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.