illustrations by Scott Pearson

When Janet set out to check the fences on her remote sheep farm in Taumaranui, she had no idea that her life would soon be in danger. Based on a real event, “Stung!” recounts what happened when Janet stepped on a wasps’ nest and was attacked by a swarm of angry insects. With no cellphone reception and no one there to help, Janet’s survival depended on incredible stamina and determination. Not surprisingly, the after-effects of the attack have been long lasting.

Family relationships and the need for honesty are the themes of this charming story about a girl and her over-enthusiastic Dad. Mihi loves her Dad, but when he watches her play rugby, his loud advice and encouragement put her off her game. When she bravely lets Dad know this, he makes a deal with her that helps them both to enjoy the match.

Family relationships and the need for honesty are the themes of this charming story about a girl and her over-enthusiastic Dad. Mihi loves her Dad, but when he watches her play rugby, his loud advice and encouragement put her off her game. When she bravely lets Dad know this, he makes a deal with her that helps them both to enjoy the match.

This traditional tale features in the oral traditions of many iwi. It tells of how Kupe discovered Aotearoa while pursuing a giant wheke (octopus) across the Pacific. As he chased the creature around Aotearoa, Kupe explored the new land and named many places.

illustrations by Phillip Paea

Cousins Hoani, Leilani, and Mitch are searching for their dog, Toki. When they realise he is trapped in a cave, they think about going in to rescue him. However, the potential danger and the possibility that the cave might be tapu stops them. Hoani, the narrator, shows particular sensitivity towards, and respect for, tikanga Māori. The story includes a retelling of a traditional story about Ruakuri Cave at Waitomo (Tainui/Ngāti Maniapoto). “Where’s Toki?” has a happy ending, with Toki escaping the cave from another exit and bounding back to rejoin the delighted children.

illustrations by Scott Pearson

In this story, about a Māori family in a contemporary setting, the relationships between Uncle Hōne, Pānia, and Matiu are very realistically portrayed. Students will recognise the teasing and banter between the uncle, sister, and brother. 

In this simple fictional recount, a young Māori boy, Kalani, describes an event that will be familiar to some students: gathering kaimoana with the whānau. 

Mana hates running, but he’s training to compete in the Iron-Māori Tamariki. His dad is sure he can do it. On the day, his whānau is there in support, and Mana is very happy with the result.

illustrations by Scott Pearson

This poignant story, told with subtle humour, is about Mana coming to terms with the fact that his best mate is leaving town. At the same time, he has to deal with the news of the imminent arrival of a baby brother or sister. “Best Mates” is a sequel to “Iron Tamariki”

illustrations by Kat Chadwick

“Nobody Laughed” is the humorous story of what happens when a class arrives back at school after the summer holidays and each child has the same bright-green bag. The bags get muddled and the only way to find out who owns which bag is to open them. The main character is really worried about how the others will react when they see the “secret favourite thing” in his bag. It soon becomes clear that everyone has their own secret item.

illustrated by Vaughan Flanagan

In this narrative, Martin feels uneasy about getting too close to the octopus at the marine laboratory, but after he spends more time there, he manages to overcome his fears.

illustrated by Judith Kunzlé

In this sequel to A Quilt for Kiri (Purple), Kiri visits Rarotonga with her parents to meet Aunty Ngā and gives her a tīvaevae that she and her mother have made.

This text is a retelling of a legend of the Te Arawa people. It tells the love story of Hinemoa and Tūtānekai. Tūtānekai lives on Mokoia Island, separated from Hinemoa by the waters of Lake Rotorua. Hinemoa’s father does not want the two young people to be together and tries to stop them from meeting. But Hinemoa is determined and risks her life to swim across Lake Rotorua to be with Tūtānekai.

illustrated by Andrew Burdan

In this lively mystery story, Sophie’s treasure has gone missing. Sophie and her cousin Manu make a plan to catch the thief – though students will discover that there is more than one “thief” in this story.

Jack finds himself in a dilemma when his friend Luke encourages him to take some juice from an opened box of cartons at school. This story gives insight into Jack’s thinking and his feelings – in particular, his feelings about his own behaviour and why the other children don’t seem worried about what they have done. The text explores concepts
of honesty, bravery, and self-awareness

photographs by Peter Crawford

In this recount, Tom talks about his first experience of participating in the Weet-Bix™ Kiwi Kids Tryathlon.

illustrated by Kat Chadwick 

While she is at the market with her mother, Scarlett notices a colourful scarf waving and twirling on one of the stalls. The scarf seems to be waving at her … This is the beginning of a series of unusual events for Scarlett and her friends.

pictures by Judith Kunzlé

This sensitive narrative tells of the death of Kiri’s grandmother far away in the Cook Islands. Grandma’s gift of a quilt to Kiri sparks special memories for Kiri and her dad.

illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt

This dramatic narrative describes Animoe’s exciting experience of achieving her goal of playing in her mother’s kirikiti team. The text draws out the friendly, lively nature of island cricket and of Animoe’s parents’ pride in her performance

illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt 

Treasure from the Sea is based on an actual event. Megan loves to stay with Nan and listen to Nan’s stories about the treasures she has collected on her beach walks, but Megan would love to find her own treasure and tell her own story. This narrative describes Megan’s holiday quest. She finds several objects but nothing really special until she notices a fish that has become stranded in a sandy stream on the beach. With help, Megan manages to get the fish back to the sea, safe from the hot sun and hungry seagulls. At last, she has her own story of “treasure from the sea”.

illustrated by Adele Jackson

Kāhu is nervous about a new baby coming. He misses Mum when she goes to the hospital and is not happy about having to spend so much time on his own when the baby first comes home. Then one day, the baby smiles at Kāhu, and his feelings about Āio change.

illustrated by Philip Webb

The phrase “easy peasy” appears often in this story about a group of school children who visit a rest home to entertain the residents.

illustrated by Andrew Burdan

In this lively narrative, Timo can’t wait to show off his hot new swimming shorts. But when it’s swimming time, they’ve disappeared. Timo anxiously retraces his movements from the school pool back to the cloak bay, where he solves the mystery.

illustrated by Andrew Burdan

This is a true story set in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes. When William and Sam kick their ball over the fence and go looking for it, they find themselves in an overgrown garden. Isobel, the owner of the garden, explains that her family have left Christchurch because of the earthquakes, and she has no one to help her keep it tidy. The boys and their mum help her out, but it’s a huge job, and they call in the Student Volunteer Army

illustrated by Adele Jackson

When she joins the school kapa haka group, Marama feels nervous but is supported by her older sister and Whaea Mere. In this recount, Marama practises hard and is honoured to wear her nan’s pounamu for their performance.