{"title":"Must-Have Picture Books","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" data-sourcepos=\"12:3-12:336;267-600\"\u003eThese are my personal favourites. The picture books I come back to again and again, the ones I recommend to every school, ECE, and parent who asks. Some are New Zealand classics, some are international icons, and one was launched right here in our store by a local Hamilton author. Every single one deserves a place on your shelves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" data-sourcepos=\"14:3-14:25;605-627\"\u003e— Kate, Books for Kids\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"maui-and-the-secret-of-fire-tales-of-aotearoa-3","title":"Maui and the Secret of Fire: Tales of Aotearoa 3","description":"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e.cs97DFFCB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:normal;Times New Roman;} .cs3270F94{margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt}\u003c\/style\u003e\r\n\t\r\n\t\u003cp class=\"cs3270F94\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003eDonovan Bixley re-tells the story of how Maui captured the secret of fire. The traditional tale but with Donovan's unique twist and trademark humour. The pictures are bright and bring their own level of humour to the book. Darryn Joseph and Keri Opai ensure that the story is accurate and culturally appropriate and translate the story for the Te Reo edition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books for Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46231601184940,"sku":"9781988516929","price":20.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/8422\/5964\/files\/9781988516929_1.jpg?v=1779080699"},{"product_id":"taniwha","title":"Taniwha","description":"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e.cs97DFFCB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:normal;Times New Roman;} .cs3270F94{margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt}\u003c\/style\u003e\r\n\t\r\n\t\u003cp class=\"cs3270F94\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003eThe amazing Gavin Bishop brings us a monster-sized book about the mythical monsters of Aotearoa! Award-winning weaver of stories Gavin Bishop retells a variety of tales about the taniwha of Aotearoa, from the guardians who accompanied waka voyages to present-day inhabitants of the whenua and moana. Storylines Notable Non-fiction Book 2025 Taniwha are all around us. They are good at hiding or changing their shape. They can be very tricky. If you want to meet one, you have to know what to look for and where to look. Describing how the landscape was shaped, and exploring relations between Maori and the sometimes friendly, but more often terrifying, supernatural creatures, these traditional stories are taken to a new level of spooky visual splendour.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books for Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46257977229484,"sku":"9781776957446","price":40.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/8422\/5964\/files\/9781776957446_1.jpg?v=1778904039"},{"product_id":"oi-frog-pb","title":"Oi Frog! (PB)","description":"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e.cs97DFFCB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:normal;Times New Roman;} .cs3270F94{margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt}\u003c\/style\u003e\r\n\t\r\n\t\u003cp class=\"cs3270F94\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003eJam-packed with the silliest of animals, this bestselling rhyming story will have the youngest of readers in fits of laughter.Cats sit on mats, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on stools and gofers sit on sofas, but Frog does not want to sit on a log! Jam-packed with animals and silliness, this original rhyming story will have young children in fits of laughter.Can't get enough? Look out for OI DOG! and OI CAT!, now available for purchase, and OI DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS!, coming out autumn 2018.From the award-winning Kes Gray and the winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, Jim Field, comes an hilarious rhyming tale about a frog who discovers that all animals have their special places to sit!'An absolute treat.' - Daily Mail'Hilarious illustrations and rhymes which are easy to recite and join in. Everyone will love it.' - GuardianOI FROG!, OI DOG! and OI CAT! are a top ten bestselling series. OI DOG! won the 2017 Laugh Out Loud Picture Book Award and was shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award and the British Book Awards in 2016, amongst others. It also won the Teach Primary New Children's Fiction Award, MadeForMums Award, Bishop's Stortford Picture Book Award and Portsmouth Picture Book Award. Oi Cat! was the Independent Booksellers Children's Book of the Season and Oi Goat! is a World Book Day book in 2018. Combined series sales currently stand at a phenomenal 900,000 copies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books for Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303945064620,"sku":"9781444910865","price":22.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/8422\/5964\/files\/9781444910865_1.jpg?v=1779574591"},{"product_id":"charlie-cooks-favourite-book-20th-anniversary-edition","title":"Charlie Cook's Favourite Book 20th Anniversary Edition","description":"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e.cs97DFFCB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:normal;Times New Roman;} .cs3270F94{margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt}\u003c\/style\u003e\r\n\t\r\n\t\u003cp class=\"cs3270F94\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003eThis 20th birthday edition of Charlie Cook's Favourite Book has a shiny foil cover and includes fun bonus material - a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler fans! Charlie Cook is reading a book about a pirate captain, who is reading a book about Goldilocks, who is reading about a knight, who is reading about a frog . . . From kings and queens to aliens and ghosts, there's something for everyone in Charlie's amazing book of adventure! This edition features the classic story with a stunning foil cover as well as a letter from the author, early sketches from the illustrator, a fun craft activity and The World Inside a Book song. Celebrate the joy of books with the entertaining Charlie Cook's Favourite Book 20th Anniversary Edition - eleven brilliant books in one! A glorious, playful celebration of the joy of books and reading from the unparalleled picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books for Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46307252043948,"sku":"9781035054473","price":18.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/8422\/5964\/files\/9781035054473_1.jpg?v=1779660143"},{"product_id":"i-want-my-hat-back","title":"I Want My Hat Back","description":"","brand":"Books for Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46321179656364,"sku":"9781406338539","price":19.