Children's Books > NZ Children's > NZ Kids' Non-Fiction

The Life Cycle Series comes alive with stunning images and educational text.

After noticing his dad's plough kept pulling up interesting stones and bones on their Wairau Bar farm, a 13-year-old boy named Jim Eyles, armed with a potato fork and a piece of number-8 fencing wire, set off one day and dug up a giant moa egg. He kept digging and found Maori adzes and the bones of extinct birds until he was being visited by leading museum directors from around the country. Through a lot of digging, a pile of curiosity, and often a bit of number-8 wire, archaeologists in New Zealand have been digging up the past ... read more

This book tells the story of New Zealand's short but dramatic history. Beginning with the days when moa ruled the land, this book covers all the important events, key people and major themes of our history. It includes the arrival and settlement of the Maori, European explorers, missionaries, the Treaty of Waitangi, the gold rush and fighting both in and ouside New Zealand. It also takes a thematic approach where appropriate - looking at the role of government and the way our daily lives have changed over time. Marcia Stenson's... read more

Lets you blast off on a LEGO City Space adventure. This title helps you build your very own collectible LEGO astronaut minifigure.

Lets you join the LEGO[registered] City train workers on their action-packed adventures on the railway. This title helps you build your very own LEGO[registered] City train driver minifigure, by reading the stories and complete the puzzles. It is suitable for 5-7 year old LEGO[registered] fans.

Mac lives at Mount Gladstone in Marlborough. Mustering sheep, cattle and deer is Mac's life-long job. Join Mac at work in this glimpse into high country farm life. Story in rhyme based on the work of one of the author’s high country working dogs.

A little boy has made friends with a taniwha in his river, but no-one believes him. The taniwha takes the boy on a journey through time and myth where he meets some amazing charcters, gathering the Earth's treasures as he goes. New edition, new jacket

Corporal Willie Apiata became the first New Zealander since the Second World War to be awarded the Commonwealth's highest military award for his actions with the NZ SAS in Afghanistan. From his early life in small town East Coast New Zealand to his actions in the deserts of Afghanistan, this is his story in his words. Inspiring, and heart warming, this is the story of an ordinary Kiwi facing extraordinary challenges. This edition has been adapted for young readers.

'Tonight we have to go to bed early' said Mum. 'Tomorrow morning we are going to have a surprise.'But what event would be so special to get you up in the middle of a cold New Zealand winter? Matariki is rising, and the Maori New Year is on its way.

For budding aficionados of art, children can learn and have fun matching the stickers of famous paintings from the National Gallery with their labelled frames. Each frame and painting is accompanied by a plaque of fascinating facts about the piece and its creator so children can learn about art as they go. Each charmingly illustrated double spread is based upon a simple theme such as children, colour, animals and portraits. This title contains over 100 stickers.

For the first time, fifteen ancient Maori stories are retold by gifted storyteller Annie Rae Te Ake Ake and illustrated by ninteen artists from New Zealand secondary schools. This book aims to strengthen the awareness of the indigenous wisdom and spirit of New Zealand. It also heralds creative work of Aotearoa's new generation of young artists and acknowledges the many cultures that are modern New Zealand.

Although ungainly in the air, pukeko are a common sight poking around near the swamps where they make their homes. Did you know that a female pukeko will choose the best-looking nest in which to lay her eggs even if there are already eggs in it? This fascinating look at our swamphen's lifestyle and habits is accompanied by wonderful photographs and illustrations.

The Big Book of New Zealand Wildlife is the most comprehensive collection of birds, animals, insects, fish, plants and fungi available for readers aged 7 to 14 years old. Talented author and illustrator Dave Gunson introduces over 400 species through his incredible lifelike, colourful illustrations - some are in the most interesting poses, too! This wildlife encyclopaedia, in a completely new format to his popular All About series, also introduces children to the mysteries and science of Gondwanaland, and endangered and extinct spe... read more

Creatures is the first in a new series promoting New Zealand art for young children. Artists include Jeff Thomson, Richard Killeen, Jocelyn Carlin, Michael Tuffery, Richard Taylor, Warwick Freeman, Anne-Marie O'Brien. Images include painting, sculpture, photography, and jewellery.

I Spy NZ art features works from the Chartwell Collection, and was written by Hanna Scott and Julia Waite with Rob Gardiner, Sue Gardiner, Caroline McBride and Christa Napier-Roberston.
"I Spy NZ Art matches works by 26 artists to the letters of the alphabet to create New Zealand’s first art-based ABC book. ‘Our idea was to encourage young readers to look for items and ideas within the illustrations that begin with a letter of the alphabet,’ says project coordinator Julia Waite. ‘We developed this book... read more

On 21 June 2011 a lonely emperor penguin stepped onto Peka Peka beach and into the hearts of the world. He had swum further from his home in Antarctica than any emperor penguin ever recorded.
What did he think of the strange place he had come to? What did he think of the people he met? Why did he eat all that sand and get so sick? And how did he feel when it was finally time to go home? By the time he left New Zealand Happy Feet was the world's most famous Penguin. This is his story.

Based on the enormously successful show that has now been in over 400 New Zealand schools, this lively book contains songs, stories and invaluable messages about water safety and good fishing practice.
Join the Minstrel on an entertaining frolic through the New Zealand country-side. This popular CD and songbook contains 12 amusing songs to learn and sing along with as well as a couple of activity pages and knots to learn.Track list:

Hiwi Goes Fishing
Billy Barracouta
Kai Moana
Paua for the Pe... read more

Have you heard the phrase 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours?' New Zealand's plants, animals, fungi and other tiny organisms grew to live in, on and around each other, with very little interference from the rest of the world, since separating from Gondwana over 80 million years ago. This has created many unusual relationships in the wild - some friendly and some not so friendly! With highly readable text, fascinating facts and superb photographs by Rod Morris, Nicola Vallance explores the co-existence of New Zealand wil... read more

At first glance, it might seem that the average New Zealand garden is not the best place to find wildlife - but look again. Bugs and ants are climbing trees while geckos wait in the foliage for their lunch, hedgehogs are sleeping in the back hedge and spiders are getting kicked out of their homes by tree wetas - there is indeed a whole lot going on! The immediacy of the backyard inspires many opportunities for environmental discovery. Young New Zealand children spend time examining animal, insect and plant life without really kno... read more