News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Great books about being different, being yourself and exploring the world. Share these with your children.

 Snap! / by Janet A Holmes ; illustrated by Daniella Germain.
“Sometimes it seems safer to hide behind a scary mask and try to frighten the monsters away. Snapping and snarling don’t always work. This is sensitive and perceptive story about fear of the new”. (Syndetics summary)

The world is waiting for you / Barbara Kerley.The World Is Waiting for You
“Children need encouragement to follow their dreams, and this attractive book is aimed at all the future explorers out there. It begins, Right outside your window there’s a world to explore. Ready? The text continues by asking readers to follow the next bend in the path, dive in, dig deeper, take a leap. The two-page color photo spreads are surprisingly literal, even for this age group. An archaeologist digs, while an astronaut explores outside his space craft. But on occasion, the pictures are confusing. A boy getting a little nosy looks through a hole, but at what is not certain. Still, Kerley’s encouraging message about moving beyond one’s comfort zone and into areas where real-life magic can happen does inspire. The book closes with a quote by one of the book’s photographers, Anad Varma, that will have meaning for children: The greatest discoveries come from confronting your fears, taking a chance, and not being afraid to make a mistake. Mistakes are often the best lessons in life” (Booklist)

Bea / Christine Sharp.
“While the other birds peck at ants and watch worms wiggle, Bea likes to bake buns and berry pudding. She loves dancing to disco beats and singing sweet songs to the moon. In everything she does, Bea stands out from the flock! A joyful story about being true to yourself and daring to be different” (Syndetics summary).

ABC zooborns! / Andrew Bleiman, Chris Eastland.
“Bleiman and Eastland introduce a new group of criminally cute baby zoo animals for each letter of the alphabet in a companion to 2010’s ZooBorns. Crisp, closeup photographs feature cheetahs, flamingos, marmosets, and sloths, among others, while lighthearted prose emphasizes the animals’ unique characteristics: “I is for impala. Our long legs are perfect for leaping. Let’s go for a run!” Extra points for a solid X entry: “X is for X-ray tetra. Attention, science students-my see-through body is very revealing.”" (Publisher Weekly)

Naked Trevor / Rebecca Elliott.
“To the shock of all the other birds, Trevor refuses to wear his sparrow costume, instead going around quite naked! But now the time has come for him to find his own unique outfit, what will it look like?” (Syndetics summary)

Have some one on one time with your little one reading these lovely picture books, they are sure to please.

 
The shape of my heart / Mark Sperring ; illustrated by Alys Paterson.
“Part concept book and part poem, this eye-catching picture book is a reassuring valentine for any day of the year. Despite the emphasis on shapes, Sperring (The Sunflower Sword) isn’t offering an introduction to circles, squares, and triangles: “This is the shape that we are./ The shape of you and me,” he writes, as the opening spread shows two smiling figures-one large, one small-in white silhouette, defined by a sea of colorful shapes that surround them. A focus on bodily shapes continues (”This is the shape of my hand,/ the hand you hold on to”), serving as an entry into related objects and settings (a spread about food follows one about mouths; a look at feet and shoes paves the way for a scene featuring vehicles). Debut illustrator Paterson fills the pages with crisp and colorful objects, often accented with sound effects (a friendly dinosaur offers a gentle “raaaa,” birds chirp and tweet). It’s a lovingly designed and visually appealing portrait of the places, animals, and objects common to a child’s world, with the invisible but perceptible adult presence hovering in the background. ” (Publisher Weekly)

One little baby / by Richard Dungworth ; illustrated by Jane Massey.‘
‘One little baby in a cosy bed. One little baby with a busy day ahead.’ with lovely rhythm and simple but effective illustrations children will want this book read over and over as it tells of a day in the life of a toddler like them. (Staff member)

