Destination Guide: Rotorua
Rotorua is a hub of activity that is perfect for a fun family getaway. From thrill seeking adventures to stunning geothermal walks and cultural influences throughout the city, you'll want to come back over and over again.
Destination Guide: Waikato
The Waikato region's rolling green hills, bush-clad mountains, and surf beaches are host to amazing attractions for families to enjoy. Whether you're exploring underground wonders, Middle-earth movie magic, Hamilton city or the mighty Waikato River, there's plenty on offer.
Why Staycations Are A Great Option For Families
Having a staycation is a great holiday option for families, enabling you to enjoy attractions and activities as a tourist while staying close to home. Now is a great time to share the discovery of something new in your local area and make lots of special memories as a family.
Hairy Maclary and Friends How Do I Feel? | Book Review
How are Hairy Maclary, Scarface Claw, Zachary Quack and all their friends feeling? Lynley Dodd is back with a delightful board book designed to help little ones identify and express their emotions - Hairy Maclary and Friends How Do I Feel?
Destination Guide: Taranaki
There's no shortage of family-friendly fun in Taranaki! Endless tracks and trails, glorious gardens, art and cultural offerings, and delicious food awaits in the city of New Plymouth and the surrounding Taranaki region. Check out what's on offer and plan a family holiday like no other. It's time to experience Taranaki!
The Notorious Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud | Kids Book Review
Scarlett McCain and Albert Browne have outwitted their pursuers and escaped into the wilderness once more, and it’s not long before they become famous for their audacious heists across the Seven Kingdoms. Read what our Young Readers have to say about "The Notorious Scarlett and Browne".
Act by Kayla Miller | Kids Book Review
Olive is excited to start grade 6: new teachers, new experiences, and a field trip to the big city with her best buds! But when Olive finds out that a school policy is keeping some kids from going on the trip, she decides to act. Check out the book reviews from our Young Readers for "Act" by Kayla Miller.
11 Fun Family Activities Sure To Keep The Kids Entertained
As a parent, it can be tough to come up with activities that will keep the kids entertained. But don't worry, we've got you covered! Here are 11 fun family activities that are sure to keep the kiddos occupied. From visiting the zoo to making crafts, there's something for everyone. So get out there and have some fun!
The Secrets of Cricket Karlsson | Kids Book Review
Winner of the prestigious Swedish August Prize 2020, The Secrets of Cricket Karlsson by Kristina Sigunsdotter is a bright, contemporary and fearless novel about an ordinary extraordinary eleven-year-old trying to win back her best friend and get her mother to stop sighing.
Remarkably Ruby by Terri Libenson | Kids Book Review
From bestselling author Terri Libenson, Remarkably Ruby is a story about how there’s more to everyone than meets the eye. Check out the book reviews from our Young Readers.
Rise Of The School For Good And Evil | Kids Book Review
The battle between Good and Evil begins in "Rise of the School for Good and Evil". Go back in time to the beginning and uncover the never-before-told events leading up to Sophie and Agatha’s dramatic arrival and the beginning of their epic fairy tale. Check out the book reviews from our Young Readers.
Pūkeko Counts to 10 – Ka Tatau a Pūkeko ki te 10 | Book Review
Poet Ben Brown and illustrator Helen Taylor have created a beautiful bilingual counting board book for toddlers featuring the birds of Aotearoa. With durable card leaves at a suitable size for little hands, and gorgeous page designs that assist developing minds with nature, number and word recognition, this New Zealand-themed board book is a perfect bedtime story and a very special gift.
The Astromancer – The Rising of Matariki | Book Review
Witi Ihimaera is one of New Zealand’s most prolific and accomplished writers and he now brings us "The Astromancer - The Rising of Matariki - a lively story revealing the tradition of Matariki. Find out more about this special story along with what Ella (8 years) thought.
What To Bring To Disney With A Toddler
If you plan to bring a toddler along to Disney, you will need to plan ahead to make sure you and your child will have a fun, enjoyable and comfortable time visiting the parks. Here are the top 5 items to bring on a Disney trip with a toddler.
Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good by Louie Stowell | Kids Book Review
Forbidden from using his AWESOME godly powers, Loki must show 'moral improvement'. Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good is a hilarious diary-style story written and illustrated by Louie Stowell. Check out the book review from our Young Reader, Connor.
