Book Review: Rumpelstiltskin
May 19, 2026
The piles of straw in Ellis’s illustrations glow as if they’ve already turned to gold & his version of the villain is fantastically fiendish.
The piles of straw in Ellis’s illustrations glow as if they’ve already turned to gold & his version of the villain is fantastically fiendish.
The First Year explores the emotional turbulence of growing up and adjusting to the changes that come with becoming a teenager.
The novel explores finding inner strength at a young age, and conveys an honest portrayal of working-class life.
A funny friendship tale about making the best of a bad situation. How will making mac ‘n’ cheese from anything help save the world?
Gorgeously illustrated, this whimsical tale has a good amount of absurdity and silliness (with just a liiiiiittle bit of deep pondering).
This laugh out loud graphic novel is great for anyone who loves silly friendship tales with adventure along the way.
Beautiful pictures accompany a charming seaside story about family, adventure, and learning to treasure the little things.
This illustrated story captures the imaginative connection children share with toys – and household objects – with winning humour and energy.
This uplifting story from an excellent Kiwi author shows readers that even life-changing challenges can lead to growth and new possibilities.
This perfect pairing of image and text hits the spot between comic and poignant, and contains insightful reflections on emotional qualities.
Witty and whacky, this early reader is illustrated by the author in a bold, graphic style that includes beautiful double-page spreads.
Full of folklore, friendship dynamics and magical drama, these are excellent for 8-12 year old fans of Crookhaven and Enid Blyton.
Graham’s illustrations with their gentle washes of colour perfectly complement the Kelly’s journey of hope, persistence, and slowing down.
A brilliant finale, it does a great job of tying together storylines from the previous books while still delivering exhilarating plot twists!
Dealing with themes of identity, friendship & family truths, this continues Stead’s streak of clever, clear-sighted books for readers 10+.
Easy to drop in and out of, the illustrations flow from page to page and the text is written in a no-nonsense way.
I loved the casual diversity of the characters, the stark details of their environment, and the central, creepy mystery.
Told through journal entries to her grandma, this is a loving story of grief, friendship and proof that family isn’t always blood.
Dealing with some serious themes in a considered way, O’Shaughnessy weaves a believable narrative which balances tension and reflection.
Perfect for all ages, it’s full of mysteries, delightful characters and some surprisingly intense moments of action.