Whoa, baby, whoa! / Grace Nichols ; illustrated by Eleanor Taylor.
“Being an adventurous baby means having to hear the title phrase again and again. “Creeping to the kitchen to see what’s cooking,” writes Nichols, as Taylor, working in a style reminiscent of Helen Oxenbury, shows Baby stalking the dog’s food bowls. “Up goes the gate and Daddy comes running… ‘Whoa, Baby, Whoa! Hot things can burn you in the kitchen.’ ” But Baby never misses a beat (a relentlessness nicely conveyed in the typography’s comically wobbled kerning)-after all, there’s work to be done, whether it’s eating the newspaper, mangling Grandpa’s glasses, or flooding the bathroom. Even very young readers will note that the members of Baby’s mixed-race family are acting out of love, which may be why Baby never loses that sweet, knowing smile; this is a kid who knows a lot of people have his back. The tables turn nicely at the end, when Baby reasons that one way to put an end to his “Whoa” is to “try something new with myself” and take those long-anticipated first steps-prompting the onlookers to cheer “Go, Baby, Go!” ” (Publisher Weekly)
Daisy & the puppy / Lisa Shanahan, Sara Acton.
Daisy wants a puppy so much she wears a scruffy tail and sleeps in an old cane washing basket. When a fire engine screeches down the highway, she lifts her head, ‘AROOOOO-OOOOOOOOOOH!’ Then one Saturday, Daisy and her mum spot Ollie, sitting in the window of Mrs Arkwright’s pet shop. A delightful story about a family and a puppy.(Syndetics summary)

Don’t make a rumpus, there are lots of rumps, tails and fantastic tales to be seen in these books. Tall butts, short butts, round butts, flat butts. Butts on giraffes and elephants and dogs. Tails are celebrated in this tribute to backsides, rumps, tushies and derrieres.  Books  that will keep kids and grown-ups giggling with glee. Bottoms up!

Tushes and tails! / by Stephane Frattini.
“A lift-the-flap tale of animal butts—who could ask for anything more? In this 8-inch-square board book, imported from France, each page boasts a full-size flap with an extreme close-up photo of an animal’s derrière. Readers are invited to guess whose backside is pictured and raise the flap for the answer. Frattini has captured an impressive array of rear ends on film, even a bumblebee and a porcupine. A large image of the animal, from the front and in its habitat, is hidden under each flap. On a boldly colored background, several animal facts appear on the flap’s verso in an appropriately playful and conversational tone, while a smaller picture of the animal floats alongside as spot art. A few of the creatures are easy to guess, such as giraffe, cow and squirrel, but there are several stumpers here: okapi, ibex and penguin. The last spread has eight more mini flaps of animal buttocks to enjoy as part of a rapid-fire guessing game. With thoughtfully rounded corners, the flaps are quite sturdy. The trim size and the content will make it appealing to kids who have long moved beyond board books. A distinctive, funny and informative entry into the lift-the-flap genre—kids will hate to see it coming to an end”. (www.kirkusreviews.com)

The lemur’s tale / Ophelia Redpath.
“A ring-tailed lemur is stowed away on a boat from Madagascar, and eventually ends up in the home of an eccentric but dysfunctional family. His night-time antics cause confusion, as he nibbles on the family’s plants and raids their larder. But he brings great joy once they discover him curled up in a teapot, filling a little girl’s life with hope and happiness”. (Library Catalogue)

Churchill’s tale of tails / Anca Sandu.
“When Churchill the pig loses his precious tail, his friends help him hunt for a new one. But trying new tails is such fun that soon Churchill has forgotten his friends completely. Can Churchill learn to put friendship first, and solve the mystery of his missing tail?” (Library Catalogue)

Books that will especially delight the grownups, you might even want to share them with your kids.

Henri’s walk to Paris / illustrated by Saul Bass ; story by Leonore Klein.
“In graphic designer Bass’s sole picture book, first published in 1962, his stylized collage prints pair with Klein’s understated text to tell the story of a boy who dreams about traveling from his small town of Reboul to visit Paris. In Reboul, Henri lives in a little white house made up of two angular geometrical shapes, surrounded by a lush tapestry-like forest, and has three friends, Andre, Jacques, and Michel (they appear as three pairs of legs, fitted with pink pants, decoratively pattered socks, and green boots). Finally, Henri sets out walking to Paris, but when a bird interferes with his sense of direction, he gets turned around, discovering that “Paris” is an awful lot like Reboul. Bass plays with repetition (there’s a strong symmetry to Henri’s journey), text, and strong blocks of color, while using negative and positive space to toy with perception. Although the title character’s face never appears, readers should gain a strong sense of Henri’s identity from the sturdy storytelling and dramatic graphics. All ages. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)
 
