The Unity Books children’s book review roundup for winter

The booksellers of Unity Books Auckland and Wellington review a handful of children’s books sure to delight and inspire readers of all ages.

AUCKLAND

Reviews by Elka Aitchison and Roger Christensen, booksellers at Unity Books Auckland

If you love the magical world of His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman you shouldn’t ignore the four companion novellas. These stories offer a peek into different details of the world and characters we love from the trilogy. I’m a sucker for completing a set and these are four adorable, small hardbacks. As well as expanding on the HDM world they are superb storytelling, charmingly illustrated/engraved, offer the extra details we get from letters, maps and diagrams, and as one reviewer commented, “everything Pullman has to write is worth reading”. There are definite nods to Edgar Allen Poe in one of the stories, another reads like an arctic western and for me engaging again with the characters I love, Lee Scoresby and his daemon Hestor, and the armoured bear Iorek Byrninson, is such a pleasure. These are delightful ways back into HDM with the same perfectly formed mystery and magic. / Roger Christensen

A Guide to Rocks by Sacha Cotter and illustrated by Josh Morgan (Ages 5+)

I love what these two do and in this guide they manage the complexity of dealing with your emotions with the same wit and charm of Dazzlehands’ Disco Pig championing their own style and The Bomb’s young boy putting his own stamp on the dive-bomb. The message is delivered with a real sense of fun and the text and illustrations sit seamlessly together on the page. This is a celebration of New Zealand culture to boot. The kiwi BBQ serves as the initial setting for young Charlie to confront his dad about the weight he’s recently been feeling on his shoulders, the rocks that just won’t go away. Dad is in a quandary and consults his guidebook – this is a reminder of a 1960’s Esquire Magazine book I picked up second-hand titled What Every Young Man Should Know – full of the so-called authoritative and informed opinion that would have us stockpile those rocks rather than share the burden. / RC

Gnomes by Wil Huygen and illustrated by Rien Poortvliet (Ages 8+)

Gnomes is a classic for a reason; this stunning book is one to come back to over and over again. There’s an enormous amount of detail to pore over – both the illustration and text is done in a scholarly, encyclopaedic tone with rich diagrams and “scientific” words. It covers everything from a gnome’s anatomy to their architecture, medicine and education. Oddly perfect for lovers of Tolkien or Ursula Le Guin, authors who don’t just create plots but immerse us in complex worlds, cultures and systems of language. It’s still a picture book, playful and imaginative with rosy cheeked, red-hatted gnomes, standing alongside spotted toadstools and actual toads. It serves as a rare middle ground for kids with wild imaginations and those who prefer their reading to be rooted in fact and structure. Full of whimsy but enough realism to make you wonder if Wil Huygen knows something we don’t … / Elka Aitchison

Ah! Henrietta (or Henrietta P. Hoppenbeek the First, as she calls herself), has two white mice, two green socks with toes, and four wonderful stories to tell in this book. The narrative voice is very true to a child, full of curiosity, excitement and a sense of discovery. The visual elements are so wonderful, from the character’s clothes and expressions right down to the layout; Henrietta and the words themselves cartwheel and leap across the pages. It’s brimming with fun, silly characters like Henrietta’s best friend Olive who’s defining characteristic is that she loves pickles, her mad brown dog Madge, and a monster that makes her say “Sheezamageeza!” A fantastic book for those who see themselves in Eloise from the Plaza or Pippi Longstocking – the storytellers and mischief makers. / EA

Max is an irresistibly likeable protagonist along with his magical pixie sidekicks that sit on his shoulder and nobody else but him can see or hear. He has reluctantly been sent on the last kindertransport from Germany to live in London by his parents, in the lead up to WWII and Nazi rule in Germany. Max is desperately homesick to be back in Germany and his determination and charm lifts this historical novel into an utterly thrilling adventure and spy tale, despite the very real prejudice and violence that is erupting around him. You are with Max all the way and even though this is set in a dark time in history there is much humour and celebration in this story. And there is the second book in this duology to get excited about, due later this year. / EA

And the Unity Books Auckland children’s bestsellers from April – June 2025:

WELLINGTON

Reviews by ​​Rachel Pilois and Eden Denyer, booksellers at Unity Books Wellington.

Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake and illustrated by Jon Klassen (Ages 7+)

A witty story of unlikely roommates, clashing personalities and a blossoming friendship this is one of the funniest kids’ books I’ve read in years! Badger has been ignoring his Aunt Lula’s letters, which means he’s surprised when her friend Skunk arrives on his doorstep. Skunk needs a place to stay and Aunt Lula has offered him Badger’s spare room, much to Badger’s chagrin. Can these two get past their differences and find a way to live in peace? An entertaining read for kids and an even more hilarious time for anyone who’s lived in a flat, this book solidifies Timberlake and Klassen as a dream team in children’s fiction. / Rachel Pilois

The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers and illustrated by Shawn Harris (Ages 8+)

Winner of the 2025 Newbery Medal, The Eyes and the Impossible is stunning in both its prose and illustration. Set in an unnamed US national park, this story is told from the perspective of Johannes, a free dog who lives there. Every day he runs through the park seeing all and missing nothing, and reporting what he sees to the park’s three ancient bison. When an entirely new animal arrives in the park, in the hundreds, Johannes must run faster and see better than ever to liberate those he loves. A beautiful story about friendship, beauty, nature and running very, very, fast. / RP

I love the Cat Family board books, and this is a wonderful addition to the series. Follow the cat family as they harvest their veggies in spring, go camping in summer, cook food in autumn and build snow cats in winter. Four Seasons is brimming with charming illustrations, a heart-warming story and over 140 flaps! I may be an adult, but lifting a flap to find a little mouse in a handbag brings me so much joy! / RP

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat (Ages 3+)

Don’t Trust Fish is a 100% unbiased and factual account of what the sneaky, ugly, ocean-dwelling lowlifes known as fish get up to. It is a serious scientific text, definitely not baseless slander and pro-crab propaganda. Dan Santat’s delightful illustrations will strike FEAR into your heart as you gaze upon these underwater criminals. Parents and children alike are sure to get a good giggle from the hilarious text and brilliant visual gags. I for one laughed my socks off. / Eden Denyer

An incredible trans coming-of-age story interwoven with themes of conservation and outdoor survival. Ash feels isolated from their family and peers, who don’t care about the climate crisis or respect their gender identity. Reeling from the loss of their grandfather and disillusioned with modern life, they decide to run away in search of his mysterious secret cabin in the Californian wilderness and carve out a quiet life for themself and their loyal dog Chase. Wang captures a particular teenage experience so well, rendering Ash’s complexities: their selfishness and compassion, their impulsivity and introspection, their tenacity and tenderness; through expressive art. As a queer person whose brain chemistry was irrevocably altered by being read Hatchet at a young age I cannot recommend this enough. / ED

And the Unity Books Wellington children’s bestsellers for April – June 2025.

1 Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Hachette, $25)
2 Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic, $30)
3 All Better Now by Neal Shusterman (Walker Books, $25)
4 Scythe #1 Arch of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman (Walker Books, $25)
5 Dazzlehands by Sacha Cotter and illustrated by Josh Morgan (Huia, $22)
6 It’s a Bit More Complicated Than That by Hannah Marshall (Allen & Unwin, $25)
7 Don’t Trust Fish by Neal Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat (Penguin, $24)
8 Anahera: The Mighty Kiwi Mama by Ruth Paul (Picture Puffin, $21)
9 Sleep Little Kiwi Sleep by Deborah Hinde (PictureBooks Publishing, $20)
10 A Lion in the Meadow by Margaret Mahy (Hachette, $22)