Hira Nathan & Jesie Eyre (illustrated by Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho) (Ages 7+)
From the bestselling author of Whakawhetai: Gratitude, Piki te Ora is a fully illustrated wellbeing journal for children, based upon the Māori principles of hauora – looking after all the different parts that make you who you are. This book teaches tamariki how to practise mindfulness and gratitude through fun activities, providing space for them to write their thoughts, draw, doodle, colour and more. It will keep kids entertained and show them how to look after all aspects of their wellbeing. Truly, this pukapuka should be on the shelf of every family in Aotearoa. Reviewed by Rachel Pilois.
The Great Puptective by Alina Tysoe (Ages 6+)
This is a wonderfully funny chapter graphic novel from local author Alison Tysoe. Truffles is a grumpy housecat who is not impressed when he gets a new sibling, an excitable new puppy called Poppy. Poppy is an intrepid detective with a nose for solving mysteries, even if she doesn’t always know what the mystery is. Following mysterious paw prints, avoiding traps and defeating the Blanket Bandit are all in a day’s work for this Puptective, much to Truffle’s chagrin. But when her investigation goes astray, Truffle realises maybe his new sibling isn’t so bad after all. The easy-to-read text is perfectly accompanied by Tysoe’s charming illustrations and makes this book ideal for any early independent reader. RP
Enchanted Tales: Stories from Around the World by Laura Sampson (illustrated by Quang & Lien) (Ages 6+)
This is an absolutely stunning collection of fairytales from around the world. Retold by storyteller Laura Sampson and featuring the captivating artwork of Quang and Lien, this is a book to be treasured for generations. Discover faraway lands full of mystery and enchantment and get lost in stories starring epic heroes and heroines on daring adventures. Containing stories from places such as Czechia, Wales, Vietnam and even Aotearoa’s own tale of Rata and the Hakuturi, this book will make bedtime truly magical. RP
Wildwood by Colin Meloy (illustrated by Carson Ellis) (Ages 9+)
The debut children’s book from Colin Meloy, frontman for rock band The Decemberists, Wildwood follows headstrong young heroine Prue as she journeys through the Impassable Wilderness to save her baby brother from the forest’s evil ruler, the Dowager Governess. As the names of both the setting and the villain suggest, Meloy’s style is both sophisticated and whimsical, leading to fantastic worldbuilding and making for a wonderfully enjoyable read. You meet coyote soldiers, bandits, talking mice and owl princes; it is a complete and utter romp. It is also a beautiful book to behold, with distressed edges and fantastic illustrations by Carson Ellis, Meloy’s wife, that only add to the atmosphere of antiquated mystery that permeates the whole story. Reviewed by Rei Henfield.
Mouse on the River by Alice Melvin (Ages 3+)
Putting to words the indescribable joy that this book brings is near impossible. The illustrations are beautiful, capturing the hazy wonder of a summer’s afternoon whilst maintaining a realism that makes the book almost double as an identification guide for wildlife along a riverbank (there’s a section at the back which is just that, giving information about the nature depicted). The story follows mouse as he travels to see his friend on the coast, and readers can lift the flaps on pages as he goes, revealing little details under the water worlds and wholesome cosy interiors of the homes of his neighbours. RH
And the Unity Books Wellington children’s bestsellers for June:
1 Dazzlehands by Sacha Cotter & Josh Morgan (Huia, $22) 3+
2 The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson (Gecko Press, $40) 7+
3 A Cluster of Stars: Matariki Around The World – Miriama Kamo & Rangi Matamua (Scholastic, $35) 4+
4 My Matariki Colouring & Activity Book by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Scholastic NZ, $18) 5+
5 Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic US, $22) 7+
6 Gracehopper by Mandy Hager (One Tree House, $30) 16+
7 The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson (Farshore, $23) 14+
8 The Adventures of Mittens: Wellington’s Famous Purr-Sonality by Silvio Bruinsma (Penguin, $20) 3+
9 The Grimmelings by Rachael King (Allen & Unwin, $25) 9+
10 Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan to Rewild Every City on Earth by Steve Mushin (Allen & Unwin, $38) 9+
