Gavin Bishop

Award-winning story by Gavin Bishop of his 1950s childhood in small-town New Zealand. Gorgeous illustrations and retro design make this a precious gift book as well as a much-loved tale. This charming book is a memoir of Gavin Bishop's idyllic childhood days, growing up in Kingston beside gorgeous Lake Wakatipu. It's a gentle tale of a boyhood spent haring around outside, building huts, eating girdle scones, catching eels, watching the train, eating roast mutton, going to school on a horse, arguing with your best mate, eating Marmite sandwiches, Guy Fawkes Day - and lots more eating. It's an elegantly written story but it's the illustrations that are the real star of this book. Using two different techniques, Gavin has created both colour and black and white illustrations that bring the story to life and give a great sense of nostalgia. A handy glossary explains things like Box Brownie, Tilly Lamp, The Coronation, mutton birds, Melting Moments and Brylcreem.

A 1950s Childhood

Piano Rock

Joy Cowley

考莉

黃聿君 (英語)

畢夏普

A collection of stories about the friendship between Snake and Lizard. Suggested level: primary.

永遠的好朋友

蛇和蜥蜴

考利

A collection of stories about the friendship between Snake and Lizard.

不吵不相識

乔伊·科蕾

盖文·比什普

赵健

The familiar cumulative nursery rhyme is illustrated with scenes placing the characters in an Aotearoa, New Zealand, setting during the early 19th century.

The House that Jack Built

Old Bear and his friend Brown Bear decide that sleeping all winter is a waste of time, so they stay awake planning a warm summer vacation and then sleep through the whole trip.

Stay Awake, Bear!

Aesop

Big Book

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

A spectacular illustrated picture book exploring New Zealand's unique landscapes and its incredible wildlife by the award-winning author of Aotearoa- The New Zealand Story. Long before waka touched Aotearoa's shores, the land of the long white cloud was home to an array of creatures uniquely adapted to its environments and protected by its isolation. Encounter New Zealand's incredible wildlife in this spectacular visual exploration. Journey through ocean, sky and land to meet a marvellous range of organisms. Discover fascinating facts, and learn how we influence the survival of our living treasures. In this magnificent companion volume to Aotearoa- The New Zealand Story, Gavin Bishop weaves a compelling visual narrative of our land, our people and our wildlife - past, present and future.

Wildlife of Aotearoa

Diana Noonan

Tiger the cat flees for his life during the Canterbury earthquake that destroys his home. Frightened and in despair he wanders the city of Christchurch, searching for his caregiver Emma. As the city rocks and buildings tumble around him, he sniffs out the comforting smell of stew and finds his way to an emergency hall, where he is reunited with Emma. Although his house is in ruins and city battered he realises that none of it matters when the people you love are safe. Suggested level: junior, primary.

Quaky Cat

Four classic Maori myths beautifully retold with stunning illustrations by award winner Gavin Bishop. Taming the Sun contains four stories, including two well-known legends (Maui And The Sun and Maui And The Big Fish) and two less well-known legends (Rona And The Moon and Kahu The Taniwha). Aimed at children with reading ages 3-7 years, these myths are simply and yet elegantly written. Gavin's characteristic sense of humour is evident in all of the stories; and while each story is exciting and often a little bit scary, they are resolved beautifully. Gavin allows the essence of the original myths to remain while also re-telling them for a new generation of children. The illustrations are stunning - the different colour palette for each story and the strong mix of techniques create bold and beautiful images that integrate with the words in a powerful and meaningful way. Taming the Sun is an imaginative, fresh and much-needed addition to the picture book genre, which takes traditional myths to a new level. Created by one of New Zealand's most talented and passionate children's book writers and illustrators. SHORT-LISTED FOR NZ POST CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDS 2005.

Four Maori Myths

Taming the Sun

The story of the 1768 expedition to the South Pacific on HMS Endeavour, through the eyes of the one-handed cook.--back of book.

The Cook Who Cooked for Captain Cook

Cook's Cook

Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant

This is a reprint of the 25 year-old classic by Gavin Bishop that has been delighting children and adults alike for years. Mrs McGinty is a very grumpy, moaning old woman whose life is grey and bleak and lonely - until one day she buys a little plant which grows and grows and grows. Mrs McGinty becomes famous and happy and makes friends - the plant has transformed her life. Because MRS MCGINTY AND THE BIZARRE PLANT is set in Christchurch and features such Christchurch icons as the Edmonds Baking Powder factory the book has become a classic in the minds of thousands of South Islanders. First published by OUP in Australia and New Zealand in 1981 and winner of the Russell Clark Medal for illustration in 1982, the book is ready for a comeback to entertain a new generation of children. This year is the 25th anniversary of MRS MCGINTY AND THE BIZARRE PLANT and, as part of the 2006 Christchurch Writers Festival, there was a three week exhibition called MRS MCGINTY AND FRIENDS at the Our City centre in the heart of Christchurch.

Margaret Mahy

Mister Whistler always has a song in his head and a dance in his feet. But when he has to catch a train, he is so distracted that he loses his ticket-and has to dance his way out of his clothes to find it!

Mister Whistler

Over a thousand years ago, the wind, sea currents and stars brought people to the islands that became known as Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud. Navigate your way through this sumptuously illustrated story of New Zealand. Explore the defining moments of our history, captured by celebrated children's book creator Gavin Bishop, from the Big Bang right through to what might happen tomorrow. Discover Maori legends, layers of meaning and lesser-known facts. A truly special book, Aotearoa- The New Zealand Storydeserves a space on every bookshelf, to be taken off and pored over, thumbed and treasured, time and again. NZ Listener 50 Best Books for Kids 2017 The SaplingBest Books List 2017

The New Zealand Story

Aotearoa

A collection of four excitingly told and stunningly illustrated Maori stories for children, by award-winning New Zealand children's writer and illustrator Gavin Bishop. Counting the Stars continues to take traditional myths to a new level. Created by one of New Zealand's most talented and passionate children's book writers and illustrators. A sequel to Taming the Sun and Riding the Waves, this stunning book contains four more Maori myths, including two well-known legends (Ranginui and Papatuanuku and Hinemoa and Tutanekai) and two less well-known legends (The battle of the birds and Kae and the whale). Aimed at children 3-10 years, these myths are simply written and yet powerful. They're exciting and scary but each story is nicely resolved. Gavin allows the essence of the original myths to remain while also re-telling them for a new generation of children. The illustrations are stunning - the different colour palette for each story and the strong mix of techniques create bold and beautiful images.

Gavin Bishop

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