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Recommended reads

Eirlys Hunter favourite children’s books

Alice in Wonderland & Alice Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll Lewis Carroll’s masterpieces.  Among the first books ever published to entertain rather than instruct children, they’re a brilliant child’s-eye view of the nonsensical adult world. And as for the language… Twas brillig and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe…   Winnie… Read more »

Every Time We Say Goodbye (picture books for tough times)

Granpa by John Burningham (Red Fox, 2003) A dialogue between grandparent and child that covers all the important business and lasts until Granpa’s chair is (heartbreakingly) empty. The Sad Book by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Quentin Blake (Candlewick Press, 2005) Michael Rosen’s son died, and it hurt this much, which is to say almost… Read more »

10 preschool books in te reo Māori

Reo Pēpi series – especially Kanohi by Kitty Brown and Kirsten Parkinson A great sturdy bilingual board book series. People really like the faces one as babies this age like looking at and copying…

11 best books for 4 to 7-year-olds by Ellie Levenson

A couple of years ago, Ellie Levenson made a selection of 11 best books for 4 to 7-year-olds for Indybest. We think it’s a great list and we wanted to share it with you. Between the ages of four and seven – in school terms this is Reception and Key Stage one – is when… Read more »

Book recommendations by Guyon Espiner for The Sapling

Guyon Espiner talked to The Sapling about the books he reads to his child… Many great books in English and in Te reo! My reading life with Nico began the day after she was born and would establish something of a pattern for my parenting: curious decisions based on limited information leading to surprising consequences…. Read more »

Jacinda Ardern: The Books of my Childhood – for The Sapling

Jacinda Ardern, NZ Prime Minister, told The Sapling about the books that formed her childhood. From Clifford the Big Red Dog to Tomorrow, When the War Began she tells us about her favourite books and the importance of reading. “I will always love the fact that books have an ability to elevate you from where you are and… Read more »

Don’t leave childhood without… by The Children’s Bookshop

Our wonderful friends from The Children’s Bookshop shared with us their list of best children’s books that every child should have read/been read. The Lorax by Dr Seuss Bad Jelly the Witch by Spike Milligan The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord Dogger by Shirley Hughes Mog: The Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr The Tiger Who… Read more »

List of standalone mysteries by Cait from Time Out Bookstore

Cait – from Time Out Bookstore – gave us her a list of standalone mysteries. They are really clever puzzles with very satisfying endings. The Song of Seven   by Tonke Dragt The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin York by Laura Ruby Clementine Loves Red   by Krystyna Boglar From the Mixed Up Files of… Read more »

Best books to read to a pre-school child by The Children’s Bookshop

Our wonderful friends from The Children’s Bookshop shared with us their list of best children’s books to read to a pre-school child: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Where is the Green Sheep?   by Mem Fox & Judy Horacek Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem… Read more »