The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold | Kids Book Review
What if you could communicate with a whale? "The Lost Whale" is the enchanting second novel from Hannah Gold, the author of the bestselling and award-winning debut novel "The Last Bear". Check out the book reviews from our Young Readers.
Skandar And The Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman | Kids Book Review
Unicorns don’t belong in fairy tales; they belong in nightmares. So begins Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Soar into a world where unicorns are real – and they’re deadly. Check out the book reviews from our Young Readers.
Goose The Artist | Book Review
Meet Goose, a passionate artist who wants to create a PERFECT portrait and win the village art competition. But after a whole week of painting Puffin and friends, Goose is all aflutter. Is an artist’s work EVER good enough?
The Lighthouse Princess | Book Review
The Lighthouse Princess, the 2021 Storylines Gavin Bishop Award-winning picture book, is a delightful contemporary fairytale about an independent princess, who looks after a very special lighthouse lamp, fishes off the balcony and goes swimming with seals. Find out what our reviewers thought of this modern fairytale.
D&D Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed by Madeleine Roux and Tim Probert | Kids Book Review
Welcome to Dungeon Academy, where monsters and creatures train for the dark world that awaits just beyond the Dungeon walls. Find out more about No Humans Allowed, the first book in this new series D&D Dungeon Academy by Madeleine Roux and Tim Probert
Bored: Milo Finds $105 by Matt Stanton | New Kids Book
Sometimes feeling bored is just the beginning ... Find out more about this fun new story from million-copy bestseller Matt Stanton, author of FUNNY KID and THE ODDS, about the complicated business of being a kid.
Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast by Sue Whiting | Kids Book Review
Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast by Sue Whiting stars Pearly Woe who is a worrier. She worries about everything, especially that she’ll never be brave enough to become a member of the top-secret group of stealth adventurers – The Adventurologists’ Guild. Find out more about this fast-paced junior fiction adventure.
Toy Review | LEGO® DUPLO® Bath Time Fun: Floating Animal Island
Toddler bath-times are full of fun with the LEGO DUPLO Bath Time Fun: Floating Animal Island. Find out what Indie (2 years) thought of the four cute animals, the floating island, floating ring, and a bucket.
Crane Guy | Book Review
Crane Guy is a rhyming picture book by acclaimed author Sally Sutton and illustrator Sarah Wilkins that utilises the classic I Spy concept to make a fun game of learning letters and their sounds. Aria (just turned 5) gave it a test run.
The Boy Who Got Accidentally Famous by David Baddiel | Kids Book Review
Nothing extraordinary has ever happened to Billy Smith. But when a TV crew turn up at his school, his life is turned upside down. What would you do if everyone suddenly knew your name? The Boy Who Got Accidentally Famous is the laugh-out-loud new blockbuster by million-copy bestselling author, David Baddiel.
The Tale of the Tiny Man by Barbro Lindgren | Kids Book Review
The Tale of the Tiny Man is a classic picture book from Sweden with a very happy ending about feeling lonely and finding friends. It is possible, after all, to have more than one friend! Packed full of emotion, this hardback picture book teaches young children how to make and share friends, and about feelings of self-esteem and empathy.
Into the Sideways World by Ross Welford | Kids Book Review
What if you found a perfect world - but no one believed you ...? When 12-year-olds Willa and Manny are swept into an alternative, ideal world - one where disease, pollution and war have been conquered decades ago - no one believes them. Find out if they can beat the race against time to prove that a World Without War can exist.
Camp by Kayla Miller | Kids Book Review
Olive is sure she'll have the best time at camp with her friend Willow - but while Olive makes quick friends with the other campers, Willow struggles to form connections and latches on to the only person she knows - Olive. Find out how the girls
Einstein the Penguin by Iona Rangeley-Wilson | Kids Book Review
Get ready to welcome the most extraordinary penguin into your own home… Perfect for all readers from 7 to 70, Einstein the Penguin introduces an unforgettable new character in a future-classic and fantastically funny debut for all the family to enjoy. Find out what our kid reviewer thought of Einstein!
Click by Kayla Miller | Kids Book Review
Olive wants to get in on the act ... ANY act! Olive "clicks" with everyone in the fifth grade - until one day she doesn't. Find out if Olive can find her place, and what our kid reviewer Nina thinks of this insightful story about navigating friendships.