The booksellers of Unity Books Auckland and Wellington review a handful of children’s books sure to delight and inspire readers of all ages.

AUCKLAND

Reviews by Daniel Deveney, Elka Aitchison and Roger Christensen, booksellers at Unity Books Auckland

Ahab and the White Whale by Manuel Marsol, translated by Chloe Garcia Roberts (Age 5+)

The illustrations alone are worth the price of this beautiful picture book retelling of Moby Dick. Manuel Marsol delivers a wonderfully simple story of Ahab’s obsessive search for the giant white whale. Told in his own words Ahab comes across as sympathetic but somewhat of a fool, so blinded by his odyssey that he can’t see what is immediately in front of him. The textural nature of the illustrations reveals all the mysteries of the sea, the line between the imagined and the real constantly shifting. Ahab becomes lost and when he finally arrives back home long after he began his journey, he can’t even remember what he was searching for. / Roger

Grumble’s Bridge by Greg MacLeod, illustrated by Herb MacDonald (Age 3+)

What is a tired troll to do? Herb MacLeod delivers a hilarious, playful take on Three Billy Goats Gruff. This is a fun read aloud picture book for parents, as they’ll have much to sympathise with the misunderstood Grumble, who becomes increasingly frustrated when his attempts to get a good rest are thwarted time and again. Herb MacDonald does a superb job with the illustrations and captures all the nasty and unsavoury qualities that we associate from Norse folklore. Bold splashes of colour and close ups of the troll’s menacing toothy roars and twitching hairy ears bring a lightness and humour that will appeal to young readers. This is a nicely subtle lesson about the outcomes of craving something so badly. / Roger

Picturebook Makers Part Two edited by Sam McCullen (All ages)

A series highlighting the artistry that goes into creating a picture book is a bookseller and art lover’s dream. Picturebook Makers was the first book I bought when I started working at Unity and it’s still my favourite. These books are an exquisite introduction to contemporary illustrators and a peek into the creative toil, controlled mess and vivid imagination that goes into these joyous, indescribably important objects. Part 2 opens a window into Carson Ellis’ clever way of getting kids to think about language, place and character; it makes Issa Watanabe’s dark and moving works even more evocative by sharing her experience emigrating from Peru; Valerio Vidali & Vióleta Lopiz’s tactile, colourful illustrations become a feat of engineering; I could ramble about all twelve featured artists. Read it, pour over its pictures and you’ll fall in love with at least one of them. / Elka

Edith: the Girl Who Was 100 Years Old by Catharina Valckx (Age 6+)

There’s that lie about books and their covers, but is judging by the title allowed? Because this one’s a goodie, it raises some big questions, and that’s what the book continues to do. The first page reads, “I know what you’re thinking. A hundred years old? She’s more like eight isn’t she? Or nine.” But she’s been that way for 100 years, so on her birthday Edith sets off with a wise dog and a talking lemon to find the fairy who bewitched her and reverse the spell. Edith’s wise eyes, patterned dresses and rucksack are illustrated delightfully and anthropomorphised objects like an irritating grandfather clock and an overexcited dingy are equally expressive. As someone who clung to childhood for as long as possible this is a very special book; it highlights the difficulty and wonder of change. Hilarious and absurd but philosophical and gorgeously illustrated it gives kids a lot of credit for their smarts – a very Gecko Press book that really understands the humour and curiosities of its audience. / Elka

A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once by Lucas Maxwell (Age 13+)

Set during a frosty winter in 90s Nova Scotia, this immersive debut puts you front and center in Elias’s world. He’s shouldering a lot for a 14-year-old. His older brother Bo has fallen in with the wrong crowd, driving his parents further apart. Desperate to keep his family together, Elias pins all his hopes on winning the school talent show. The prize? A family dinner at the new Pizza Hut, and he’s convinced it could be the fresh start they all need. Drawing on the author’s own childhood experiences, this heartfelt novel explores complicated family dynamics, addiction, loneliness, bullying, and growing up neurodivergent. Bursting with heart and authenticity, A Million Tiny Missiles All at Once is a remarkable debut that has all the makings of a young adult classic. / Daniel