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/8422\/5964\/files\/9781406338539_1.jpg?v=1780111794"},{"product_id":"inspector-brunswick-the-case-of-the-missing-eyebrow","title":"Inspector Brunswick: The Case of the Missing Eyebrow","description":"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e.cs97DFFCB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:normal;Times New Roman;} .cs3270F94{margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt}\u003c\/style\u003e\r\n\t\r\n\t\u003cp class=\"cs3270F94\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003eAfter a long week of investigating crimes and mysterious events, the world's greatest cat detective, Inspector Brunswick, is taking a break to visit the art museum with his loyal assistant, Nelson. They have barely walked through the door when Brunswick's whiskers tingle with curiosity. Something is wrong - the museum's famous portrait of The Admiral doesn't look quite right. What can it be? Using his famous powers of detection, Brunswick realises the awful truth - he is missing an eyebrow! Brunswick and Nelson set off on a page-turning romp through the museum to track down the missing eyebrow. To find the culprit, they will have to look high and low and search the paintings for clues...But in the end, even Inspector Brunswick is surprised by the result! Introducing a set of endearing and eccentric characters with fantastical humour, this first mystery in the Inspector Brunswick series zooms in on the subtle details that make every work of art unique and encourages us to look closer at the world around us.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books for Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46321186308268,"sku":"9781849764445","price":28.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/8422\/5964\/files\/9781849764445_1.jpg?v=1780112297"},{"product_id":"nickle-nackle-tree","title":"Nickle Nackle Tree","description":"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e.cs97DFFCB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:normal;Times New Roman;} .cs3270F94{margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt}\u003c\/style\u003e\r\n\t\r\n\t\u003cp class=\"cs3270F94\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003eA brilliant and fun counting book from the creator of the bestselling Hairy Maclary, now back in print after many years! A brilliant and fun counting book from the creator of the bestselling Hairy Maclary, now back in print after many years! In the Manglemunching Forest there's a Nickle Nackle tree, Growing Nickle Nackle berries that are red as red can be. And that's not all that's nestling on the twisty branches of this laden tree. Count up some fabulous Lynley Dodd creations, such as one Ballyhoo bird, kicking up a din and two squawking Scritchet birds with legs so twiggy thin, to nine friendly Natter birds, building nice new nests to ten fussy Fissick birds in yellow feathered vests. A wonderfully funny counting book to read aloud with young children. Age 3+\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books for Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46353849843884,"sku":"9780143770145","price":20.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/8422\/5964\/files\/9780143770145_1.jpg?v=1780887867"},{"product_id":"dont-let-the-pigeon-drive-the-bus","title":"Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!","description":"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e.cs97DFFCB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:normal;Times New Roman;} .cs3270F94{margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt}\u003c\/style\u003e\r\n\t\r\n\t\u003cp class=\"cs3270F94\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003eMo Willems' acclaimed picture book debut celebrates 20 years! When a bus driver takes a break in this hilarious Caldecott Honor-winning picture book, he gives the reader just one instruction: \"Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!\" But, boy, that pigeon tries every trick in the book to get in that driving seat: he whines, wheedles, fibs and flatters. Will you let him drive? Told entirely in speech bubbles, this brilliantly original and funny picture book demands audience participation!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books for Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46378148069548,"sku":"9781529513653","price":25.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/8422\/5964\/files\/9781529513653_1.jpg?v=1781483176"},{"product_id":"day-the-crayons-quit","title":"Day The Crayons Quit 2","description":"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e.cs97DFFCB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:normal;Times New Roman;} .cs3270F94{margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt}\u003c\/style\u003e\r\n\t\r\n\t\u003cp class=\"cs3270F94\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003eThe Number One New York Times Bestseller!Debut author Drew Daywalt and international bestseller Oliver Jeffers team up to create a colourful solution to a crayon-based crisis in this playful, imaginative story that will have children laughing and playing with their crayons in a whole new way. Poor Duncan just wants to colour in. But when he opens his box of crayons, he only finds letters, all saying the same thing: We quit!Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown, Blue needs a break from colouring in all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking to each other.The battle lines have been drawn. What is Duncan to do?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books for Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46712882692268,"sku":"9780008167820","price":19.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/8422\/5964\/files\/9780008167820_1.jpg?v=1783044941"},{"product_id":"inside-the-villains","title":"Inside the Villains","description":"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e.cs97DFFCB{12pt;font-weight:normal;color:#000000;font-style:normal;Times New Roman;} .cs3270F94{margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt}\u003c\/style\u003e\r\n\t\r\n\t\u003cp class=\"cs3270F94\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cs97DFFCB\"\u003eInternationally bestselling, oversized lift-the-flap book that reveals the secrets of the most famous fairytale villains. Explore if you dare! Take a look inside and discover the villainous tricks inside the heads of an ogre, a wolf and a witch. Lift the flaps to find out what’s beneath their disguise and who was the victim of their last meal (now comfortably settled inside their stomach!). This exquisitely produced large fold-out book is like no other: a celebration of story that’s full of humour and detail on every page, and has over 30 interactive elements that will mesmerise toddlers, pre-schoolers and independent readers. Fold open the page to read all about each three villains on their personality card—their favourite pastimes, physical characteristics, their best meal and, of course, their favourite books. And on the other page, explore inside the villain by gently pulling the spiral innards of the wolf to see his last meal—children!—or watch how the witch transforms from good to bad with the lift of a flap on her crooked nose. A multi-layered book with pop ups, flaps within flaps and multiple fold outs, Inside the Villains is the ultimate interactive gift book that will captivate children age 3 and up. A perfect book for Halloween or any child who enjoys fairytales.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books for Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46728108310700,"sku":"9781776571987","price":40.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/8422\/5964\/files\/9781776571987_1.jpg?v=1783296649"}],"url":"https:\/\/booksforkids.co.nz\/collections\/must-have-picture-books.oembed","provider":"Books for Kids","version":"1.0","type":"link"}