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

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