Category: Books

Ngā pukapuka o te Ao Māori (Books of Te Ao Māori) – Tamariki/ Children

This Te Wiki o te reo Māori we dug into the catalogue to find some ka pai suggestions to help you and your whānau immerse yourselves in te ao Māori. Even if you can’t yet speak te reo, Palmerston North City Library has resources to support your use of te reo Māori. We dived into the catalogue to find some ka pai suggestions for tamariki and beginning (to intermediate) learners of te reo and for reading skills. Research shows that reading and listening is an important part of acquiring a new language, so reinforcing what you learn with a book will help you in the long term. You can even make it a family activity to practice reading and listening with a story time habit of reading a book in te reo Māori!

Here’s a few fun book ideas to get you started:

First words

The Māori picture dictionary : Papakupu whakaahua ko Margaret Sinclair

Contains illustrations for over 1400 of the most common words used in daily life. Find it in the Library.

Also see Peppa’s first 100 Māori words and First thousand words in Māori

For early readers

Tere Rawa/ So Fast by Pam Holden

Kei te pai koe ki te haere tere rawa?

He aha ka haere tere rawa?

Tirohia ēnei mea e haere tere rawa.

Do you like going fast?

What can go very fast?

Look at these things going fast.

Kei Te Hiakai Koe? Are You Hungry by Pam Holden

Ke te haikai koe? Rocket Readers

E pai ana koe ki ngā kai tino reka?

Te namunamua!

Do you like delicious food?

Yum!

There are 12 editions of the Red Rocket Readers storybooks in Te Reo Māori, available online with the Libby app for free using your library card.

Ki te moe Aotearoa, ko Donovan Bixley

An engaging story of bedtime for all the animals around New Zealand being put to bed by their parents.

Find it in the Library.

Ko tōku māmā te kuini o te rori ko Jennifer Beck

This is the te reo Māori edition of My Mum is Queen of the Road. Ari and Isabella play with trucks and diggers, making roads in a sandpit. Ari tells Isabella that his mother is a roadworker who works the Stop/Go sign and is called Queen of the Road. Isabella tries to work out why she is a queen. Does she wear diamonds? Does she sit on a throne? Does she have a corgi?

Find it in the Library.

Arewhana Hunahuna ko David Barrow

A te reo Māori edition of this internationally bestselling picture book.

Kei te hia hunahuna a Arewhana. Nau mai, whakapiri mai! Otirā kia kaha koe – ka KINO tana pai!

A small boy and his elephant play an absurd game of hide and seek in this beautifully illustrated picture book that will have young readers shouting out loud in delight, and adults laughing too, as Elephant hides, in full view.

Find it in the Library.

He wheke wai mamangu au, ko Stephanie Thatcher

Join good friends, Inky and Jellyfish, as they play a spirited game of tag amongst the creatures and plants of the ocean.

Available in English and te reo Māori

For intermediate readers

Atua : Māori gods and heroes ko Gavin Bishop

Before the beginning there was nothing. No sound, no air, no colour: nothing. TE KORE, NOTHING. No one knows how long this nothing lasted because there was no time. However, in this great nothing there was a sense of waiting. Something was about to happen. Meet the gods, demigods and heroes of the Māori world, and explore Aotearoa’s exciting legends from the Creation to the Migration.

Find it in the Library.

Mokopuna Matatini, ko Pania Tahau-Hodges

It’s national kapa haka competition time again, and this Māori performing arts festival is a big event! It needs planning, tactics and dedication – and that’s just for the people watching! Nan’s a hardcore kapa haka follower, and she shows her mokopuna all the tricks to get the best seats, find the choicest pāua and whitebait fritters, hunt out the coolest poi and pounamu, and meet the star performers. And all along, Nan’s keeping a big secret!

Find it in the Library.

The Astromancer : the rising of Matariki, ko Witi Ihimaera

The Astromancer is looking for four new apprentices to learn about Matariki and the Maramataka calendar. She chooses three boys and an orphan girl, Aria, who will come only if she can bring her smelly dog. Aria, though, is bored by the lessons, and she doesn’t want to be told what to do. But these are dangerous times, and Ruatapu the Ravenous is about to threaten the safety of the whole tribe. Will Aria step up to save them?

Available in both English and te reo Māori.

Te rātaka a tama hūngoingoi : te hautaka a Greg Heffley, ko Jeff Kinney

Being a kid can really stink. And no one knows this better than Greg Heffley. In this brilliant translation of Jeff Kinney’s bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Heni Jacob, twelve year old hero Geoff Heffley is the Tama Hūngoingoi (Wimpy Kid) of the title. He tells us all about his life in te reo Māori.

Find it in the Library.

