Steph Matuku, illustrated by Katharine Hall  
Huia Publishers
Genre: Junior

All is not going well on the farm where Whetū is looking after the magician the Mighty Mikaere’s animals. The new ewes are protesting. Baked Beans, the robot dog, has bitten the bull. And the new rabbit stagehand with the diamond-studded tooth is being incredibly annoying. Worse though – someone is stealing the Mighty Mikaere’s magic tricks. Whetū goes on a mission to find out who, and when she discovers a secret trapdoor, she learns there’s a lot more going on than she had originally thought.

This giveaway is part of our School Library programme.

Lauren Keenan
Huia Publishers
Genre: Junior

On the way to school, Amorangi realises he forgot to bring an old object to school to talk about. Quickly, he and his sister, Millie, decide to travel back in time and find something. They've travelled back before, after all. He pulls a piece of bark from a nearby rimu and pockets it to ensure they return then they jump back in time. Then begins an adventure that they nearly don't make it back from as one of their ancestors dies, and Amorangi and Millie find themselves fading away. In their travels, the children experience aspects of events in New Zealand history, such as the Taranaki wars, the Tarawera eruption, the Wahine disaster and quarantine on Matiu/Somes Island, and the attitudes of people and the way people lived.

This giveaway is part of our School Library programme.

Swapna Haddow, illustrated by Daron Parton
Scholastic
Genre: Fiction (Fantasy)

Well, you probably won't believe me if I say it is a snake, a huge, child, swallowing anaconda, said the librarian.

A child visits the library with their mum, who tells them to find a book and stay out of trouble. Almost immediately, the librarian warns the child against doing certain things, like climbing the shelves, peeling up the carpet, or taking a particular book. Each time, the child responds with Why not? prompting the librarian to spin increasingly outrageous stories.

This giveaway is part of our School Library programme.

Toby Morris
Penguin
Genre: Illustrated

Who spilled that blue paint? There's a messy mystery afoot, and Detective Clue-keko needs your help to solve it!

Watch out for cartoonist Toby Morris's flying dad jokes in this delightful visual and verbal play on words that rhyme with pūkeko, one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most iconic and personality-laden blue birds.

Join the hunt and follow the paint trail with Detective Clue-keko as the pūkeko chaos accumulates. And who-keko knew-keko that so many words rhyme with pūkeko?

With even more comic fun to be spotted in the eye-catching illustrations, this story is for children aged 3–7 (and their not-so-serious adults) and will be on repeat read throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

Be warned - pūkeko rhyming is VERY contagious!

This giveaway is part of our School Library programme.

Emilie and Victoria Bruce
Independent Press
Genre: Pictorial non-fiction

A 7 year old, a backpack and 3000 kilometres of mud, magic and adventure through New Zealand.

What happens when a seven-year-old sets out to walk the length of Aotearoa New Zealand with her mum? An unforgettable adventure begins – one filled with mud, magic, and moments of true courage. Emilie Walks Te Araroa is a true story about young explorer Emilie Bruce, who completed the 3,000-kilometre Te Araroa Trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff over six months. Along the way, Emilie wades through wild rivers, climbs steep mountain passes, and explores the backcountry. But the trail isn’t always easy. A true story of resilience and wonder, told in Emilie’s fresh, funny and heartfelt voice, Emilie Walks Te Araroa, is perfect for readers aged 8-12 years