The cats of Copenhagen / James Joyce.
“Recently rediscoverd this whimsical letter was written from James Joyce to his grandson in 1936. A delightful story, it has been illustrated in a very quirky manner by Casey Sorrow, an American cartoonist”. (Syndetics summary)

 
Jimmy the greatest! / Jairo Buitrago ; pictures by Rafael Yockteng ; translated by Elisa Amado.Jimmy the Greatest!
“*Starred Review* In a poor village on the ocean, young Jimmy’s future is looking bright since the owner of a tiny gym inspired him to run, to read, and to train as a boxer like Muhammad Ali. Even without any shoes, Jimmy discovers that you don’t need much stuff to run or to get others to follow along. But, unlike his trainer, who leaves for a life in the big city, Jimmy the Greatest stays in the village, where he grows up to maintain the gym, create a library, and help his people. He does great things, but not by leaving home for the world stage. Translated from the Spanish and first published in Colombia, this title features text that reads like spare poetry and digital, cartoon-style artwork filled with humorous details and stylized, pop-eyed characters. Each page shows the daily struggle in the rough shanty town. Best of all is the image of Jimmy as a boy reading and shadow-boxing at the same time. A final spread, showing new wires stretching across the village, is a moving conclusion to this unusual, quietly powerful title.–Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Infinity and me / written by Kate Hosford ; illustrations by Gabi Swiatkowska.
“Considering that adults have trouble grappling with the concept of infinity, you have to admire Hosford for trying to wrap young brains around it. There is only the scantest sense of character, place, and story here, but we do meet a young girl named Uma, who stares up at the stars. I started to feel very, very small. She asks a number of people how they imagine infinity, and each has his or her own creative take. Her friend Sam envisions infinity as a figure 8 racetrack. Grandma sees it as an ever-enlarging family tree. This compels Uma to tackle a few old philosophical saws, including the one about cutting something in half and then cutting that half in half, ad infinitum. Swiatkowska was the right choice of illustrator for the spiraling subject matter. Her big-eyed Victorian-looking characters embark upon various flights of fancy: driving along an infinity sign, becoming a Vitruvian Man, and standing beneath an ice-cream cone that would take forever to lick. Oddball for sure, but good fun to puzzle over.–Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Miss Mousie’s blind date / by Tim Beiser ; illustrated by Rachel Berman.
“A charming story about self-acceptance, and love lost and found, told through the eyes of a dear little mouse, and her possibly-not-so-handsome suitor, Mole. Beautifully illustrated, cleverly told, the message is timeless, and the illustrations endearing”. (Syndetics summary)

Everyone will sleep soundly if you snuggle up with these books at bedtime.

Bedtime is canceled / by Cece Meng ; illustrated by Aurélie Neyret.
“”The note read ‘Bedtime is canceled.’ Maggie thought of it. Her brother wrote it.” Of course, the siblings’ parents don’t buy the ruse upon receiving the note, but a fortuitous gust of wind whisks it to the desk of a newspaper reporter who puts the “official” word on the front page, and the news spreads. As a result, kids play, snack, and watch TV all night, and adults shuffle zombielike through the next day. Meng (I Will Not Read This Book) includes several nods to today’s rapid-fire dispersal of information (”A television reporter received an urgent text about it and raced to the school”) as well as goofy non sequiturs (”tired moms and dads were so busy yawning, some of them buttered the dog’s tail instead of the toast”), ” (Publisher Weekly)

Cuddle bear / Claire Freedman ; [illustrated by] Gavin Scott.
Do you need cuddles, cheer up hugs, or snuggle times to share? Then Cuddle Bear is made for you- a lovely rhyming book with gentle illustrations about a bear who cheers up all the animals even the grumpy lion! (Staff member) 

The snuggle sandwich / Malachy Doyle ; [illustrated by] Gwen Millward.
During the morning rush no one notices when Annie’s teddy bear falls to the floor. After everyone else is gone, Annie and her mama look for the missing teddy before they are able to have a proper snuggle together. (Syndetics summary)

