illustrated by Kat Chadwick

William is intrigued by Grandad’s earmuffs. Grandad explains that they keep out the noise, and he lets William try them on. Later, when they go inside, the baby is crying, and William finds another unexpected use for the earmuffs!

illustrated by Scott Pearson

Monster is five and getting ready for school, but he discovers his vest is much too small. Luckily, Grandad arrives with a birthday present that solves his problem. This book is best read after you have shared the big book Monster’s Lunch so the students are already familiar with Monster and the things he needs for school.

illustrated by Donovan Bixley

When Milly and Sunil go down the slide at school, they don’t notice that the slide is wet! Down the Slide is narrated in the first person by Milly and is the first of three stories about these characters. Students will meet Milly and Sunil again in The Lost Hat

illustrated by Donovan Bixley

When Sunil loses his hat, his friends help him look for it. There are no hats in the classroom or the sandpit, but when the children look in the Lost Property box, they find too many hats! The story ends happily as the children find a way to solve this new problem.

illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt

When Hannah discovers she is too big for her bike, she, Dad, and her little brother, Sam, look online to find a bigger one. 

illustrated by Phillip Paea

In this story, a dad and his son are getting ready in the morning. The son, who is also the narrator, copies each thing that Dad does. The story finishes with a lighthearted race to the car. Students will enjoy the warmth and humour between the characters, the pattern of the boy repeating Dad’s actions, the race, and the repetition of numbers in Māori.

illustrated by Scott Pearson

Monster and his friend Jack are excited about all the events they can try at the school sports day. Monster tries several events, but things don’t go well until at last he finds a sports day activity that is just right for him.

illustrated by Scott Pearson 

Jack invites Monster to his house after school for a swim in the paddling pool. Monster becomes very, very wet but his way of getting dry has hilarious results.

illustrated by Samuel Sakaria

Simi's family is preparing an ‘umu and Simi wants to help but nobody has a job for him. As he sits under a tree thinking it’s not fair, he notices there is no smoke coming up from the ‘umu. When he alerts Dad and Papa, they realise the fire has gone out and that they needed his help after all.

illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt

When Hannah shows Sam how to play her new card game, she discovers at the end of the game that one card is missing! Students will enjoy working out where the missing card might be.

illustrated by Phillip Paea

When Nikau and his whānau help out at the marae, Nikau discovers that his little brother, Tama, has his own ideas about how he can help. Helping at the Marae has particular relevance to Māori students, but many students will identify with the context of helping grandparents and working alongside other family members.

illustrated by Scott Pearson

Monster and Jack are enjoying the school disco when, suddenly, the lights go out and the music stops – it’s a power cut! The problem of the lights is soon solved, but what about the music?

illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt

Jessie’s family is going for a walk in the bush, but Jessie wanders off the track as she follows a fantail. When she looks back to tell Mum and Dad about the fantail, they are not there. Jessie realises that she is lost and asks the fantail if it is lost too. She explains to the fantail that they need to stay where they are until they are found.

illustrated by Richard Hoit

When Rat sees two seagulls fighting over some bread, he uses a clever trick to get himself some lunch.

illustrated by Matthew Haworth

In this story, Milly describes what happens when her class plants carrot seeds at school. Everything goes according to plan until Milly and Sunil notice that one of Milly’s plants looks different from the rest. Her teacher, Mr Langi, shows her how to use an app to find out what the mystery plant is

illustrated by Kat Chadwick 

In this narrative, Grandma has knitted a blue hat for Dad. Blue is Dad’s favourite colour, and he wears the hat everywhere until one day it gets wet and he shrinks it in the drier. Dad tries wearing some of his other hats, but they just don’t seem right. Tom feels sorry for Dad and comes up with an idea to solve Dad’s problem.

illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt

When Troy’s class find out that a Deaf boy, named Joe, will be coming to their school, they are worried they won’t be able to talk to him. Their teacher arranges for the children to learn sign language.

illustrated by Jennifer Cooper

This narrative is about a child coping with change when Mum gets a new job.

illustrated by Jez Tuya

In this narrative, Tim needs to make a green costume to wear to a party. He and his family think of and reject a series of ideas until at last Tim comes up with an idea for the perfect costume.

illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt

When Troy’s class find out that a Deaf boy, named Joe, will be coming to their school, they are worried they won’t be able to talk to him. Their teacher arranges for the children to learn sign language.

illustrated by Fifi Colston

Laloifi is starting a new school, and her mother explains that some of the children may have difficulty pronouncing her name. Laloifi’s teacher introduces a game to help the class learn to say her name correctly and ensure that Laloifi feels welcomed, proud, and happy.

illustrated by Jennifer Cooper

In this narrative, Ani and her parents travel to the countryside to visit Koro and Nanny. Ani wakes up in the night and is frightened of the dark. Koro hears her calling out and comes to comfort her. He takes her outside to show her the stars and tells her they are kaitiaki – guardians to watch over her and keep her safe.

illustrated by Denise Durkin

This is a first-person report about a boy who lives with his grandpa in a quiet suburb during the week and on the weekends stays with his mother in a city apartment.

by Don Long

illustrated by Gus Sinaumea Hunter

This dramatic personal experience narrative features Sione, the boy in Finding Mum (Green). Sione’s family are collecting mussels at the beach when Mum inadvertently catches an octopus! Mum and Dad strongly disagree about what to do with the unexpected catch.

illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt

Ella won’t get off the trampoline, and Danny wants his turn. Mum has a rule that only one person is allowed on at a time, but Danny is tired of waiting.