top of page


School Librarians of Aotearoa: Cathryn Mitchell
Cathryn Mitchell is our final School Librarian of Aotearoa this year. Her background includes public library work around Auckland, and...


The Reckoning: Wonderful Choices
Author, publisher, and full-time feminist Deb Potter on how books can open up wonderful choices for young people - or not. Illustration...


Crafts with Fifi: Make a Tangled Christmas Star
Fifi Colston has come up with this smart, simple craft to complete with your little ones in the final few days leading up to Christmas,...


Sacha & Josh: holding keys to magical worlds
Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan first came into the children’s picture book scene in 2014 with their books Keys and the te reo Māori...


Book Quiz: A New Zealand themed Christmas
Slowly but surely, New Zealand has built up its very own range of Christmas-themed Children's literature. Sarah realised recently that...


Jacinda Ardern: The Books of my Childhood
Today our special guest writer is the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, who is also Minister for Arts, Culture...


Books make great, memorable, meaningful gifts
Poet and children's bookseller Freya Daly Sadgrove is a strong believer in the power of the right book for the right person at the right...


Kids' Audio builds literacy, empathy and imagination
Prue Langbein was a producer in the drama department of Radio New Zealand for 26 years. She began her work there as a story producer for...


Ten Book-related Thoughts For My Baby
Founding Sapling editor, Jane, has been away from The Sapling for the past three months due to having a baby, Pete. Here she offers ten...

The Giselle Clarkson Comic: Number 10
Our beloved illustrator Giselle Clarkson has fallen in love again... with another book! Scroll down to see her brilliant review of...


THE SAMPLING: The Spaghetti Giraffe, by Sarah Johnson
The lovely Mina Cucina is a terrible cook! Unfortunately the Great Bonbon Confectionation, which every person in the town must enter, is...


Writing Funny Junior Fiction: Serious Business
When we asked if Suzanne Main would write an article about funny books for kids, her reaction was, ‘What do I know about funny books? I...


Book Quiz: Let's see what you remember...
Did you see our books of the year?! To help you with your Christmas and end-of-year book shopping, we published our picks of the best YA...


School Librarians of Aotearoa: Fiona Mackie
Two-time judge of the Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, Fiona Mackie is an excellent person to have in charge of reforming your...


2017 Christmas Shopping List: Picture Books
Do you want to be sure you're getting top-shelf books for your favourite people this Christmas - or on any gift-giving occasion? We are...
bottom of page