Sleep like a tiger / written by Mary Logue ; illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski.
“”I’m not tired,” says a small girl in a red dress and a crown. “I’m just not sleepy.” Her affectionate parents-who also wear crowns-aren’t fazed. “They nodded their heads and said she didn’t have to go to sleep. But she had to put her pajamas on.” The three talk about the different ways animals sleep, taking their cue from family pets and the girl’s stuffed animals. Zagarenski’s gently surreal jewel-box paintings chart the movement of the girl’s imagination as she considers bears (”mighty sleepers,” her parents call them), snails (”They curl up like a cinnamon roll”), and tigers. “When he’s not hunting, he finds some shade, closes his eyes, and sleeps. That way he stays strong,” she says. It’s this image that holds the greatest promise of safety for the girl; as she drifts off, she imagines herself curled in the curve of the tiger’s tail, embracing a stuffed tiger as she sleeps. Zagarenski’s paintings take Logue’s story to places marvelously distant in thought and time; each spread holds treasures to find even after several readings.” (Publisher Weekly)

Start the new year with these great books that will have your children laughing and pique their curiosity.

Andrew Drew and Drew / Barney Saltzberg.
“Wordplay of the title aside, Saltzberg’s ode to drawing is fairly earnest and straightforward in its prose. The magic comes from the accompanying artwork, which follows the eponymous boy and his adventures in drawing. His pencil lines sweep across white pages (”Andrew doodled and doodled. Sometimes he noodled”), and his creations take unpredictable shape, revealed bit-by-bit by overlapping gatefolds (a staircase Andrew draws eventually forms a dinosaur’s spiny back, and a cross-hatched night sky turns into a trumpet-nosed winged beast in the final spread). Like a certain boy with a purple crayon, Andrew knows that drawing offers limitless possibilities, and readers will, too. ” (Publisher Weekly)

The three ninja pigs / Corey Rosen Schwartz ; illustrated by Dan Santat.
“For young martial arts fans seeking a lighthearted book about their hobby, Schwartz’s (Hop! Plop!) story should fit the bill. While the idea of three gi-clad pigs fighting the big bad wolf is a winner, the subtle-as-a-karate-chop moral about not quitting puts a bit of a damper on the fun. Pig One signs up for aikido (”He gained some new skills,/ but got bored with the drills”), while Pig Two goes for jujitsu (”The teacher said, `Excellent progress./ But Pig-san, you must study more.’/ Pig Two said, `No way./ Sayonara, Sensei!/ I’m ready to settle a score’ “). Both lack the necessary chops when the wolf comes a’blowing. Santat’s dynamic, comic book-style spreads have a Crouching Wolf, Hidden Pig feel, especially when Pig Three (a persistent girl who has actually honed her skills) terrifies the wolf with a chop that smashes a pile of bricks. Schwartz’s irreverent verse never falters-and any book that rhymes “dojo” with “mojo” is one that’s worth a look. ” (Publisher Weekly)

Dreaming up : a celebration of building / Christy Hale.
“A clever introduction to architecture. Each spread shows children playing on one side and a photograph of a famous building on the other. The children, done with watercolor in a fairly standard illustrative style, are pictured working with toys that mirror the form of the featured buildings. For example, a baby’s stacking rings are shown opposite the Guggenheim Museum, and wooden blocks mirror the shape of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Each spread also contains a short poem, many rhyming, that describes the youngster’s play. ……….” (adapted from School Library Journal)

Penguin’s hidden talent / by Alex Latimer.
“Penguin doesn’t have a talent to hone for the upcoming community talent show, so instead he helps organize the event. As a result of Penguin’s involvement, all goes well at the show, but when each of his friends wins a trophy or a medal, Penguin feels left out. In an attempt to cheer him up, Penguin’s friends try to throw him a party, but it is so poorly planned, it appears to be headed for disaster. Of course, Penguin himself comes to the rescue, making the party fabulous and discovering where his talents lie: as a party planner. I don’t need a medal. I need a telephone, he says before ordering a bevy of ridiculous decorations. The colorful cartoon illustrations perfectly convey the goofiness of Penguin and his friends displaying their quirky talents (such as burping the alphabet and juggling household appliances). This packs in plenty of chuckles, and its supportive and nurturing message makes it worthy of repeat visits” (Booklist)

