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!
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.
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton was bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson's own favourite book as a very young child. She is delighted to revisit this glorious magical world, weaving a brand-new story perfect for the next generation of young readers.
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.
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.
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.
Mini-boss meets mini-ons. Discover the origin story of how the world’s greatest supervillain first met his ICONIC Minions, and forged cinema’s most despicable crew in MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” will be in cinemas from 16 June 2022. The definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans), the hero who inspired the toy, follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure. Download and print these fun Lightyear activity sheets.
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, 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.
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
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 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.
In The Little Lambs' Great New Zealand Easter Egg Hunt, we went on an adventure with the lambs to discover the eggs that belong to different local birds. Now, in The Little Lambs' Great New Zealand Easter Activity Book, join the lambs and their new bird friends to get creative with loads of mazes, dot-to-dots, games and activities to complete and colour in!
Download and print 11 fun and free printable activity sheets featuring your favourite characters from Disney's Turning Red including Mei Lee, her family, and friends - who have got her cute, furry back!
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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!
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.
In recent years there has been a massive increase in people and whānau wanting to learn and use te reo. The Māori Picture Dictionary / Te Papakupu Whakaahua, is designed to help you and the tamariki easily look up over 1400 words and phrases commonly used in daily life. Claudia and her children, Aria and Jaxon, reviewed this beautiful new book.
Your kids will love these fun, free colouring pages from Clinicians Kids. Developed in New Zealand for Kiwi kids, Clinicians Kids is a range of high-quality and research-based supplements to support healthy, growing little people.
This Christmas, the beloved Slinky Malinki's Christmas Crackers by Lynley Dodd has been released as a very special, cased board-book edition.
In Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief, award-winning writer Katrina Nannestad transports us to Russia and the Great Patriotic War and into the life of Sasha, a soldier at only six years old. Find out what Kids Reviewer April thought of this moving story.
