Our best children's and YA books for 2023
Just in time for summer, prepare to unleash your inner bookworm. Services to Schools staff are back with their pick of books published in 2023 (or late 2022).
Unveiling the literary treasures
Ever wondered what a near-impossible task looks like for an organisation of bibliophiles? It is asking for book recommendations and putting a limit on how many they can suggest!
In a world where books arrive on a regular basis, and the ‘to be read’ list keeps growing, Services to Schools staff have undertaken the valiant quest of sifting through the literary ocean to recommend some of 2023's irresistible reads.
So, stay tuned dear reader as we unveil the treasures of 2023!
If you’re wanting regular insights into new books, follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @L2_S2S and look out for our hashtag #NatLibReads.
Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a book written by an Aotearoa New Zealand author.
Picture books
At the Bach by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper (Gecko Press). *
Joy Cowley and Hilary Jean Tapper have captured the perfect bach experience with slow, poetic text and soft pencil and watercolour illustrations. This book is full of the warmth of friends and family, the basics of the beach and the joy of a simple holiday home.
Faruq and the Wiri Wiri by Sophia Payne, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Templar Books).
A story of community engagement and the celebration of life through customs and food. Faruq navigates his way through this world discovering different tastes and knowledge that help him find his place.
Evoking personal memories of laughter and larger-than-life personalities, this story is a wonderful nod to Indo-Guyanese culture and influences.
I Am Lupe by Sela Ahosivi-Atiola, illustrated by Yani Agustina (Hachette Australia).
Lupe is a young Tongan girl who recognises the physical differences in her appearance compared to others. She asks her parents for an explanation of who she is and they provide beautiful confirmation of what she already knows: she is Lupe and she is enough. A lovely universal truth for all cultures, ages and genders.
Ka Wehi Au Ki Ngā Wenerei | I Don’t Like Wednesdays by Linda Tuhiwai Smith, illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Huia Publishers). *
All good things happen on a Wednesday for this young boy: kapa haka, karate, hanging out with Apa (his big brother). But Wednesday is the day when the worst thing happens, and the world changes forever.
This small but perfectly formed book is a story of grief, of trying to cope with a horrific family tragedy, of whānau and community. It is part of a series dealing with issues that affect young people and encouraging them to talk.
Ringakōreko | Dazzlehands by Sacha Cotter, translated by Kawata Teepa, illustrated by Josh Morgan (Huia Publishers). *
A riotous read from the team who created The Bomb. The animals all know what they say, except for Pig who is an extrovert with all the moves. You’ll want to join in and do the actions. It’s so much fun.
The Princess and the (Greedy) Pea by Leigh Hodgkinson (Walker Books).
Find out the real reason why the princess could feel the pea at the bottom of the bed. This is a fun take on the original fairy tale using the cumulative rhyme ‘There was an old lady’.
Vibrant illustrations show the ravenous pea getting larger and larger, and the revenge the princess takes when her dinner disappears and she’s left hungry.
Sophisticated picture books
He Reo Iti Noa Ahau | I Am a Little Voice by Linda Tuhiwai Smith, illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Huia Publishers). *
Heartbreaking but full of hope.
Following an unnamed traumatic incident, Rāwhiti goes to live with his nanny. For a long time, he cannot talk but little by little, his voice begins to grow as he is supported by his whānau, Whaea Tui (child psychologist) and his connection to his whenua.
Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night by Julia Kuo, narrated by Suehyla El-Attar Young (Library Ideas, LLC).
Explore the wonders of bioluminescence — living things that make their own light — through this mixture of poetic text and easy-to-understand scientific information. Accompanied perfectly by clean, clear illustrations in a limited colour palette of blues and oranges on a deep, dark background.
This informational picture book is a Vox audio-enabled book so you can listen to it as you read. Treasure indeed.
The Pack by Amanda Cley, illustrated by Cecilia Ferri (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers).
