Primary (ages 6-9)

Material appropriate for primary age groups

Kiwi Moon

Created by well-known children’s writer and illustrator Gavin Bishop, this is the story of a little white kiwi. When he is born his mother doesn’t recognise him because he’s not brown. Little Kiwi looks to the moon as his mother instead because it is white and bright and round. In the background of this story we see the changing times of a nearby pa. Through illustrations only we see intertribal warfare, the death of the chief, English soldiers arriving and then the burning of the pa. This fire spreads and the two stories become one as the white kiwi’s habitat is razed to the ground.On the surface this is a very simple story but it also contains themes of intertribal warfare, European colonisation of New Zealand, Maori/Pakeha relations, and conservation. There is a lot to savour on each page – with Gavin’s stunning illustrations of the main kiwi story, the on-going images of the pa, plus close-ups of insects and plants.

The Orphan: A Cinderella Story from Greece

Once upon a time in Greece, fate left a young girl an orphan. Her stepmother was so hateful that she counted every drop of water the orphan drank! But with the help of Nature’s blessings, the orphan was showered with gifts: brilliance from the Sun, beauty from the Moon, gracefulness from the Dawn—and even a tiny pair of blue shoes from the Sea. When the prince comes to visit their village, he only has eyes for the mysterious beauty. Children will love this fanciful folk retelling of the Cinderella story, accompanied by luminous watercolor illustrations by Giselle Potter.

Puckster’s First Hockey Game

There are hundreds of thousands of young children enrolled in organized hockey associations all across Canada and nothing is more exciting for these kids than getting that first hockey sweater and playing in their first hockey game. With loads of exciting hockey action, great illustrations, and an entertaining story, young hockey fans everywhere will love to read—or be read— Puckster’s hockey adventures again and again.

Puckster’s First Hockey Sweater

There are hundreds of thousands of young children enrolled in organized hockey associations all across Canada and nothing is more exciting for these kids than getting that first hockey sweater and playing in their first hockey game. With loads of exciting hockey action, great illustrations, and an entertaining story, young hockey fans everywhere will love to read—or be read— Puckster’s hockey adventures again and again.

The Third Gift

After harvesting an especially large “tear” of a resin known as myrrh, a young boy and his father visit a spice merchant whose three customers are seeking a special gift to bring to a baby. Includes biblical references and historical information about the Magi and myrrh.

Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?

“I don’t like the dark,” said Little Bear. “What dark?” said Big Bear. “The dark all around us,” said Little Bear. In this tender account of a sleepless night in the bear cave, Big Bear sets out with all his patience and understanding to show Little Bear that the dark is nothing to be afraid of. When all the lanterns in the cave aren’t enough to quell Little Bear’s troubled emotions, Big Bear offers—in a final loving gesture—nothing less than the bright yellow moon and the twinkling stars!

Wee Granny’s Magic Bag

Emily and Harry love going on trips with Wee Granny. Surprising things always happen when she brings her tartan bag. One Christmas when they were carol singing Harry’s torch stopped working, so Granny reached into her bag and pulled out a lamppost to help them see! Last summer they were on the beach and Wee Granny rummaged around in her tartan bag and pulled out a deckchair each for them to sit on! Today they are going to the park, and when Mum calls to ask Granny if she’ll bake some cakes for the school fair, an incredible afternoon begins. A very funny picture book about two children and their amazing granny. With huge surprises on every page, you’ll never guess what will appear next from Wee Granny’s magic bag.

The Gingerbread Boy

A folk tale classic by Paul Galdone, in a beautiful gift edition with gold foil accents. See if you can keep up with the Gingerbread Boy as he outruns a little old woman, a cow, and even a field full of mowers. With lively illustrations full of spunk and humor, this classic retelling takes readers on an adventure-packed ride with one of literature’s most beloved characters.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

“WHO’S THAT TRIPPING OVER MY BRIDGE?” The three Billy Goats Gruff are hungry and want to go over the bridge and up the hillside to a fine meadow full of grass and daisies where they can eat and eat and eat, and get fat. But under the bridge lives a troll who’s as mean as he is ugly…With humorous, onomatopoeic language, call-and-answer structure, and colorful illustrations, Paul Galdone’s telling of this familiar tale is great for reading aloud with groups.