• Jonah's First Day by Feana Tu'akoi (Scholastic, $18.99, pbk).
Jonah was really excited about starting kindergarten but when he got there he became apprehensive and asked his mother to take him back home.
The next day Jonah's grandfather took him to kindy, where they both stayed and had a great time being involved in lots of different learning experiences.
Finally Jonah discovers that kindy is fun.
This is a sensitive book which could assist children with overcoming their fears when they attend any early-childhood setting for the first time (just replace the word kindy with daycare).
Suitable age: 18 months upwards.
• The Mouse That Squeaked by Murray Ball (Scholastic, $18.99, pbk).
Barry Mouse, and everyone else, is bullied by Razour the rat when Razour moves into the neighbourhood.
Barry decides to take on Razour so Titanya Olgaskya Mouse, Barry's best friend, will admire him.
The two friends end up living happily ever after but first there's a lot of adventure to be had.
Typical madness and fun by Murray Ball.
Suitable age: 9-adult (but only because the text is difficult to follow).
• Witchy Goes Shopping by Dianne Boles (also available in Maori, Te Haere Hokohoko a Witiwitipu by Dianne Boles, retold by Katarina Mataira) (Scholastic, $18.99, pbk).
It's Witchy's birthday so she goes to her cupboard to collect some special spell ingredients and finds the cupboard is empty.
Witchy can't remember the special spell words so she has no choice but to hop on her broomstick and go shopping.
Unfortunately, Witchy leaves her spectacles at home and she chooses all the wrong ingredients.
Children will chuckle at Witchy's misfortune but Witchy eventually manages to turn everything into a very special birthday party.
Children will enjoy this fun story which has great illustrations.
Suitable age: 3-7.
• Kiwi Mums by Yvonne Morrison (Scholastic, $18.99, pbk)
Kiwi Mums is a very short light-hearted look at some of the special qualities Kiwi mums have here in Aotearoa New Zealand - such as trying to balance all her appointments at once, gossiping at the hairdresser, getting stressed as she chauffeurs her children around town in the family van, and struggling to keep fit so she can fit into last year's togs.
There's a page at the back to insert the mother's photo, which would suggest someone would buy it for their mother.
But it's a bit too stereotypical for my liking, and quite frankly I don't see the point of it.
Then again, maybe I'm lacking a sense of humour.
Suitable age: anyone who has money to burn.
• Where's Koro's Hat? by Kerehi Waiariki (also available in Maori, Kei hea taku potae? by Kerehi Waiariki) (Huia, $16, pbk).
It's a hot day and Koro wants to find his fishing hat so he can go fishing.
Koro goes around asking all the members of his whanau if they have seen his hat but no-one has seen it.
Finally, he asks his grandson and his grandson is able to show him where it is.
This book has great illustrations but the storyline is a little too simplistic for my liking.
Suitable age: 3-5.
• Anzac Day Parade by Glenda Kane and Lisa Allen (Penguin, $18.99, pbk).
A very poignant story, told in rhyme, about a young boy who asks an old man questions about the war, which then prompts the war veteran to relive his past on Anzac Day.
The illustrator has done an incredible job with her thought-provoking illustrations, which blend perfectly with the sad tale spoken by the author.
They make a great team.
This book is a must have for primary and intermediate school libraries.
Suitable age: 7-12.
• Fly Pie by Joy Cowley (Scholastic, $18.99, pbk).
A frog knew he could become a prince again if he was kissed by a princess.
Thankfully this wasn't going to be difficult for him, as a princess lived in a castle down the road.
This is a really lovely book, based on The Princess and the Frog, which is great to read and fun to listen to.
The story also has a nice little twist at the end.
Children will love the cute little frogs and the captivating illustrations.
Suitable age: 2-6.
• Alice's Adventures At The Castle by Diane Miller (Lifelogs, $19.99, pbk)
Alice's Adventures At The Castle is Dunedin's answer to Alice in Wonderland, where Wonderland is Larnach Castle and its rather magical gardens.
Alice takes us on an adventure throughout the castle and castle grounds and we meet some of the original characters of the story along the way.
Finally we have a children's book about Larnach Castle! This is such a great way to pass down knowledge of the castle to younger generations, and it will also hopefully inspire children to become interested about some of the history in their local environment.
Suitable age: 2 years and upwards.
Paula Benson-Gamble is a Dunedin mother and kindergarten teacher.
