The Sapling
@thesaplingnz.bsky.social
Website dedicated to celebrating Aotearoa-New Zealand literature for children and young adults. With editors Harriet, Faith & Nida. Pitches welcome!
We've solved Christmas for you!
We asked the children's bookstores around the country what books you need this Christmas, and here's what they said:
www.thesapling.co.nz/from-the-sho...
We asked the children's bookstores around the country what books you need this Christmas, and here's what they said:
www.thesapling.co.nz/from-the-sho...
November 27, 2025 at 2:01 AM
We've solved Christmas for you!
We asked the children's bookstores around the country what books you need this Christmas, and here's what they said:
www.thesapling.co.nz/from-the-sho...
We asked the children's bookstores around the country what books you need this Christmas, and here's what they said:
www.thesapling.co.nz/from-the-sho...
Gavin Bishop's latest book is a monster-sized tome about Aotearoa's mythical taniwha. Take a look inside:
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-sampling...
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-sampling...
November 12, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Gavin Bishop's latest book is a monster-sized tome about Aotearoa's mythical taniwha. Take a look inside:
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-sampling...
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-sampling...
Kiwi Christmas Books is a fabulous charity making sure thousands of children have a book to open on Christmas morning. We spoke with founder Sonya Wilson about the initiative:
www.thesapling.co.nz/kiwi-christm...
www.thesapling.co.nz/kiwi-christm...
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Kiwi Christmas Books is a fabulous charity making sure thousands of children have a book to open on Christmas morning. We spoke with founder Sonya Wilson about the initiative:
www.thesapling.co.nz/kiwi-christm...
www.thesapling.co.nz/kiwi-christm...
'… what is becoming an adult if it isn’t working out to use your little piece of power, for the good of others, or yourself'
@forster81.bsky.social reviews the new YA novel from @elizabethknoxnz.bsky.social:
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-kings...
@forster81.bsky.social reviews the new YA novel from @elizabethknoxnz.bsky.social:
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-kings...
October 29, 2025 at 12:34 AM
'… what is becoming an adult if it isn’t working out to use your little piece of power, for the good of others, or yourself'
@forster81.bsky.social reviews the new YA novel from @elizabethknoxnz.bsky.social:
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-kings...
@forster81.bsky.social reviews the new YA novel from @elizabethknoxnz.bsky.social:
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-kings...
'King, like Violet, is rocking out'
Lucy Black reviews @rachaelking70.bsky.social's new Violet and the Velvets adventure:
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-a-sop...
@allenandunwinnz.bsky.social
Lucy Black reviews @rachaelking70.bsky.social's new Violet and the Velvets adventure:
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-a-sop...
@allenandunwinnz.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 10:29 PM
'King, like Violet, is rocking out'
Lucy Black reviews @rachaelking70.bsky.social's new Violet and the Velvets adventure:
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-a-sop...
@allenandunwinnz.bsky.social
Lucy Black reviews @rachaelking70.bsky.social's new Violet and the Velvets adventure:
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-a-sop...
@allenandunwinnz.bsky.social
This Saturday is Bookshop Day!
Here's what your local children's bookstore has planned:
www.thesapling.co.nz/bookshop-day...
Here's what your local children's bookstore has planned:
www.thesapling.co.nz/bookshop-day...
October 9, 2025 at 12:32 AM
This Saturday is Bookshop Day!
Here's what your local children's bookstore has planned:
www.thesapling.co.nz/bookshop-day...
Here's what your local children's bookstore has planned:
www.thesapling.co.nz/bookshop-day...
Fishy business! Reviews for a guide to fishing from Al Brown, and books on coastal creatures and fish from Donovan Bixley and Gillian and Daryl Torckler:
www.thesapling.co.nz/fishy-busine...
www.thesapling.co.nz/fishy-busine...
October 3, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Fishy business! Reviews for a guide to fishing from Al Brown, and books on coastal creatures and fish from Donovan Bixley and Gillian and Daryl Torckler:
www.thesapling.co.nz/fishy-busine...
www.thesapling.co.nz/fishy-busine...
'If illustration were a sport, then, in my opinion, children’s books are the ultramarathon!'
Illustrator Hope McConnell on a day in her working life:
www.thesapling.co.nz/a-day-in-the...
Illustrator Hope McConnell on a day in her working life:
www.thesapling.co.nz/a-day-in-the...
September 29, 2025 at 10:18 PM
'If illustration were a sport, then, in my opinion, children’s books are the ultramarathon!'
Illustrator Hope McConnell on a day in her working life:
www.thesapling.co.nz/a-day-in-the...
Illustrator Hope McConnell on a day in her working life:
www.thesapling.co.nz/a-day-in-the...
Here's short story to start your weekend, 'The Olive Twig' from Sonya McArthur's Tales of Curiosity:
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-sampling...
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-sampling...
