Kiwi books for Kiwi kids

The Adventures of Hutu and Kawa, Avis Acres, RRP$25, Puffin
You may well recognise this bestselling 1950s classic from your parents’ childhood book collection. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, the first book in the charming series has been republished as a hardback gift edition so the next generation can meet Hutu and Kawa, two tiny Pohutukawa babies, and all their friends.

I Got You Some Kisses, Ami Muir, $16.95, thekissco.co.nz
I Got You Some Kisses is already a favourite in hundreds of New Zealand homes after Waikato mum and author Ami Muir used crowd-funding to raise enough money to publish the book in just over two days. The sweet story is about someone going in search of kisses to give their little loved one. The moral of the story – kisses never run out!

Toot The Tiniest Whale, Joy Ramirez, RRP$21.99, Mercury Fox Media
The debut in a series being developed to help children develop positive attitudes, Toot The Tiniest Whale is all about perseverance. Toot leaps from his fishbowl on a quest to reach the sea and must keep swimming, even when he feels out of his depth. A downloadable audio version of the book, read by NZ comedian Dai Henwood, is a bonus.

Sleepy Kiwi, Kat Merewether, RRP$20, Tikitibu
A perfect picture book for new babies, the black and white illustrations and contemporary design will have little ones captivated. The bold contrast and simple patterns are proven to send strong signals to baby’s developing brain. And a very cute touch – Sleepy Kiwi’s nocturnal behaviour means he wakes up in time to watch over sleeping babies.

Pukeko Dancing On The Old Dirt Track, Lotte Wotherspoon, RRP$25, Clay Press
A beautifully illustrated tale, this book captures the summery relaxed essence of a down-under Christmas with picnics, pavlova and baby pukeko born on Christmas Day. Written in delightful rhyme, this is the perfect addition to bookshelves this season. And we love to see a Christmas story Kiwi kids can relate to – less snow, more pohutukawa!

Tama The Kiwi Tiki Tours New Zealand, Beks Bongiovanni, $17.95, tamathekiwi.com
After seeing the world and having three children abroad, Beks Bongiovanni settled in Auckland and started writing about Tama the Kiwi – a flightless bird with a passion for travel. The first in a series, this tale teaches NZ geography and inspires a sense of adventure in young readers as they follow Tama's journey from Cape Reinga to Bluff.