Ryan Cooper
Duckling Press

Badjelly the Witch, remember that name.
For her legend is scary and definitely not tame.
She's a horrible villain who's become quite reliant
On her cursed floating castle and her multi-eyed giant.
She needs a boy and a girl in a soup to devour
In order to restore her failing witch power
For kids hold the secret to restoring her magic
And she's willing to get them no matter how tragic
Joined by a worm as strong as a house
A goblin, a lion and a banana turned mouse
Tim and Rose are our heroes who will lead this brave gang
To take Badjelly out with a mighty great bang.
So read through this book, but keep up your guard
If you want to come out unscathed and unscarred
Watch out for a witch and her magic that flickers
Stinkypoo, stinkypoo, knickers knickers knickers!

L P Hansen
Ōnepoto Press/Copy Press

These untold stories absent from our history books include New Zealand families refusing to let their boys be child soldiers; a Kiwi peacemaker guiding prominent adversaries away from the vicious cycle of revenge; an entire culture practising nonviolence – captivating tales showing the immense courage, strength, creativity and discipline that peacebuilding demands.

Sascha Stronach
Saga Press

Sascha Stronach returns in this queer, Māori-inspired Endsong series about a police officer back from the dead who will stop at nothing to save her city from the evil that threatens to destroy it, perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Black Sun.

The steel city of Radovan is consumed by fire between. Stranded in its harbor is the crew of the Kopek, the survivors of a bioterror attack overseas. But they bear scars: their captain, Sibbi, has gone missing; Yat, their newest Weaver, is fighting for control of her own mind; and their Weaving powers are in a badly weakened state.

Ari may hold the key not only to saving Radovan from complete annihilation, but the history of their world, which will come into play as the gods begin to unleash destruction on humanity and one another.

Claudia Jardine
Auckland University Press

Filled with hickeys, puttanesca and tart wit, BITER is an apt title for Claudia Jardine’s debut collection of verse. Fresh translations of erotic Greek epigrams are threaded through boozy sonnets, ecstatic odes and startlingly vulnerable love poems. Jardine weaves ancient and modern together into a rich, glitzy, idiosyncratic tapestry – and in doing so crafts a poetic voice that is at once classical and frisky.

Elena de Roo
AHOY!

75 poems for 5–10 year olds.

Keeping you awake poems

Do not eat (or sniff) this cake poems

Deconstructed rainbow poems

Magic-mixtures, strange-dough poems

Blustery and breezy poems

Sweeping through the seasons poems

Siphonophores and metaphors

WLizardry to wētā verse

Lonely and alone poems

Poems about poems poems

The universe, the next new day, sleepy lions lines that slip away

Sarita Betschart
Living Book Press

Discover New Zealand birds in this delightful story of a curious little rabbit exploring his new home. Join him as he meets the fascinating inhabitants of his neighbourhood and learns about their diverse diets, nesting habits, migratory patterns, and more.

Many of our precious New Zealand birds face significant challenges. This book educates us about our feathered friends and how we can help them thrive.

An engaging read for all ages, featuring over 130 colour photos and beautiful artwork by Kiwi artist Sophie Blokker bringing the story to life.