Unity and The Spinoff are very proud to announce the arrival of this new monthly feature. Because we love kids, and we love books, and we’re really sick of buying shitty books by mistake and having to read them 87,000 bedtimes in a row.

These lists cover April 10 – May 8.

AUCKLAND

1  Encyclopedia of Grannies by Eric Veille (Picture book, Gecko Press, $30)

Everything by Eric Veille is wonderful, especially if your kid’s into wordplay. Try My Pictures After the Storm, too.

2  Dragon Post by Emma Yarlett (Picture book, Walker Books, $28)

Warning: may trigger a phase where they want to post a letter to Nana every. single. fricking. day. Worth it, though.

3  Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson (Picture book, Two Hoots, $28)

Bow down to the hitmaker.

4  Mapmakers’ Race by Eirlys Hunter (Readers 8-12ish, Gecko Press, $25)

Four children are on a wild, life-changing race. 

5  Fing by David Walliams & Tony Ross (Readers 8-12ish, HarperCollins, $23)

Legit funny.

6  Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery (Picture book, Collectors Library, $15)

Watercolours, space travel, the Sahara, a “capricious rose”: had never heard of this one but now want it very much.

7  Maui & Other Legends by Peter Gossage (Picture book, Penguin, $40)

A staple. Both words and pictures are straight-up simple and clean.

8  Hilda & the Great Parade by Stephen Davies (Readers 8-12ish, Flying Eye Books, $23)

A tie-in to the rather charming Netflix show.

9  Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers (Readers 3-7ish, HarperCollins, $30)

“Contemplative and heartfelt… Moments of human intimacy jostle with scenes that inspire cosmic awe” – Publishers Weekly

10 Tu Meke Tui! by Malcolm Clarke (Picture book, Mary Egan, $30)

The illustrations, by Flox, are bodacious and birdy. But the story’s a bit… lame? If you’re after a beaut Kiwi picture book try The Bomb, or Things In the Sea are Touching Me! instead.

WELLINGTON

1  Jump! by Tatsuhide Matsuoka (Board book, Gecko Press, $18)

Gecko strikes again: bright, smart, silly goodness.

2  Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid by Jeff Kinney (Readers 8-12ish, Penguin, $18)

A spinoff of the wimpy one.

3  Marae Visit by Rebecca Beyer (Picture book, David Ling, $20)

“The warmth and wairua you will find on a marae is beautifully depicted throughout the story” – Booksellers NZ

4  Sleepy Kiwi by Kere Merewether (Board book, Tikitibu NZ, $20)

A lovely local take on the ‘babies are really into black-and-white’ thing.

5  Summery Saturday Morning by Margaret Mahy (Picture book, Penguin, $20)

Dogs and geese and bikes, oh my!

6  Encyclopedia of Grannies by Eric Veille (Picture book, Gecko Press, $30)

7  Fing by David Walliams & Tony Ross (Readers 8-12ish, HarperCollins, $23)

8  Nits! by Stephanie Blake (Picture book, Gecko Press, $19)

Welcome return of Simon the Poo Bum rabbit.

9  Oi Frog! Mix & Match Book by Kes Gray (Board book, Hodder, $20)

Choose your own silly-giggles adventure.

10 Things in the Sea are Touching Me! by Linda Jane Keegan & Minky Stapleton (Picture book, Scholastic, $19)

The Spinoff hereby throws its entire mighty weight behind this sandy, salpy, sweetheart of a book. Buy it! Actually, buy six and there’s your birthday pressies sorted until August.