Top 25 Books
Here is the list of our Top 25 Books specially chosen for
The Lunch Pack Competition. See the winning entries
here.
by Tessa Duder
The moving and inspiring story of Alex, a champion swimmer. Alex is swimming to qualify for the Olympic Games. In the past year she has fallen in love and has known what it is to lose – in swimming and in life.
Weaving Earth and Sky
by Robert Sullivan
illustrated by Gavin Bishop
A re-telling of classic Maori myths and legends, ranging from Maui to Kupe's arrival in Aotearoa.
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by Sherryl Jordan
A young man finds himself in a strange place and time. Is this the past or could it be the future he has inadvertently created?
Salt
by Maurice Gee
A long journey through the badlands towards Deep Salt finds Pearl and Hari united for a common cause.
Down the Back of the Chair
by Margaret Mahy and Polly Dunbar
A lively, eccentric and ever popluar tale of what lives down the back of the chair!
The Changeover
by Margaret Mahy
First published in 1984, this seminal supernatural tale by New Zealand's favourite storyteller has become a classic for young adults.
A Lion in the Meadow
by Margaret Mahy
The small boy's mother gave him a dragon in a matchbox to frighten the lion in the meadow.
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
by Lynley Dodd
“Out of the gate and off for a walk…” introduces Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy – the first book in the popular series – and his friends: Hercules Morse, Bitzer Maloney, Muffin McLay, Bottomley Potts and Schnitzel von Krumm.
Scarecrow Army
by Leon Davidson
The horrors of the Second World War as experienced by Australian and New Zealand troops.
Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story
by Kate de Goldi and Jacqui Colley
A beautiful and witty illustrated tale, a joy for children and adults alike, with sly humour and many visual jokes.
Bow Down Shadrach
by Joy Cowley
A very old, circus-trained Clydesdale horse needs rescuing but Hannah's heroic rescue doesn't go according to plan.
Snake and Lizard
by Joy Cowley
illustrations by Gavin Bishop
Snake and Lizard are a lovable, foolish pair, always arguing, embarking on unlikely enterprises and telling one another hotly contested tales – none of which behaviour lessens their affection for one another.
The Silent One
by Joy Cowley
The Silent One is Jonasi, sent from the sea as a baby to grow up in an isolated Pacific village. Separated from the villagers by his silence and their prejudices, Jonasi finds solace in his underwater world.
Nobody's Dog
by Jennifer Beck and Lindy Fisher
A grandfather tells why he has a painting of a stray dog that turned up at the family farm when he was a boy. But farming back then had no room for pets.
The Whale Rider
by Witi Ihimaera
A timeless story of the courage of one girl standing against the tide of tradition and enabling her tribe to become reconnected with their ancestral life force.
Barnaby Bennett
by Hannah Rainforth
illustrated by Ali Teo
Barnaby Bennett loves the colour red so much he wants to wear it every day – even if it means stealing mittens from kittens and wearing his grandfather's jocks.
Rats!
by Gavin Bishop
Polly Piper's house is infested with rats – they are everywhere. She calls in an exterminator (closely resembling the Pied Piper) who leads them all away. When they go, Polly finds her life is empty and boring. Miserable, they plead to come back – so of course Polly agrees – and they all live happily ever after!
I Am Not Esther
by Fleur Beale
A gripping psychological thriller about a teenager's identity battle with members of a religious cult.
My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes
by Eve Sutton
illustrated by Lynley Dodd
Cats from all over the world do strange and interesting things, but this ordinary puss likes to hide in boxes.
I'm Glad the Sky is Painted Blue
selected by Rosalyn Barnett
illustrations by Robyn Belton
A specially chosen collection of poetry for the very young with old and new poems from all over the world.
Poetry Pudding
edited by Jenny Argante
illustrations by Debbie Tipuna
Over 100 poems for children, using the alphabet as a launchpad for fun and creativity – from over 40 contributors.
Fat, Four-Eyed and Useless
by David Hill
Everyone needs to find their place… and in the Gray's Bay School Writer's Club, Ben Hambleton may just have found his.
See Ya, Simon
by David Hill
Nathan's friend Simon is a typical teenage boy – with muscular dystrophy: Simon does not have long to live. A funny, moving and devastatingly honest story about the true meaning of friendship.
Juicy Writing
by Brigid Lowry
A treasure-trove of inspiration and practical advice on creative writing – and on living a confident, creative life – especially for teenagers.
The Three Fishing Brothers Gruff
by Ben Galbraith
Once upon a time, there lived three mean and greedy brothers called Gruff. They fished and fished until Poverty Bay was empty, but not everyone was happy about it!