Social Media Ideas for Junior Fiction

Short story: Family friendly, by Jemma Richardson

Junior Review: Forest of Hearts

Forest of Hearts is an amazing romance fantasy novel for young adults. It has you biting your nails through each twist and turn of the story. MA Kuznair doesn't fail to impress as...

Junior Review: Saving Shark Pup

This is the true story about a shark pup that had to leave its mother and gets stuck on a beach. But there are always people to help, and help they do. Little shark pup washed up o...

Review: The Wild Unknown

With the rapid escalation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recent years, it’s not so hard to imagine a world – twenty years from now – where each human has a personal AI bot and...

Kids Can Read Big Books

In sixth grade, my English teacher tried to talk me out of reading Watership Down when I found it in the school library. It was too big and “advanced” for me, a 12-year-old human....

Briarwood by Natalie Hyde

Part Harry Potter, part Nancy Drew with a steampunk aesthetic, and weaving in elements of women in STEM, Briarwood is a typical middle school novel about what it feels like to be t...

The Pear Affair by Judith Eagle

Entertaining & Exciting The Pear Affair by Judith Eagle is a delightful children’s adventure and perfect for ages eight years and over. Whatever your age, this book will entert...

LAND OF THE LAST WILDCAT

Ten-year-old Puffin Lau, who’s Chinese and Portuguese, is used to being overlooked by her busy, widowed mother, but it still stings when Mum doesn’t show up as promised to speak to...

Five Go Off To Camp by Enid Blyton

Adventurous Derring Do Five Go Off To Camp by Enid Blyton is an entertaining children’s novel. It is the seventh book in the Famous Five series but can be read as a stand-alone. Th...

Interview: Charlie Archbold

Charlie Archbold's The Sugarcane Kids series has become a favourite with young readers for its blend of mystery, adventure and authentic Far North Queensland settings. In her lates...

Reading List by Jayne for Children

The Octopus by Guojing Join a little girl as she discovers the hidden world of her new octopus friend in this stunning wordless picture book by critically acclaimed author-illustra...

All the finalists in the 2026 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

All the books – and their authors, illustrators, translators and publishers – in the race for the prize(s), with commentary from books editor Claire Mabey. From 159 entries thi...

Review: The Prime Minister Problem

Brenton Cullen's debut novel is a terrific read for middle-grade. This young man has been a keen writer since childhood and is now making his dream of writing professionally come t...

Review: The Last Word

Friendship, first crushes and finding your voice all come together in the delightful middle grade novel The Last Word by A.L. Tait. The third book in the Two Hearts series is a lig...

9 Great New Children’s Book Releases for June

From animal-centric stories to thought-provoking reads about friendship and community, here are June's new children's book releases.

Unleash Your Child’s Imagination with These 8+ Must-Read Adventure Books for Kids (2026)

Adventure is a spirit, a mood, a lifestyle. It could... The post Unleash Your Child’s Imagination with These 8+ Must-Read Adventure Books for Kids (2026) appeared first on Joelbook...

Writing for Fun…and Kids

by James Scott Bell When I was 8, I asked my mom to buy me some tights. Green tights. No, I wasn’t looking to get into ballet or pose for a Jolly Green Giant ad as little Niblet. I...

JAZZY THE WITCH IN FRIEND FIASCO

Jazzy, the “famous biking witch,” and her gal pal Aggie are preparing for a new school year at the Enchantra School of Craft. On the first day of school, Jazzy and Aggie meet their...

MILES AND JONES #2

When we last left Shackleton Jones, his dad, Amelia Miles, and her mom, they had vanquished a giant anaconda in their flooded park, only to be met with a flurry of “sky blobs” conj...

‘Tears (mine) every time!’ Elizabeth Cox’s love/hate relationship with children’s books

Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Elizabeth Cox, author of Mr Ward’s Map, which won...

Short story: In the forest, by Sherry Xu

'You...

Review - Banjo Paterson : Man From Snowy River / Waltzing Matilda

Iconic Australian poetry classics in the hands on babies? As they say it’s never too young to start. Two of Banjo Paterson’s famous poems are available as beautiful board books, ed...

Upper Fourth At Malory Towers by Enid Blyton

Timeless Appeal Upper Fourth At Malory Towers by Enid Blyton is an entertaining girls’ novel that I enjoyed. It is the fourth book in the Malory Towers series which I recommend rea...

Notes from a Children's Librarian: Imagination

Our Children's Librarian columnist, Julie Booker, brings us a new view from the stacks every month.*****...