Good news bad news / Jeff Mack.
“Mack’s clever book may follow the format of Remy Charles’s Fortunately, Unfortunately, but his take on the theme is flat-out hilarious. Apart from the closing line, the text contains only the four words of the title. “Good news!” says a cheerful rabbit, showing a picnic basket to a mouse seen leaning out of its hole. “Bad news,” says the mouse as rain begins to fall. The rabbit is ready with an umbrella (”Good news”), but the mouse blows away after grabbing it (”Bad news”). Mack’s mixed-media illustrations are both slapstick and droll as the duo fights off bees, runs from a rampaging bear, and gets hit by lightning. When the mouse loses its temper in a two-page tantrum, the rabbit’s spirits finally plummet. Mack (Frog and Fly) portrays the rabbit in a puddle of tears, and amusingly depicts the mouse’s epiphany with the sun breaking through the clouds, as if the book were a Cecil B. DeMille movie. This well-executed, rapid-fire book should satisfy even the most resistant readers.” (Publisher Weekly)

Christmas is a special time for children, so here are some great holiday reads to share over the Christmas break. We hope you enjoy them, and wish you a happy and safe Christmas!

That dog at the beach! / by Janene Cooper ; illustrated by Evie Kemp.
Some dogs are well behaved but some dogs are just nuisances but loving and kind and always good fun. A great book to read in summer about a mischievous dog. (Staff Member)

Too tall houses / Gianna Marino.
Owl and Rabbit are good friends and neighbors atop a hill, but when Rabbit’s garden blocks Owl’s view of the forest Owl builds a higher house, which prevents sunlight from reaching Rabbit’s plants. A beautifully illustrated and very entertaining fable about neighbourly competition. (Staff Member)

Bernie [loves] Flora / translated by Laura Watkinson.
“Bernie the bear and Flora the duck have been best friends for a long, long time. They enjoy the same things and love to work together in Bernie’s garden, where he grows the most beautiful flowers. But one day, Flora arrives at Bernie’s house to find that his flowers have all disappeared! And there’s no sign of Bernie either”–Back cover.

 Sammy and the skyscraper sandwich / Lorraine Francis & Pieter Gaudesaboos.
“Sammy is very hungry so he makes a sandwich. A big sandwich. Probably the biggest sandwich you’ve ever seen” (Back cover)

Little Tug / Stephen Savage.
“Little Tug knows what to do when the tall ship, the speedboat, and the ocean liner need him, and at such times, he is indispensible.” (Back cover)

There are some amazing Christmas picture books around, but one thing you really notice looking at many, is how cold they make you feel! The stories they tell are often those of a Northern Hemisphere Christmas.

I remember reading wonderful, chilly Christmas books as a child — like Shirley Hughes’ Lucy and Tom’s Christmas — and not being confused by this at all (I think the thing I appreciated most about Lucy and Tom’s Christmas were the amazing illustrations — Shirley Hughes! — of all the presents they made for their family), but around this time of year, it’s always nice to pull out and enjoy Christmas books that are set in New Zealand, written by New Zealand authors, and written specifically with a New Zealand audience in mind — featuring beaches and barbecues and complete with sweltering, overdressed Santas. So, here goes with a list!

A pukeko in a ponga tree (the twelve days of Christmas) / adapted by Kingi M. Ihaka ; illustrated by Dick Frizzell.
“A New Zealand adaptation of the traditional Christmas song, featuring such gifts as four huhu grubs, seven eels a swimming, and a pukeko in a ponga tree” (Library Catalogue)

We say: On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me, a pukeko in a ponga tree! This is such an iconic title, with great illustrations to enjoy with your child!

A kiwi night before Christmas / Yvonne Morrison ; Deborah Hinde.
“A retelling of Moore’s Christmas poem, with a New Zealand twist.”