And the Unity Books Auckland children’s bestsellers for May–August 2026:

WELLINGTON

Reviews by Eden Denyer and Susanna Andrews, bookseller and manager at Unity Books Wellington

If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Emily Hughes  (Ages 2+)

Everyone has made a call on a banana phone before, but what if someone picked up? Who might it be? What would you talk about? It’s a premise so simple it’s genius!! And Sterer and Hughes have executed it with aplomb. Witty, wise and uplifting, with approachable short sentences and expressive illustrations that make this a great pick to read together. A masterclass in picture book design that will appeal to all. / Eden

The Boring Drawing Book by Erica Harrison (Ages 7+)

From fabulous new NZ publisher Messy Press comes the incredible Boring Drawing Book – which contrary to its title is in fact very fun and exciting!! A combo drawing/doodling/colouring book fostering skill and creativity through humorously mundane prompts like adding rice to a rice bowl or tying a caterpillar’s many shoelaces. There are tasks with more room for innovation like adding prizes to a prize machine or art to a gallery, but if you’re not up for that, the Boring Drawing Book meets you where you are and gets you to put pen to paper anyway. Harrison’s illustrations are so stylish and charming – I loved this. / Eden

The Book of Murmurs by Candice Purwin (Ages 14+)

A strong contender for my favourite graphic novel of the year. I was immediately drawn into Purwin’s fascinating world and only wish I could’ve stayed longer. Switching between warm and enticing colours, to striking black and white chapters, it’s an utter feast for the eyes. Purwin weaves magic and folklore to create a moving narrative of grief, connection and identity. Haunting and glorious / Eden

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura (Ages 14+)

This book will gently hold your heart and kiss it better. I struggled through a lot of my time in school and only attended part time in my final year. I really wish I’d had a book like this to help me navigate some of what I was feeling. Our young heroine Kokoro stopped going to school a few months ago. One day she discovers she can step through her mirror to find a castle with other children like her, who stay home. This is a grounded and tender delve into youth mental health in Japan with a smidge of magical realism. It’s a gentle read, but the central mystery of the castle and the dynamics of the cast keep it engaging. Recommend to you and your young person / Eden

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (Ages 8+)

This might be the book that made me fall in love with reading, and in its nearly 30 years of existence I think it’s aged pretty darn well. A Cinderella retelling with a spunky brave heroine, clever world building, and some truly killer twists! Here there be curses, ogres, and overzealous fairy god-mothers with penchants for turning people into squirrels – so you’d best keep your wits about you! Ella Enchanted kept me up with a torch under my covers and I hope it will do the same for many more generations of young people. / Eden

The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds (Ages 15+)

You’ve seen the movie, but you’re not quite ready for the 12,000-line poem. This is Homer light but with excellent illustrations. Surely a gateway for Emily Wilson later.  Hinds’ draws the sea like he’s personally been set adrift in it and can’t yet swim. He gets the terror and the whole catastrophic journey with drawings in ink pen colour that are detailed and visceral and make the ancient world come alive. His previous graphic novels include Beowulf and Macbeth all of which spent time on various Ten Best Books lists of the year. This one included. / Susanna Andrews

And the Unity Books Wellington children’s bestsellers for Jan–March 2026:

1 Detective Beans and the Map of Mystery #3 by Li Chen (Penguin, $22)
2 Degrees of Happy by Philippa Werry (Ahoy!, $25)
3 Heartstopper #6 by Alice Oseman (Hodder, $28)
4 Pukeko Who-keko? by Toby Morris (Puffin, $21)
5 Place Between #4 Lightfall by Tim Probert (HarperCollins, $27)
6 Dazzlehands by Sacha Cotter and Joshua Morgan (Huia Publishers, $22)
7 Miffy Sticker and Activity Book by Miffy (Hardie Grant, $8)
8 What If You Could by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin, $30)
9 Takoradi Run by Bob Kerr (Bateman Books, $25)
10 Folk Remedy #1 by Jem Yoshioka (Andres McMeel Publishing, $29)

And that marks the end of the inaugural New Zealand Children’s Book Week! Re-visit our live blog of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults; and The Spinoff’s greatest children’s books, according to our childhood selves.