Hewa, ko Darryn Joseph

Hewa is about a boy who wants to help protect his family and friends. It involves American military software, a futuristic battleship called the USS Barack Obama, and artificial intelligences gaining sentience and self determination. Told in te reo Māori.

Find it in the Library.

Battle at the Gate: the story of the Battle of Gate Pā, Tauranga, New Zealand. by Jenny Jenkins.

A historical fiction for primary age children, Battle at the Gate tells a story of a young Māori woman who tended the British soldiers wounded at the battle of Gate Pā.

Find it in the Library.

Kia kaha : a storybook of Māori who changed the world ko Stacey Morrison

Kia Kaha is a collection of true stories about amazing Māori who have achieved incredible things. Each of them blazed a trail in their own way, and this pukapuka was written to show that with your kura huna, your special gifts, you can make a difference too.

Find it in the Library.

I waho, i te moana ko Yvonne Morrison

Out in the moana, underneath the sparkling sun, lived a mother sea lion and her little pup. A playful retelling of the much-loved traditional story, Over in the Meadow.

Available in English and te reo Māori.

This is just a selection of content available to borrow at Palmerston North City Library. Pay us a visit and chat with our friendly team to discover a range of books to suit your learning needs – regardless of age.

Thanks to one of our library members from the Awapuni Library for the following book recommendation.

G. M. Malliet intrigued readers with Wicked Autumn, the first mystery featuring her captivating lead character, Max Tudor, and the little English village of Nether Monkslip.

In A Fatal Winter, Max – Anglican priest, former MI5 agent and village heartthrob – investigates two unusual deaths at Chedrow Castle. His investigation is complicated by the arrival of a rather ghastly group of long-lost, greedy relatives, any one of whom has a motive for murder. With a fast-paced plot, vividly written characters and a good-looking priest doing the sleuthing, the books in this series are likely to become instant classics for those who enjoy the murder-mystery genre.

From Our Non-Fiction Shelves

In the media this week are two titles that have captured our attention already –

The first, Blue Blood: the inside story of the National Party in crisis by Andrea Vance, is a book for people of all political persuasions. It gives a blow by blow description of the key moments over the two years National Party lost its mojo,  and exposes what really went on behind the scenes. Entertaining, factual and well-written by political journalist with 20 years in the industry (from publishers blurb).  Jack Tame spoke with Andrea Vance about her book.

The Cereal Entrepreneur: a story of grit, courage and crunchy goodness by Kaz Staples is a story of survival. In 1997 with bills to pay the author decided to make Christmas cakes out of her home kitchen to sell at the local markets. Twenty-two years later, she sold the highly successful and sought-after cereal and snack brand, Puredelish.  Not so much a “how to” book this is a  story of ups & downs, the highs and lows, and in Kaz’s own words “… life is a miracle – there’s dark and light – you CAN survive it all and thrive through it all BUT you can’t have it all”. Listen to the full RNZ Nine to Noon interview.

What I’m reading

On a different note here are a few books I’ve enjoyed recently and a couple of new ones too that I’m looking forward to reading (they’re due out next month).

I’ve enjoyed reading Ruth Shaw’s book The Bookseller at the end of the world – it’s about a long life well  lived, about the value of leaving and then returning home, about finding the strength to survive the toughest times, and then the resilience to help others through theirs. And the importance through it all of books and reading – and Ruth’s desire to share that joy with community. I think if you read this book, you’ll be inspired and like me maybe you’ll soon be planning a trip to Lake Manapouri to visit Ruth’s wee bookshops. At times a tough read, but ultimately magical. (note: bookshops are open from late September until mid April,  so plan your trip accordingly!).

I’ve always loved Juliet Batten’s writing specifically her connection to spirit through nature. Her new book The Pomegranate Journal doesn’t disappoint. Now in her mid 70’s and facing physical decline she’s written this journal to “chart the way into her new life”.  Written in the form of journal entries some of the gems include – “pain is a symptom of transformation”; a moment of “gladness” in nature (the first dusky crimson blossoms of the pūriri tree) has the power to lift us out of a day of struggle; & the thought that coming back into the world of the young (when you’re old) is really to come full circle & it’s achievable if you stay upbeat, and engaged and make the effort to use language that breaches the age divide. This one warrants a second reading – and just maybe I’ve bought my own copy!!

Lastly, Nici Wickes’ A Quiet Kitchen is a real comfort read. Part journal/diary part recipe book the author shares her love of cooking and her experience of living solo – a consequence of lockdown (she loved it!) but also of her own life choices (Nici is happily single). She lives in Port Waikato and her book is infused with a wonderful sense of kiwiana, of the spirit of community and oh yes includes easy delicious recipes. I loved reading about Nici’s own midlife health challenges and how the love of home, cooking good food, a daily ocean swim (year round!), and being surrounded by a supportive community has nurtured her and is now allowing her to live her best most authentic life.