September 26, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Here's short story to start your weekend, 'The Olive Twig' from Sonya McArthur's Tales of Curiosity:
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-sampling...
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-sampling...
Ruby Jones on her collaboration with @jacindaardern.bsky.social:
www.thesapling.co.nz/comic-ruby-j...
www.thesapling.co.nz/comic-ruby-j...
September 23, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Ruby Jones on her collaboration with @jacindaardern.bsky.social:
www.thesapling.co.nz/comic-ruby-j...
www.thesapling.co.nz/comic-ruby-j...
Ko te pukapuka whakamutunga o Te Wiki o te Reo Māori ko Hineraukatauri me Te Ara Pūoro.
www.thesapling.co.nz/te-whakataui...
www.thesapling.co.nz/te-whakataui...
September 19, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Ko te pukapuka whakamutunga o Te Wiki o te Reo Māori ko Hineraukatauri me Te Ara Pūoro.
www.thesapling.co.nz/te-whakataui...
www.thesapling.co.nz/te-whakataui...
The PANZ Book Design Awards are announced tonight!
We asked the finalists for the children's category to quiz each other on their work
shorturl.at/l6iGo
We asked the finalists for the children's category to quiz each other on their work
shorturl.at/l6iGo
September 18, 2025 at 4:45 AM
The PANZ Book Design Awards are announced tonight!
We asked the finalists for the children's category to quiz each other on their work
shorturl.at/l6iGo
We asked the finalists for the children's category to quiz each other on their work
shorturl.at/l6iGo
Mō te Rāpare nei, te rā tuawhā o Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, e whakanui ana mātou i tētahi rangatira nui whakaharahara: pānuihia tēnei Whakatauira nō Te Whaea o te Motu: Whina Cooper me Te Hīkoi Roa mō Te Manatika.
shorturl.at/YjzQ1
shorturl.at/YjzQ1
September 18, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Mō te Rāpare nei, te rā tuawhā o Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, e whakanui ana mātou i tētahi rangatira nui whakaharahara: pānuihia tēnei Whakatauira nō Te Whaea o te Motu: Whina Cooper me Te Hīkoi Roa mō Te Manatika.
shorturl.at/YjzQ1
shorturl.at/YjzQ1
Tuesday’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori book is How Many Times? / Me Hia Rawa Ngā Wā? Tim Tipene’s newest picture book is bilingual, making it a great text for reo Māori learners to have a go with. It also shares a message that parents will appreciate (listen to your mum!).
shorturl.at/pOhYE
shorturl.at/pOhYE
September 17, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Tuesday’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori book is How Many Times? / Me Hia Rawa Ngā Wā? Tim Tipene’s newest picture book is bilingual, making it a great text for reo Māori learners to have a go with. It also shares a message that parents will appreciate (listen to your mum!).
shorturl.at/pOhYE
shorturl.at/pOhYE
Ko He Taonga Te Toka te pukapuka mō te Rāapa o Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. Nā Sacha Cotter rāua ko Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata) tēnei taonga i hanga—koinei tētahi kōrero ātaahua e tūhura ana i te mahamaha, i te mōhio.
shorturl.at/xSYjh
shorturl.at/xSYjh
September 17, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Ko He Taonga Te Toka te pukapuka mō te Rāapa o Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. Nā Sacha Cotter rāua ko Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata) tēnei taonga i hanga—koinei tētahi kōrero ātaahua e tūhura ana i te mahamaha, i te mōhio.
shorturl.at/xSYjh
shorturl.at/xSYjh
Nā Kimberley Ngareta Kearney (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tuhoe) rāua ko Taylor Terewai Tiave (Ngāpuhi) The Lost Words, te pukapuka tuatahi. E whakamihatia ana ngā kupu o te kaikōrero e mātou: ‘These words are our words. And they will never be lost again':
shorturl.at/ccjvF
shorturl.at/ccjvF
September 15, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Nā Kimberley Ngareta Kearney (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tuhoe) rāua ko Taylor Terewai Tiave (Ngāpuhi) The Lost Words, te pukapuka tuatahi. E whakamihatia ana ngā kupu o te kaikōrero e mātou: ‘These words are our words. And they will never be lost again':
shorturl.at/ccjvF
shorturl.at/ccjvF
'When you step into a New Zealand forest, the world changes. The light shifts, the air is damp with earth ... You feel small, but also connected to something that has been here far longer than you.'
Ned Barraud on his stunning new book:
shorturl.at/Fih5H
Ned Barraud on his stunning new book:
shorturl.at/Fih5H
September 11, 2025 at 2:44 AM
'When you step into a New Zealand forest, the world changes. The light shifts, the air is damp with earth ... You feel small, but also connected to something that has been here far longer than you.'