With only a sentence per page, the images in this book do much of the heavy lifting. A little boy dresses like a wolf, just like everyone else. In following the pack, he finds connection, but at what cost? A story about choosing to be yourself above all else.
The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker (Walker Books).
A stunning wordless picture book that explores the changes that take place during the long life of a single tree growing by the river. From a rural setting through different styles of buildings which then fall to an environmental disaster. But then there's hope as a small acorn falls to the ground and finds a place to grow, beginning the cycle again.
Full of wonderful details to seek out during long, leisurely reading sessions.
Junior fiction
Duck’s Backyard by Ulrich Hub, translated by Helena Kirkby, illustrated by Jörg Mühle (Gecko Press).
Translated from German, this is the story of a duck with a wonky leg and a blind chicken. Duck is cajoled by chicken to set off on an adventure. They want to find the place where secret wishes come true.
Full of highs and lows, lots of disagreements and a surprising twist at the end. Perseverance, friendship, and imagination at the core, this would make a great read-aloud.
My Life Begins! by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Daniel Miyares (Katherine Teegan Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers).
9-year-old Jacob wants a puppy but ends up with triplet sisters! Making the best of a bad situation, he uses them for his research project at school, charting their progress through journal entries.
A feel-good story about family and siblings getting to know each other.
Once Upon a Wickedness by Fleur Beale, illustrated by Lily Uivel (Puffin NZ). *
With a traditional fairy tale feeling, set in medieval times, this story is about 10-year-old orphan, Dance Violet. Dance is heading to school for the first time and isn’t happy with how things are panning out. Horrible teachers and people from the village disappearing have Dance determined to find out what is going on.
The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Patricia Castelao (HarperCollins Children’s Books).
Ruby is the small elephant that we first met in The One and Only Ivan. This story follows her (and Ivan and Bob) in the new reserve. As Ruby approaches her Tuskday (a sort of coming of age) with trepidation, she struggles to understand what being an elephant means.
Short chapters, well-spaced type and sometimes only a few lines on the page make for an inviting book for newly independent readers.
Middle-grade fiction
Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner (Walker Books).
Just imagine if an asteroid hit the Earth and the dinosaurs didn’t all die out. Instead, their minds grew alert and they learned to speak.
Hunted is a tale of two kingdoms (both herbivore) fighting each other for territory while the ruthless carnivores live in the Deadlands. We follow a young dinosaur exiled to the Deadlands and discover the horrific truth behind the war.
Lopini the Legend by Feana Tu'akoi, illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse (Scholastic). *
Lopini is an overachiever and overthinker. He gets himself all tied up in knots and anxious when things go wrong. His best mate thinks he’s overreacting so together they set up different challenges for Lopini to practise failing (and being okay with it).
A funny read with energetic, likeable characters.
Scar Town by Tristan Bancks (Puffin Books).
Will lives in a town that was partially drowned as part of a hydroelectric scheme. But there is now a terrible drought, and the remains of the old town are emerging from the water.
Will and his mates are desperately curious. Not only is it fascinating to dive down and explore the old houses and buildings, but it is also the place where Will’s father went missing and was never recovered. However, Will and friends are not the only ones interested in the old town.
Gritty and full of tension, it would make a brilliant read-aloud.
Foxlight by Katya Balen (Bloomsbury Publishing).
Fen (loud and fierce) and Rey (quiet, shy and obsessed with nature) are twin sisters, found together as babies — so their story tells — in a fox den. Lovingly cared for in a household with other abandoned children, they tell one another stories of their origins and of a mother from the wildlands, who will perhaps return for them one day.
After seeing a fox and thinking they were being called to find their mother, the sisters run away only to discover just how harsh and terrifying the wildlands can be. Dramatic, a little bit heartbreaking, full of the wonders of nature and the bonds of sisterhood.
Swimming on the Moon by Brian Conaghan (Bloomsbury Children’s Books).