We say: This one is also available with sturdier, board pages to share with younger children.

The Christmas caravan / Jennifer Beck ; [illustrations by] Robyn Belton.
“Children’s Christmas story about a boy called Simon who decides to decorate the caravan he and mother share and enter it in a competition for the best decorated home. The other residents of the caravan park contribute by tidying the grounds and recycling rubbish into useful adornments. Text illustrated by Robyn Belton who also illustrated, author, Jennifer Beck’s award-winning, ‘The Bantam and the Soldier’.” (Syndetics summary)

We say: Short-listed for the NZ Post Book Awards in 2003, and we think you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!

A Kiwi jingle bells / Yvonne Morrison ; Deborah Hinde.
“A New Zealand version of Jingle bells describing a summer Christmas holiday at the beach” (Library Catalogue)

We say: Lots of fun to sing along with!

A Kiwi Christmas carol / words by Chris Gurney ; pictures by Philip Webb.
“The story of Dickens’ A Christmas carol retold with a New Zealand twist.” (Library Catalogue)

The elves and the cloakmaker / words by Chris Gurney ; pictures by John Bennett.
“A Kiwi retelling of the traditional story of The elves and the shoemaker. In this case the cloakmaker Kahu and his wife are weaving cloaks and fall asleep and the Patupaiarehe come in the night to finish them off.”

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth / [words and music by] Don Gardner ; illustrated by Katz Cowley.
“Poor Monkey’s two front teeth are missing! The Tooth Detective is on the case, but maybe Santa can help. Will Monkey get his special Christmas wish?”–Back cover.

We say: From the author of The Wonky Donkey — need we say more?

Grandma McGarvey’s Christmas / story by Jenny Hessell ; illustrated by Trevor Pye.
“Grandma McGarvey sets up camp in the caravan park on Christmas Eve, but she hears Santa can’t make it this year – he’s sick in bed. Usually Grandma McGarvey would step in, but this year she’s got her own Christmas party to run. She goes back to her caravan, changes into her dressing gown and sleeping cap and gets ready for her Christmas Eve feast. But the flames from the Christmas Pudding scare the dog, who hides up a tree! While rescuing the dog she stumbles upon the families of the camping ground, who are having a party outdoors. Dressed as she is in her red dressing gown and cap, the children mistake her for Santa! So Grandma and the dog decide to stay and join the party” (Publisher description)

Can you think of more? We’d love to add titles we’ve missed in, so comment and let us know!

Share these new books with a friend, there is something to delight and entertain everyone .

A year with Marmalade / [written by] Alison Reynolds ; [illustrated by] Heath McKenzie.
This is a story about friendship, it’s about losing friends and making new ones. It’s a story about change which isn’t always a bad thing.

Mister Whistler / Margaret Mahy ; [illustrated by] Gavin Bishop.
“Absentminded Mister Whistler always has a song in his head and a dance in his feet. In a rush to catch the train, he is so distracted he loses his ticket. Is it in the bottom pockets of his big coat or the top pockets of his jacket? Perhaps he slipped it into his waistcoat. Where is Mister Whistler’s ticket?”–Publisher information. Suggested level: junior, primary.

Archie / Domenica More Gordon.
Archie, a fashion-loving dog with a faithful pet of his own, leads a quiet life until he gets a sewing machine and begins creating canine couture that captures attention all over town, even from a queen and her two royal corgis.

A flower in the snow / Tracey Corderoy ; [illustrated by] Sophie Allsopp.
Luna and Bear are best friends. They belong together like bread and jam! Everything they do, they do together.
When a beautiful flower pops up in the snow, Luna is delighted! But soon the flower fades away, and with it, Luna’s smile. Will Bear ever be able to bring it back… (www.traceycorderoy.com)

The fantastic jungles of Henri Rousseau / written by Michelle Markel ; illustrated by Amanda Hall.
A child’s biography of French artist Henri Rousseau, who spent his life as a toll collector, but created unheralded masterpieces in his spare time. A sophisticated picture book.

The NZ Pacific Picture Book Collection and website have been put together as an educational resource featuring activities and links to the NZ school curriculum. The creators selected the titles from nominations collected from nine librarians who have a specific interest in Pasifika communities. They believe in the power of picture books to shine a light on world views to both validate and introduce culture to others.