Ned Barraud on his stunning new book:
shorturl.at/Fih5H
Ned Barraud on his stunning new book:
shorturl.at/Fih5H
'… there is a stripping away of the support systems that build blossoming literacy landscapes which form the backbone of any good education'
Samantha Mongtomerie examines NZ's literacy crisis:
www.thesapling.co.nz/keeping-the-...
Samantha Mongtomerie examines NZ's literacy crisis:
www.thesapling.co.nz/keeping-the-...
September 4, 2025 at 12:37 AM
'… there is a stripping away of the support systems that build blossoming literacy landscapes which form the backbone of any good education'
Samantha Mongtomerie examines NZ's literacy crisis:
www.thesapling.co.nz/keeping-the-...
Samantha Mongtomerie examines NZ's literacy crisis:
www.thesapling.co.nz/keeping-the-...
Cult of safety – Elizabeth Heritage reviews a new YA novel from Helen Vivienne Fletcher:
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-the-r...
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-the-r...
September 3, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Cult of safety – Elizabeth Heritage reviews a new YA novel from Helen Vivienne Fletcher:
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-the-r...
www.thesapling.co.nz/review-the-r...
Congratulations ANNE-MARIE JONES!
You're the winner of our NZCYA prize pack.
Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and to the New Zealand Book Awards Trust for the wonderful prize!
You're the winner of our NZCYA prize pack.
Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and to the New Zealand Book Awards Trust for the wonderful prize!
August 28, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Congratulations ANNE-MARIE JONES!
You're the winner of our NZCYA prize pack.
Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and to the New Zealand Book Awards Trust for the wonderful prize!
You're the winner of our NZCYA prize pack.
Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and to the New Zealand Book Awards Trust for the wonderful prize!
'... the words and the pictures and the joy of reading them out loud'
Briar Lawry spoke with Josh Morgan about picture books, his work and the Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award:
www.thesapling.co.nz/interview-jo...
Briar Lawry spoke with Josh Morgan about picture books, his work and the Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award:
www.thesapling.co.nz/interview-jo...
August 27, 2025 at 3:03 AM
'... the words and the pictures and the joy of reading them out loud'
Briar Lawry spoke with Josh Morgan about picture books, his work and the Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award:
www.thesapling.co.nz/interview-jo...
Briar Lawry spoke with Josh Morgan about picture books, his work and the Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award:
www.thesapling.co.nz/interview-jo...
David Hill on writing about Whina Cooper, te reo Māori and the vision and endurance of the eminent New Zealanders he has written about:
www.thesapling.co.nz/interview-da...
www.thesapling.co.nz/interview-da...
August 25, 2025 at 3:46 AM
David Hill on writing about Whina Cooper, te reo Māori and the vision and endurance of the eminent New Zealanders he has written about:
www.thesapling.co.nz/interview-da...
www.thesapling.co.nz/interview-da...
Happy National Poetry Day!
We're sharing the wonderful winning poems from The Poets XYZ's poetry for children competition:
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-winners-...
We're sharing the wonderful winning poems from The Poets XYZ's poetry for children competition:
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-winners-...
August 22, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Happy National Poetry Day!
We're sharing the wonderful winning poems from The Poets XYZ's poetry for children competition:
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-winners-...
We're sharing the wonderful winning poems from The Poets XYZ's poetry for children competition:
www.thesapling.co.nz/the-winners-...
We're running a competition!
To enter the draw to win a complete set of all the NZCYA winning books and a rare-as-hen's-teeth 2025 NZCYA tote bag please subscribe to our newsletter by the end of Thursday 28 August, by entering your details at this link:
eepurl.com/ibMEE9
To enter the draw to win a complete set of all the NZCYA winning books and a rare-as-hen's-teeth 2025 NZCYA tote bag please subscribe to our newsletter by the end of Thursday 28 August, by entering your details at this link:
eepurl.com/ibMEE9
August 22, 2025 at 2:48 AM
We're running a competition!
To enter the draw to win a complete set of all the NZCYA winning books and a rare-as-hen's-teeth 2025 NZCYA tote bag please subscribe to our newsletter by the end of Thursday 28 August, by entering your details at this link:
eepurl.com/ibMEE9
To enter the draw to win a complete set of all the NZCYA winning books and a rare-as-hen's-teeth 2025 NZCYA tote bag please subscribe to our newsletter by the end of Thursday 28 August, by entering your details at this link:
eepurl.com/ibMEE9
Illustrator Pippa Keel Situ takes us through a day in her working life, from rising late to other 'insufferable traits' like running marathons. And the joy of illustrating picture books:
www.thesapling.co.nz/a-day-in-the...
www.thesapling.co.nz/a-day-in-the...
August 20, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Illustrator Pippa Keel Situ takes us through a day in her working life, from rising late to other 'insufferable traits' like running marathons. And the joy of illustrating picture books:
www.thesapling.co.nz/a-day-in-the...
www.thesapling.co.nz/a-day-in-the...