AND Coming Up!

There are two new titles from local authors being launched at the Central Library next month. A collection of poems and a family history. I’m excited to read them both.

Award winning local poet Tim Upperton is publishing his 3^rd collection of poetry called  A Riderless Horse . It’ll be launched on Friday 12 August at 6:30pm in the Central Library. Sam Neill is a fan (say no more!) … very Palmy! 

In her first memoir My Italian destiny  Lynn Kirkland introduced the reader to the link with the Italian family who saved her father during the war. Our Italian Legacy tells of the unbroken connection of two families on opposite sides of the world and which now spans five generations. It’ll be launched at the City Library on Wednesday 17 August.

7 July is World Chocolate Day, and we’re at the table to help you celebrate this beloved treat. From books for Children, delicious recipe books, movies from around the world, and sweet, chocolatey fiction… we’ve got some delicious options to curl up with (mug of hot chocolate compulsory, of course!)

Charlie and the chocolate factory, by Roald Dahl

Mr Willy Wonka, the most wondrous inventor in the world, opens his gates of his amazing chocolate factory to five lucky children. Gobstoppers, wriggle sweets and a river of melted chocolate delight await – Charlie needs just one Golden Ticket and these delicious treats could all be his!

Find it in the Library, plus the original (best) movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Beans to chocolate, by Sarah Ridley

Everyone loves chocolate, especially kids! This Children’s book shows you where it comes from, how it’s made and ends up on supermarket shelves. Follow the story of chocolate through the farming process to manufacturing.

Find it in the Library

A wizard’s guide to defensive baking, by T. Kingfisher

Not so much into chocolate? Prefer something a little thrilling? This is one of librarian Craig’s favourite books, described as definitely more bakery than chocolate, but it’s gorgeous!

Fourteen-year-old Mona isn’t like the wizards charged with defending the city. Her familiar is a sourdough starter and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt’s bakery making gingerbread men dance. But Mona’s life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona’s city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target.

Find it in the Library.

Whittaker’s : a passion for chocolate since 1896

Whittaker’s is a much-loved Kiwi brand and a genuine family business going back four generations. This luscious book takes a light-hearted look at the history of the business, and how the chocolate is made, and then gives a range of fully tested recipes.

Find it in the Library

Chocolate alchemy : a bean to bar primer : creating your own truffles, candies, cakes, fudge and sipping chocolates, by Kristen Hard

Feeling cheffy? This collection of 100 fresh recipes celebrates bean-to-bar chocolate from the ground up. Including a revolutionary recipe for making chocolate from scratch from cacao beans.

Find it in the Library

Chocolate, by Dom Ramsey

Chocolate is a decadent and in-depth exploration of the world’s favourite sweet treat. From cacao’s origins, trace the journey of chocolate across the globe, with tips on how to make, buy, taste, and cook with this delicious treat. With 15 indulgent recipes worthy of a chocolatier, try something delicious with Chocolate.

Find it in the Library

There’s always room for chocolate : recipes from the Chocolate Room

This curated collection of more than 80 recipes, that all chocolate lovers must have in their arsenal, features the very best versions of the most essential chocolate desserts and confections, from updated, improved classics to cult favorites. From cakes and cookies to pies and puddings, bonbons and beverages, it’s a complete guide to chocolate at home.

Find it in the Library

I quit sugar with Sarah Wilson : the ultimate chocolate cookbook, by Sarah Wilson

Are you avoiding sugar? Sarah Wilson and her IQS team taught the world to quit sugar in eight weeks. In this book Sarah incorporates her mindful, sustainable and economical practices to ditch the guilt and show how to quit sugar without also quitting chocolate.

Find it in the Library

Sweet Fiction

Avoid the kitchen with a good book! We’ve got a rollicking collection of mysteries and crime fiction with some sweet settings:

Find sweet mystery and crime fiction for Adults, or check out The Quality Street series; the story of three plucky factory girls, set against the backdrop of Britain’s beloved wrapped chocolate.

Find sweet fiction for Tamariki

Chocolat

Described as “a delicious comic fable” this film is set in a small French village where life has remained unchanged for 100 years. When a single mother and her young daughter move to rural France and open a chocolate shop – with Sunday hours – across the street from the local church, they are met with some resistance from the rigidly moral community. But as soon as the townspeople discover their delicious products, their attitudes begin to change.

Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel

As the youngest daughter, Tita is forbidden by Mexican tradition to marry. Instead, she pours all of her emotions into her delicious recipes, which she shares with readers along the way.When Tita falls in love with Pedro, he is seduced by the magical food she cooks. Unfortunately, he’s married to her sister…

Find it in the Library

Murder, She Baked

Murder, She Baked is an American/Canadian television film series, based on the mystery novels written by Joanne Fluke.