Here is a selection of some of the books from the collection held by Wellington Libraries.

Tulevai and the sea / by Joy Cowley ; illustrated by Manu Smith.
“A story for young readers with full-page colour illustrations by Manu Smith. Tulevai is such a good fisher from his canoe, the sea decides to make him its slave, and captures him. However, Tulevai’s mother decides her love is stronger than all the power of the sea, and rescues him by rolling the sea aside.” (Syndetics summary)

Legends of the Cook Islands / Shona Hopkins ; illustrated by Bruce Potter.
Collection of eight illustrated legends from the Cook Islands. Set in a mythological time known as Avaiki, these stories tell of brave men and women, mystical mountains, powerful gods and majestic sea creatures. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.

The Shark God / story by Rafe Martin ; pictures by David Shannon.
“Because they freed a shark caught in a net, the fearsome Shark God rescues a brother and sister from the cruel king’s imprisonment and helps them find a new, peaceful kingdom across the sea.” (Syndetics summary)

Grandad / Janet Pereira ; illustrated by Bruce Potter.
A young girl relates how her family respond to her grandfather’s illness and death and bring to the funeral responses from a variety of cultures. Includes a glossary of words related to death and funerals. Suggested level: primary.

Tane steals the show / [text] Lino Nelisi ; [illustrations] Gus Hunter.
Uncle Kokela is getting married on Saturday and everyone is practising singing and dancing. Because Tane is too small, no one will let him join in. But Tane has a surprise for them. Suggested level: junior.

Two cans of corned beef and a manulele in a mango tree : a Pacific Christmas / Sarona Aiono-losefa ; illustrated by Steven Dunn.
A Pacific version of the popular Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, with such gifts as four rolls of tapa, three frangipanis, two cans of corned beef and a manulele in a mango tree. Suggested level: junior, primary.

The stuck there forever boat / Gillian Torckler ; illustrated by Bruce Potter.
Tama’s idyllic island life is changing. The surrounding sea is slowly flooding their land, the coral is dying and the fish have disappeared. Tama’s family must move to a higher island, but his nanny won’t listen. What can Tama do to convince his nanny to leave? A story inspired by the Tuvaluan people, whose low-lying island nation is under threat of non-existence due to the rising seas associated with global warming.

Sione’s talo / by Lino Nelisi ; illustrated by Elspeth Williamson.
Sione finds a huge talo growing on his plantation and calls his family to help him pull it up, but they are only successful with the help of an ant. Suggested level: juniors

Papa’s jandals / Kate Moetaua ; illustrated by Bruce Potter.
“Papa loves his great big jandals but so does Junior. When Junior loses Papa’s jandals the hunt is on to find them but no one would ever have guessed where they turn up”–Back cover. Suggested level: junior.

Talia / by Catherine Hannken ; illustrated by Trish Bowles.
Talia’s dad is taking her to Samoa to meet her family and she is excited, but her excitement quickly turns to confusion when she steps off the plane. She can’t understand what anyone is saying and she feels scared and alone. With help from her family, Talia begins to forget her fear and shyness and enjoy being in Samoa. Suggested level: junior.

A book of Pacific lullabies / edited by Tessa Duder ; illustrated by Anton Petrov.
Collection of poems for children inspired by the natural images and rhythms of the Pacific on the themes of night and sleep. Contains brief biographical information about each of the contributing authors. Suggested level: junior, primary.

Fishing with spider webs / Lino Nelisi ; illustrations by! Elspeth Alix Batt.
“A story for children with full-page colour illustrations. Aiani was born in Auckland. When she is 10, she flies to Nuie to visit her family. Uncle Tuki takes her out fishing, using spider webs! They get a good feed of fish. Next day they’re going to catch a coconut crab without being bitten.” (Syndetics summary)

The pipi swing / Sarona Aiono-Iosefa ; illustrated by Bruce Potter.
A story of a Samoan girl whose grandparents teach her how to have fun again after her father, their son dies, in spite of their own grief. Suggested level: junior, primary.