Kiwi Kids Book Chat

Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.
In our monthly podcast, we are committed to chatting about kiwi kids lit, and lit that kiwi kids are reading and can't wait to waffle with abandon.
This week we are chatting about the amazing work of Jennifer Beck.
Books highlighted in the episode:
A Present From the Past
Gypsy Day on the Farm
My Mum is Queen of the Road
Nobody's Dog
Remember that November
Stefania's Dancing Slippers
The Bantam and the Soldier
The Anzac Violin
Torty and the Soldier
Whetu, the Little Blue Duck

Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.
In our monthly podcast, we are committed to chatting about kiwi kids lit, and lit that kiwi kids are reading and can't wait to waffle with abandon.
This week we are chatting about many of the 2025 NZ Book Award finalists (minus the Junior Fiction, which feature in Episode 6.)

Books highlighted in the episode:
Beddy Bye Time in the Kōwhai Tree by Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Lily Uivel
Mataali’i by Dahlia Malaeulu, illustrated by Darcy Solia
Ten Nosey Weka by Kate Preece, illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
Titiro Look by Gavin Bishop
You Can’t Pat a Fish by Ruth PaulBear by Kiri Lightfoot, illustrated by Pippa Keel Situ
Gracehopper by Mandy Hager
Migration by Steph Matuku
The Mess of Our Lives by Mary-Anne Scott
The Paradise Generation by Sanna Thompson
Black Magic by David Riley, illustrated by Munro Te Whata Dear Moko: Māori Wisdom for our Young Ones by Hinemoa Elder
Ruru: Night Hunter by Katie Furze, illustrated by Ned Barraud
The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi by Ross Calman
Tui Pea Luva by Mele Tonga Grant, illustrated by Luca Walton
Alice and the Strange Bird by Isaac du Toit
Hineraukatauri me Te Ara Pūoro, illustrated by Rehua Wilson written by Elizabeth  Gray
Poem for Ataahua, illustrated by Sarah Wilkins, written by Alistair Te Ariki Campbell
Sad Sushi, Anna Aldridge
Brave Kāhu and the Pōrangi Magpie by Shelley Burne-Field Play Wild by Rachel Clare
The Witch of Maketu and the Bleating Lambs by Anika Moa, illustrated by Rebecca ter Borg
The Writing Desk by Di Morris
Check out ⁠this⁠ The Spinoff podcast episode which gives a good overview of all the Book Award finalists.

Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.
In our monthly podcast, we are committed to chatting about kiwi kids lit, and lit that kiwi kids are reading and can't wait to waffle with abandon.
This week were deep diving into the five finalists in the NZ Book Award Junior Fiction category. (And it does actually sound like we are diving... one day we will get the sound right!!)
Four of our Kids Lit Quiz kids have reviewed the books and it is these wise words which you will be hearing today.
Books highlighted in the episode:
The Raven's Eye Runaways by Claire Mabey
The Apprentice Witnesser by Bren MacDibble
Brown Bird by Jane Arthur
Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen
Violet and the Velvets : the Case of the Missing Stuff by Rachael King

Check out this The Spinoff podcast episode which gives a good overview of all the Book Award finalists.

Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.
In our monthly podcast, we are committed to chatting about kiwi kids lit, and lit that kiwi kids are reading and can't wait to waffle with abandon.
We do need to apologise (again!) for the quality of the sound recording... we were super keen to get another episode out into the world after a bit of a break, BUT we had some internet issues in our usual recording space so had to record in a larger room than usual... resulting in some echo!
This week we celebrate everything Maria Gill.
Books highlighted in the episode:
Anzac Animals by Maria Gill and Marco Ivancic
Remarkable Animal Stories by Maria Gill
Call of the Kokako by Maria Gill and Heather Arnold
Toroa’s Journey by Maria Gill and Gavin Mouldey
NZ Endangered Dolphins by Maria Gill
Anzac Heroes by Maria Gill and Marco Ivancic
Last of Maui's Dolphins by Maria Gill and Bruce Potter
Kate Sheppard by Maria Gill and Marco Ivancic
King’s Medal by Maria Gill and Alistair Hughes
Ernest Rutherford by Maria Gill and Alistair Hughes
Abel Tasman by Maria Gill and Marco Ivancic
Epic NZ Adventurers by Maria Gill
Ice Breaker! by Maria Gill and Alistair Hughes
NZ Disasters by Maria Gill and Marco Ivancic
Earthquakes by Maria Gill
Volcanoes by Maria Gill
Eruption by Maria Gill
Rangitoto by Maria Gill
Maria Gill's website

Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.
As we head into 2025, refreshed and ready to rock and roll, we have decided to change the podcast to a monthly affair, rather than fortnightly, as our school embarks on a number of big changes.
We are still committed to chatting about kiwi kids lit, and lit that kiwi kids are reading and can't wait to waffle with abandon.
This week we celebrate a few new kiwi titles which you might want to check out!

Books highlighted in the episode:The Fantabulous Animal Orchestra by Donovan Bixley
Kia Ora Baby by Donovan Bixley
Kia Ora Pepe by Donovan Bixley
The Raven's Eye Runaways by Claire Mabey
Charlie Tangaroa and the God of War by T.K. Roxborogh
Bear by Kiri Lightfoot