Find the full collection in the Library

Find more Joanne Fluke in the Library (for those who prefer books)

This time we’re hearing from Kay:

Great children’s books, be they novels, picture books or graphic novels, are some of the most complex works to write and I am in awe of anyone who attempts such a mighty task. As a Content Development Librarian selecting books for our tamariki is both a huge responsibility and a great honour and one I love. So it is with much excitement that I share with you some of the new and not so new books that have crossed my desk lately. 

Children’s Picture Books 

Evermore Dragon and Sail Away Dragon written by Barbara Joosse and illustrated by Randy Cecil. 

These two beautiful picture books simply wrap themselves around you. They are full of warmth, friendship, adventure, playfulness and belonging. The author’s play with language – the rhyming, alliteration, humour and word creation – gives a musicality to the text as it skips and dances along. The illustrations and text work in perfect harmony. Cecil’s images enhance the mood and tone of the story, further illuminating the “evermore” nature of the friendship between a young girl and a dragon. These are exceptional books in the picture book genre. 

Mine! written by Alison Green and illustrated by Sharon Rentta 

Mine! Is a hilarious and slightly wicked story of a wolf who settles a dispute between a pesky little bird and itself in a rather wolfish way. Rentta’s mostly black and white illustrations bring a rich texture to this very spirited story, enhancing both expression and action. The bright orange colouring of the pinecone – the object of the dispute – highlights both the focus and determination of the two characters to claim “Mine!” A wonderfully subversive tale. 

Sometimes I feel…: A menagerie of feelings big and small 

There have been several exceptional picture books published over the past couple of years exploring feelings and this one sits right up there with the best. This stunning picture book joyously celebrates positive feelings but equally acknowledges that we can all feel down, afraid, and sad at times. In just a few words it helps us to see that such feelings can make us “stronger,” are passing and/or remind us of humbleness. Maycock’s ink illustrations extend the text and enrich the reading experience and are so expressive it is as if they have voice. A beautifully rendered picture book to read aloud and share or to read quietly to yourself, either way you will smile with quiet contemplation with each page turn. 

Children’s Fiction – Horror stories 

The children’s horror genre has continued to mature and expand over the past 10 years or so. Humour still features strongly in many such tales to mitigate the scary stuff, giving the young reader a bit of comic relief. However, these two stories I have chosen to write about today give no such respite, they are so good but are not for the faint hearted.  

All the Better to See You written by Gina Blaxill 

Gena Blaxill employs the fairy tale ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ to frame her story with its dark, threatening forest, an old relative that lives apart from the village, a young girl in a red cloak and a wolf. But Blaxill diverts from the traditional pathway here creating a highly compelling, wonderfully scary tale steeped in tension, impending danger and subterfuge. It is one of the best children’s horror stories I have read in a long time. Read it if you dare…Highly recommended – great read-aloud, love the cover! 

The Bone Garden written by Heather Kassner 

Irrėelle lives with the constant threat of being turned to dust by her “creator”, Miss Vesper who seeks eternal life. Irrėelle, and her unlikely ally, Guy, must find a way to rid themselves of the tenacious grip of Miss Vesper if they are ever going to be free and even more critical, if they are ever going to be truly alive. Kassner has penned a highly inventive, creative read that will have young readers riveted to every page. Again, a brilliant book and read-aloud. 

I’m currently reading Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, a new book by A. F. Steadman that is attracting much attention. It’s a captivating tale with rich world building and an unconventional portrayal of unicorns. It promises to be a great read for young fantasy readers. 

Don’t forget to check out the finalists in this year’s New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults – you can find all the information about the awards, finalists, and past winners here. 

Also, congratulations to Katya Balen, the 2022 Yoto Carnegie Medal Winner for her book October, October. Click here to read Katya’s speech and for more information on the award. 

I was so excited to see last week that Ruth Ozeki won The Women’s Prize for Fiction 2022 for her novel The book of form and emptiness. If you are passionate about books and libraries and what really matters, this is for you.

I fell in love with Ruth’s writing when I read A tale for the time being, one of her previous novels and now one of my favourites. Her writing is thoughtful, quirky and compassionate –  highly recommended. And Ruth is a fascinating person, not only a writer but a film maker and Zen Buddhist priest.

Ozeki is the 27th winner of this prize which was established in 1996 to offset the tendency of major literary prizes to ‘overlook accomplished, challenging, important fiction by female authors’.   Check out these previous winners below (clicking on the cover takes you to our catalogue entry for that title).

Jill.

Palmerston North City Library has several ebook apps (see the list here). BorrowBox sent us these lists of top titles across Aotearoa in May. Let us know if there’s a title you’d like to see in ebook or e-audio format and we’ll do our best to get it!