Blog Archives

Flights of fancy, Diane Hebley

Posted on September 1, 2009 by NZ Books

Sting Raymond Huber Walker Books, $16.99, ISBN 9781921150890 The Strange and Diverting Story of The Loblolly Boy: A Fantasy Novel Involving Enchantment, Mystery, one Garden Gnome and a Wombat’s Bottom James Norcliffe Longacre Press, $19.99, ISBN 9781877460258 Return for the…

Tagged with: Diane Hebley, Issue 87, James Norcliffe, Longacre Press, Margaret Hall, Raymond Huber, Spring 2009, Walker Books
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Brave new worlds, Joan de Hamel

Posted on June 1, 2009 by NZ Books

The Tomorrow Code Brian Falkner Walker Books, $19.99, ISBN 781921150340 Juno of Taris Fleur Beale Random House, $18.99, ISBN 781869419882 About Griffen’s Heart Tina Shaw Longacre Press, $19.99, ISBN 87746015 Chronicles of Stone: Scorched Bone Vincent Ford …

Tagged with: Brian Falkner, Fleur Beale, Issue 86, Joan de Hamel, Longacre Press, Random House, Scholastic New Zealand, Tina Shaw, Vincent Ford, Walker Books, Winter 2009
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Debuts and returns, Linda Burgess

Posted on June 1, 2009 by NZ Books

Enemy at the Gate Philippa Werry Scholastic New Zealand, $17.99 ISBN 9781869438135 Old Drumble Jack Lasenby HarperCollins, $16.99, ISBN 978169506742 Chicken Feathers Joy Cowley and David Elliot (illus) Puffin Books, $17.95, ISBN 9780143303909 Five (and a bit) Days in the…

Tagged with: David Elliot, HarperCollins, Issue 86, Jack Lasenby, Joy Cowley, Linda Burgess, Michelle Kelly, Philippa Werry, Puffin Books, Random Books, Rebecca Cundy, Scholastic New Zealand, Val Bird, Winter 2009
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Doubles and damage, Geoff Miles

Posted on June 1, 2009 by NZ Books

The Magician of Hoad Margaret Mahy HarperCollins, $39.99, ISBN 9781869506872 The Magician of Hoad takes Margaret Mahy into new territory – new for her at least. Her earlier YA novels were set in the real world. A highly-coloured version of…

Tagged with: Geoff Miles, HarperCollins, Issue 86, Margaret Mahy, Winter 2009
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Young adults

Where the boys are, Penelope Todd

Posted on March 1, 2009 by NZ Books

Whale Pot Bay Des Hunt HarperCollins, $18.99, ISBN 978869507305 The River Runs David Hill Mallinson Rendel, $18.00, ISBN 9781877423222 Violence 101 Denis Wright Penguin Books, $18.95, ISBN 9780143304036 These three books with male protagonists each cover, to varying extent, bullying,…

Tagged with: Autumn 2009, David Hill, Denis Wright, Des Hunt, HarperCollins, Issue 85, Mallinson Rendel, Penelope Todd, Penguin Books
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Good dog! Norman Bilbrough

Posted on September 1, 2008 by NZ Books

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy Lynley Dodd Mallinson Rendel, $30.00, ISBN 9781877423147 Beginner writers often think that writing a picture book must be easy. But a story – any story – needs drafts and more drafts before it is ready…

Tagged with: Issue 83, Lynley Dodd, Mallinson Rendel, Norman Bilbrough, Spring 2008
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Illustrating the gaps between words, Raymond Huber

Posted on June 1, 2008 by NZ Books

Rats! Gavin Bishop Random House, $30.00, ISBN 978869419028 Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi Melanie Drewery, illustrations Ali Teo and John O’Reilly Random House, $30.00, ISBN 9781869419301 To the Harbour Stanley Palmer Lopdell House Gallery, $35.00, ISBN 9780958228442 Snake and Lizard Joy…

Tagged with: Ali Teo, Gavin Bishop, Gecko Press, Issue 81, Jenny Cooper, John O’Reilly, Joy Cowley, Lopdell House Gallery, Melanie Drewery, Random House, Raymond Huber, Scholastic, Stanley Palmer, Winter 2008
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review

Breaking free, Jill Holt

Posted on March 1, 2008 by NZ Books

The Dumpster Saga Craig Harrison Scholastic New Zealand, $16.99, ISBN 9781869438166 Salt Maurice Gee Puffin, $17.95, ISBN 9780143303350 The Sea-wreck Stranger Anna Mackenzie Longacre Press, $18.99, ISBN 9781877361883 It’s hard to imagine and salutary to recall that many teenagers do…

Tagged with: Anna Mackenzie, Autumn 2008, Craig Harrison, Issue 81, Jill Holt, Longacre Press, Maurice Gee, Puffin, Scholastic New Zealand
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review, Young adults

Ways of being in the world, Eirlys Hunter

Posted on June 1, 2007 by NZ Books

When Mum Went Funny Jack Lasenby Longacre Press, $16.99, ISBN 1877361534 The Whizbanger That Emmental Built Reuben Schwarz Puffin, $17.95, ISBN 0143318381 Chute Thru Janice Marriott Mallinson Rendel, $17.00, ISBN 0958262632 Thor’s Tale: Endurance & Adventure in the Southern Ocean …

Tagged with: Barbara Else, Eirlys Hunter, HarperCollins, Issue 78, Jack Lasenby, Janice Marriott, Longacre Press, Mallinson Rendel, Philip Webb, Puffin, Random House, Reuben Schwarz, Winter 2007
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review

Boyznbooks, Rose Lovell-Smith

Posted on June 1, 2007 by NZ Books

And Did Those Feet Ted Dawe Longacre Press, $18.99, ISBN 9781877361494 Single Fin Aaron Topp Random House, $18.99, ISBN 1869417844 Castaway: The Diary of Samuel Abraham Clark, Disappointment Island, 1907 Bill O’Brien Scholastic, $16.99, ISBN 1869437500 Boyznbikes Vince Ford Scholastic,…

Tagged with: Aaron Topp, Bill O’Brien, Issue 78, Longacre Press, Random House, Rose Lovell-Smith, Scholastic, Ted Dawe, Vince Ford, Winter 2007
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Young adults