Set in a Scottish town, 12-year-old Anna is dealing with her once-happy parents going through a rough patch. Adding to the mix is her brother Anto who experiences everything differently. Anna is both protective of and exasperated by him. When she gets the chance to perform in Italy with a dance crew, she thinks it might be just the thing to help her family.
Conaghan gets to the heart of neurodiversity and non-verbal autism through the eyes of a twin experience. Learning about their Lego communication system was really interesting.
YA fiction
Better the Blood by Michael Bennett (Simon & Schuster Ltd). *
Hana Westerman is a detective in Auckland’s Central Investigation Branch. As a Māori officer, she’s had to find a way to live with the clash between duty and culture.
Hana is sent emails by a murderer who seems to know more about her early days in the police than she would like. As a young police officer, she was sent to the front lines, along with other Māori officers to arrest protestors occupying their ancestral lands.
An enthralling novel that looks at how injustices of the past can have deadly consequences.
Catch a Falling Star by Eileen Merriman (Penguin). *
This is the prequel to Catch Me When You Fall but could be read as a stand-alone.
15-year-old Jamie is loving life. Harnessing his unbounded energy and creativity, Jamie has enormous plans for the future. When he breaks his arm at 3am, questions are asked.
Jamie is a funny, clever, likeable but chaotic character. Merriman draws you in with fast-paced, sometimes manic writing to align with Jamie’s emotions and behaviour. A touching look at a teen coming to terms with his mental illness diagnosis.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Piatkus).
This book has been all over social media and we fell under its spell. It is worth noting the age of the protagonist as an indication of content.
20-year-old Violet had her whole life planned out. She was going to follow in her father’s footsteps and train as a Scribe. Come Conscription Day, Violet is forced to join others at Basgiath War College vying to become an elite Rider.
Violet is a fascinating protagonist. She’s weak in body but cast iron in character. Her dragons are real personalities. She wields a mighty number of daggers and has a fearsome intellect. She can poison, she can trick, and she is determined to prove to her awful mother that she isn’t the runt of the family.
Iris and Me by Philippa Werry (Ahoy!). *
The tale of Iris Wilkinson who wrote under the name Robin Hyde.
This verse novel tells of life growing up, Iris’ journey offshore — which ended up being a long stay in China during the war raging with Japan — and becoming one of the first women war correspondents. The narrator is mysterious and drops clues, expecting the reader to guess their secret.
The Impossible Story of Hannah Kemp by Leonie Agnew (Walker Books). *
Set in an unnamed small Aotearoa New Zealand town, adopted teen Hannah is in her parents’ (and the community’s) bad books. She was involved in a serious incident which has her doing community service for her sins and she is struggling.
When Hannah barges into a mobile library that has turned up unannounced, she realises the books reveal secrets about the town’s inhabitants. On one of her visits, she spies a book title with her name in it and steals it when the feisty librarian refuses to lend it to her.
Non-fiction
Bomb: Graphic Novel: The Race to Build — and Steal — the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin, illustrated by Nick Bertozzi (Roaring Brook Press).
A difficult story to summarise. The making of the atomic bomb is one of history’s most amazing examples of teamwork, genius, and poise under pressure. But it’s also the story of how humans created a weapon capable of wiping our species off the planet.
This is a graphic novel adaptation of the non-fiction book Bomb. The author weaves so many narratives. Riveting and well-executed.
Critters of Aotearoa: 50 Bizarre but Lovable Members of Our Wildlife Community by Nicola Toki, illustrated by Lily Duval (Penguin Random House New Zealand). *
With a slightly tactile cover, and double-page spreads, this book will introduce you to some of our most bizarre critters.
Nicola Toki pulls together the knowledge shared in her RNZ programme Critter of the Week with Jesse Mulligan in the hopes of building more nature lovers. Each critter has been assigned a score on the ‘attractiveness-ometer’ and we’re not sure we’re always in agreement.
Patu: The New Zealand Wars by Gavin Bishop (Puffin). *
Visually powerful in both size (large format with gatefold spreads) and content, Bishop guides you through the New Zealand Wars of the 1800s.
