An unusual tuna with a magic throat leaps out of his stream and visits a number of children in Champion Street. To each he gives an article of clothing for dancing, or a musical instrument. The children are all from different ethnic communities living in New Zealand. On Champion Street the children all come together and dance all day and all night. Age 4+ 32 pages

A Tuna [Eel] with a magic throat bounces out of Cannons Creek in Porirua, then flies in and out of the houses in nearby Champion Street distributing magic gifts including items from the Maori and various Pacific Island cultures to the children. Suggested level: junior, primary.

These are short stories about ordinary folk leading seemingly ordinary lives. The power of community, extended family and culture are central to all. Thirteen stories in which the joys of discovery are tempered by the knowledge of a harder, colder world. Sunlight, childhood and nature set against conflict and misunderstanding, in the ever-present shadows of the spirit of the land.

"A little boy has made friends with the taniwha in his river, but no-one believes him. The taniwha takes the boy on a journey through time and myth where he meets some amazing characters, gathering the earth's treasures as he goes"--Publisher information.

This rattling good yarn has now been made into a major movie: Hunt For the Wilderpeople, directed and written by Taika Waititi, and starring Sam Neill and Julian Dennison. When Social Welfare threatens to put Ricky into care, the overweight Maori boy and cantankerous Uncle Hec flee into the remote and rugged Ureweras. The impassable bush serves up perilous adventures, forcing the pair of misfits to use all their skills to survive hunger, wild pigs and the vagaries of the weather. Worse still are the authorities, determined to bring Ricky and Uncle Hec to justice. But despite the difficulties of life on the run, a bond of trust and love blossoms between the world-weary man and his withdrawn side-kick.

In this poetic and moving tale, we watch a year in the life of one whanau (family) through the eyes of a little girl. A death is mourned; a birth is celebrated; and life comes full circle. With stunningly evocative illustrations by artist Huhana Smith.

Once there was a kuia who made mats and baskets. In the corner of her kitchen lived a spider who made webs. Since its publication in 1981, Patricia Grace and Robyn Kahukiwa's The Kuia and the Spider has become a New Zealand classic.

Tane wants to participate in his uncle's marriage celebration, but everyone thinks he is too small to learn to dance and sing, but with much practice, he surprises them all and steals the show.

Eight-year-old Kahu, a member of the Maori tribe of New Zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny when hundreds of whales beach themselves and threaten the future of the Maori tribe. Basis for the 2003 feature film.

A fun book about a sticky problem. Tama is being bullied by a nasty taniwha who happens to inhabit his local classroom. At a loss for solutions, he goes to his family for ideas. The story follows Tama as he tries out the suggestions and faces the taniwha. A great way for kids to explore different ways of dealing with bullies and an effective tool to generate discussion.