What’s the best way to get adults reading? Get them reading when they’re children – and there’s no better place to start than the Unity Children’s Bestseller Chart.
These lists of the bestselling children’s books at Unity Wellington and Little Unity in Auckland cover the four weeks to November 29 2019.
AUCKLAND
1 The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman (Penguin Random House, $35, 15+)
“I loved His Dark Materials. I was given a copy of the first book as a prize, during a high school awards ceremony, and became so immediately engrossed that I nearly missed my next on-stage appearance entirely. Around 14 years later, I was excited about the new series too … “ – Dr Susan Wardell reviewing The Secret Commonwealth for the Spinoff.
2 My First Words in Māori by Stacey Morrison with Ali Teo and John O’Reilly (Puffin, $20, 5+)
“The most important thing is to not feel like we’re alone, and not feel like we’re the only ones that can’t get it.” – Stacey Morrison, interviewed by Ātea editor Leonie Hayden this week.
3 The Dinky Donkey by Craig Smith (Scholastic, $20, 2+)
“The first print run of The Wonky Donkey was 3000; the initial print run for this book is 500,000 so it’s pretty surreal.” – the author to the Herald.
4 Mophead: How Your Difference Makes a Difference by Selina Tusitala Marsh (Auckland University Press, $25, 7+)
Forty-odd years ago our former Poet Laureate was a magnificent little girl stirring up spells under a hedge.
5 Hello, New Zealand! By Megan McKean (Thames & Hudson, $25, 3+)
Heaps of cruise ships stopping in Auckland last week, then?
6 Te Tiriti o Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi by Toby Morris with Ross Calman, Mark Derby, and Piripi Walker (Lift Education, $20, 8+)
Toby rulz.
7 The Little Prince Antoine De Saint-Exupery (Collector’s Library, $17, 10+)
A fox, a rose, sheep, a desert, a prince, an asteroid – a classic, completely mad and completely marvellous.
8 Wildlife of Aotearoa by Gavin Bishop (Penguin, $40, all ages)
You will probs never eat whitebait again.
9 The Bomb by Sacha Cotter & Josh Morgan (Huia, $23, 5+)
Winner of the 2019 Margaret Mahy Book of the Year.
10 The Adventures of Tupaia by Courtney Sina Meredith & Mat Tait (Allen & Unwin, $35, 10+)
Don’t be fooled by all the turquoise and peach: this is a story about tough stuff.
WELLINGTON
1 No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg (Penguin, $8, all ages)
A very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future.
2 The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman (Penguin Random House, $35, 15+)
3 The Dinky Donkey by Craig Smith (Scholastic, $20, 2+)
4 Wildlife of Aotearoa by Gavin Bishop (Penguin, $40, all ages)
5 Mophead: How Your Difference Makes a Difference by Selina Tusitala Marsh (Auckland University Press, $25, 7+)
6 The Smelly Giant by Kurahau & Laya Mutton-Rogers (Huia Publishers, $25, 5+)
Feat. a kind giant called Toe Jam.
7 Wrecking Ball #14 Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Puffin, $18, 6+)
Feat. DIY gone awry.
8 Tohorā: The Southern Right Whale by Ned Barraud (Potton Burton, $20, 5+)
Feat. a charming comeback story.
9 Northern Lights by Philip Pullman (Scholastic, $20, 13+)
“Pullman somehow managed to make the story clear so that you can understand, but at the same time sort of “misty”, and everything happens as if you were in some kind of dream.” – a child’s review for the Guardian.
10 The Mapmakers’ Race by Eirlys Hunter (Gecko Press, $20, 8+)
“I think many writers have been forced into writing fantasy because the reality of most contemporary children’s lives is so boring. They’re driven everywhere, closely timetabled and monitored, and spend so much time looking at their screens.” – the author, interviewed for thereaderteacher.com