Told in simple but comprehensive text and riveting illustrations capturing the significant people, battles and places. A wonderful way for the whole family to explore Aotearoa New Zealand's histories.
The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson (Gecko Press). *
Beautifully presented, this is all about the science of noticing little things.
Including the process and different places to go to observe, this book helps you better appreciate those creatures we often dismiss because they are ugly, little or annoying. With lots of useful pieces of information (such as the difference between a bee and a wasp), you can dip in and out and learn something new each time.
Graphic novels / Comics
A First Time for Everything: A True Story by Dan Santat (First Second).
A lightly fictionised graphic memoir where Santat shares a story of a middle school trip to Europe.
Expressive illustrations add to the story of finding oneself. Full of ‘firsts’, it is a great relatable read for anyone who is/was self-conscious, insecure or trying to get through school invisibly.
Captain America: The Ghost Army by Alan Gratz, illustrated by Brent Schoonover (Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic).
Alan Gratz is great at historical fiction — and that's what this is, with superheroes. The story has Cap and Buck engaging in battle. It's grounded in fact, with the Ghost Army which was a real-life US tactical deception unit created to disrupt German forces in WW2.
The art is very retro cool. It will be a hit for Alan Gratz and Marvel fans alike, as well as anyone who enjoys a bit of magic and mayhem with their historical fiction.
Lights by Brenna Thummler (Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group).
The final instalment of the Sheets trilogy, this emotional conclusion gives readers what they wanted and more.
Wendell’s backstory is finally unpacked, friendships are tested, and the illustrations once again bring to life the emotions and experiences of the characters. Be prepared to embrace the ‘feels’ in this highly recommended YA read.
Lobster Cop by Brian Smith, illustrated by Chris Giarrusso (Harper Alley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers).
Readers will enjoy meeting Officer Clawsome and his partner Stariana. Set in the underwater world of Caper Cove, this graphic novel gives ‘Dogman meets SpongeBob’ vibes.
Bright and colourful with lots of silly jokes and puns that will have readers laughing out loud.
SandyPants! by Raymond McGrath (Scholastic New Zealand). *
Based on two cute little penguins and their friendship, this is a delightful book for early readers. It contains three different stories that are connected by their focus on friendship and wellbeing.
Feels very realistic about how young kids might be feeling whilst navigating relationships. At the end of every chapter, there’s a ‘fun friend fact’.
The Moth Keeper by Kay O’Neill (RH Graphic). *
A wholesome story with stunning art.
Anya is a moth keeper who finds herself isolated and lonely after realising that this job wasn’t quite what she thought it would be. With messages about community, finding your place and not being afraid to ask for help when you need it, this is a brilliant middle-grade fantasy.
We love that Kay was inspired by the landscapes of Tongariro and the endemic moth species there.
Poetry
Dark Testament: Poems by Crystal Simone Smith (Henry Holt and Company).
A collection of confronting and visually intense poetry.
These blackout poems, created from George Saunders' Lincoln in the Bardo, give voice to those whose lives have been lost too soon to violence in the context of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Includes a moving introduction by the author and stays with you long after you close the book.
Pasifika Navigators: Pasifika Student Poetry Collection edited by Emeli Sione, illustrated by Darcy Solia (Mila’s Books). *
A great addition to any library or bookshelf, this is a collection of poetry from Pasifika students (Year 7–13) involved in a project to reconnect with their storytelling spirits.
The book includes representation from proud Pasifika tamaiti across Aotearoa. It is full of heart and soul with poetry about challenges, aspirations and heritage.
The Illustrated Edgar Allan Poe: 25 Essential Poems edited by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Moonshower).
This book is beautiful — lush and dark with a mix of Poe’s love, eerie and classic poems. Side borders of prompts encourage the reader to imagine and engage with the text in different ways. It also has lists of words, with definitions for some of the harder or more obscure vocabulary.
Stunningly illustrated and bound, it is a gorgeous example of how books can captivate and be an immersive experience.
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