KKBC Season 3 : Episode 1 - Top 20ish NZ Kids' Books to read before high school
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 is a true Work of Waffle as we wax lyrical about our Top 20 (ish) New Zealand books which WE think children should read before high school! It is a real conversation, full of ums, ahhs and meanderings!!!
Books highlighted in the episode, in no particular order whatsoever:
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd
Dazzlehands by Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan
The Bomb by Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan
The Tomo by Mary Anne Scott
From the Cutting Room Floor of Barney Kettle by Kate De Goldi
Uncle Jack by Kate De Goldi
Wildlife of Aotearoa by Gavin Bishop
Gavin Bishop board books - E hoa, Mihi, Koro
Aotearoa by Gavin Bishop
The House that Jack Built by Gavin Bishop
Kiwi Bees Have Tiny Knees by Rachel Weston
The Last Tuatara by Des Hunt
Project Huia by Des Hunt
Monkey Boy by Donovan Bixley
How Maui Slowed the Sun by Donovan Bixley
Under the Mountain by Maurice Gee
I Am Not Esther by Fleur Beale
End of the Alphabet by Fleur Beale
The Grimmelings by Rachel King
Samples From the Lab by Rob Foote
Kowhai and the Giants by Kate Parker
This is where I stand by Philippa Werry
Ultrawild by Stephen Mushin
Katipo Joe by Brian Falkner
Shooting Stars by Brian Falkner
Mophead by Selina Tusitala Marsh
The Princess and the Foal by Stacy Gregg
The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith
Greedy Cat by Joy Cowley
My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes by Eve Sutton
Te Reo Singalong books by Sharon Holt
The Little Yellow Digger by Betty and Alan Gilderdale
Baa Baa Smart Sheep by Mark and Rowan Sommerset
First to the Top (and others from David Hill & Phoebe Morris Famous New Zealanders series)
See Ya, Simon by David Hill
My Brother’s War by David Hill
Below by David Hill
The Great Piratical Rumbustification by Margaret Mahy
The Call of the Kokako by Maria Gill
Incredible Journeys by Ned Barraud
Remember that November by Jennifer Beck and Lindy Fisher
Follow the KKBC on Facebook:
@kiwikidsbookchat
Follow our library (not exclusively kiwi kids literature):
Twitter @southwellibrary
Facebook @SouthwellLibrary
Blog http://southwelllibrary.blogspot.com/
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37:16
KKBC Season 2 : Episode 19 - Wrap Up
Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.
This week is a wrap up of some of our favourite books of the year! See if you agree...
Follow the KKBC on Facebook:
@kiwikidsbookchat
Follow our library (not exclusively kiwi kids literature):
Twitter @southwellibrary
Facebook @SouthwellLibrary
Blog http://southwelllibrary.blogspot.com/
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14:39
KKBC Season 2 : Episode 18 - The Great Outdoors
Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.
This week we check out the books which feature NZs great outdoors! We realised early on that this needed to be split into two episodes, so this one features some fabulous fiction. Look out for an episode featuring some just as fabulous non-fiction.
Apologies for some shimmying at the end - we talk about doing episodes about Christmas buying... but by the time you here THIS you will have heard THAT!!!
Books highlighted in the episode:
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Cuz by Liz van der Laarse
Spearo by Mary Anne Scott
The Tomo by Mary Anne Scott
Sticking With Pigs by Mary Anne Scott
Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump
Mad Men of the Mountains by Big Al Lester
Footrot Flats by Murray Ball
Wildboy by Brando Yelovich
Wildboy (picture book) by Brando Yelovich
Epic Adventures across Aotearoa! by Ray Salisbury
Follow the KKBC on Facebook:
@kiwikidsbookchat
Follow our library (not exclusively kiwi kids literature):
Twitter @southwellibrary
Facebook @SouthwellLibrary
Blog http://southwelllibrary.blogspot.com/
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24:47
KKBC Season 2 : Episode 17 - Des Hunt
Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.
This week we delve into the work of the legend that is Des Hunt. His work is, for the most part, firmly located in Aotearoa and the books always spotlight NZ flora and fauna. There is generally a theme of good vs bad and they are always a good, rollicking read!
Books highlighted in the episode:
Red Edge
Project Huia
The Last Tuatara
Cry of the Taniwha
Search for a Kiwi Killer
The Peco Incident
1918 : Broken Poppies
Follow the KKBC on Facebook:
@kiwikidsbookchat
Follow our library (not exclusively kiwi kids literature):
Twitter @southwellibrary
Facebook @SouthwellLibrary
Blog http://southwelllibrary.blogspot.com/
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25:43
KKBC Season 2 : Episode 16 - Christmas Book Buying
Description
Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.
This week we have a whole host of suggestions for Christmas book buying. There is a tantalising selection of great books out there to tempt even the most reluctant of readers!
Please do excuse a few sound glitches throughout.
Books highlighted in the episode:
Super Sleuth by David Walliams
The Land of Lost Things by Andy Griffiths
Big Jim Begins (Dog Man) by Dav Pilkey
Hot Mess (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) by Jeff Kinney
Class Action (InvestiGATORS) by John Patrick Green
The Wrath of the Triple Goddess (Percy Jackson) by Rick Riordan
One Last Thing (Bad Guys) by Aaron Blabey
Unravelled (Keeper of the Lost Cities) by Shannon Messenger
Illustrated Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Christmas at Hogwarts
Karen's Grandmother (Little Sisters Babysitters Club) by Ann M. Martin
Tales from a Not-so-Bratty Little Sister (Dork Diaries) by Rachel Renee Russell
I Survived the Black Death by Lauren Tarshis
Mr Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale by Chris Grabenstein
The Squad by Christina Soontornvat
Ambush at Sorato by John Flanagan
Star (Warrior Cats) by Erin Hunter
Mina the Lightning Dragon by Maddy Mara
Science Comics : Human Space Flight by Andy Hirsch
Where to Hide a Star by Oliver Jeffers
Spooky Lakes by Geo Rutherford
The Most Boring Book Ever by Brandon Sanderson and Kazu Kibuishi
2025 Guinness Book of World Records
Follow the KKBC on Facebook:
@kiwikidsbookchat
Follow our library (not exclusively kiwi kids literature):
Twitter @southwellibrary
Facebook @SouthwellLibrary
Blog http://southwelllibrary.blogspot.com/
New Zealand