John's National Radio Reviews

Local Publishing – 4 May 2012 (play podcast)

Taketakerau: The Millenium Tree, by Marnie Anstis, illustrated by Patricia Howitt and Kelly Spencer, published by Steele Roberts
The Eels of Anzac Bridge, by Ali Foster, illustrated by Viv Walker, published by Wairarapa Archive/ Fraser Books
Hautipua Rererangi (Born to Fly Maori), by Julian Arahanga, illustrated by Andrew Burdan published by Huia Publishers

ANZAC – 20 April 2012 (play podcast)

The Red Poppy, by David Hill, illustrated by Fifi Colston, published by Scholastic
Le Quesnoy:The Story of the Town New Zealand Saved, by Glyn Harper, illustrated by Jenny Cooper, published by Penguin
When Empire Calls, by Ken Catran, published by Scholastic

Dystopian Senior Fiction – 6 April 2012 (play podcast)

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, published by Scholastic
The Bridge, by Jane Higgins, published by Text Publishing Co

Senior Fiction – 23 March 2012 (play podcast)

Wonder, by R. J. Palacio, published by Vintage
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, by Annabel Pitcher, published by Orion Publishing Co

Graphic Novels – 9 March 2012 (play podcast)

Kimble Bent, Malcontent, by Chris Grosz, published by Random House NZ Ltd
Shaolin Burning, by Ant Sang, published by Harper Collins Publishers NZ
Nice Day for a War, by Matt Elliott and Chris Slane, published by Harper Collins

New Zealand – 24 February 2012 (play podcast)

It's OK!, by Jo Heslop, illustrated by Annie Roska, published by Jo Heslop
The House That Jack Built, by Gavin Bishop, published by Gecko Press
The House That Went to Sea, by Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Gabriella Klepatski, published by David Ling Publishing Ltd

Young Adult – 10 February 2012 (play podcast)

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonothan Safran Foer, published by Penguin Books Ltd
The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznik, published by Scholastic US
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, published by Scholastic

Picture Books – 27 January 2012 (play podcast)

Stomp!, by Ruth Paul, published by Scholastic New Zealand Limited
Look! A book!, by Bob Staake, published by Little, Brown & Company
The Scar, by Charlotte Moundley, illustrated by Olivier Tallec , published by Walker Books Ltd

Great Christmas Reads – 16 December 2011 (play podcast)

War Horse, by Michael Morpurgo, published by Egmont Children's Books
Private Peaceful, by Michael Morpurgo, published by HarperCollins Publishers
Stories of the Wild West Gang, by Joy Cowley, , published by Gecko Press

New Zealand Picture Books – 2 December 2011 (play podcast)

On the Road to Tuapeka, by Ben Brown, illustrated by Scott Tulloch, published by Scholastic New Zealand Limited
There's a Hole in my Bucket, by Jenny Cooper (Sung by the Topp Twins), published by Scholastic New Zealand Limited
Two Little Bugs, by Mark Sommerset, illustrated by Rowan Sommerset, published by Dreamboat Books

Non-fiction – 18 November 2011 (play podcast)

Not for Parents – London – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know, published by Lonely Planet
Digging up the Past – Archaeology for the Young and Curious, by David Veart, published by Auckland University Press
D.E.S.I.G.N., by Ewa Solarz, illustrated by Daniel and Aleksandra Mizielinski, published by Gecko Press

Picture books – 4 November 2011 (play podcast)

Poo Bum, by Stephanie Blake, published by Gecko Press
Bruiser, by Gavin Bishop, published by Random House
Rudie Nudie, by Emma Quay, published by ABC Books

Picture books – 21 October 2011 (play podcast)

The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories, by Dr Seuss, published by Harper Collins
Bumble-Ardy, by Maurice Sendak, published by Harper Collins

New Zealand books – 7 October 2011 (play podcast)

Fantail's Quilt, by Gay Hay, illustrated by Margaret Tolland, published by Page Break
The Flytrap Snaps, by Johanna Knox, published by Hinterlands Press

New Zealand books – 23 September 2011 (play podcast)

Rahui, by Chris Szekely, illustrated by Malcolm Ross, published by Huia
The Call of the Kokako, by Maria Gill, illustrated by Heather Arnold, published by New Holland
Kimble Bent Malcontent, by Chris Grosz, published by Random House

Middle fiction – 9 September 2011 (play podcast)

In the Sea there are Crocodiles, by Fabio Geda, published by David Fickling Books
The Unforgotten Coat, by Frank Cottrell Boyce, published by Walker Books

Breaking gender boundaries – 26 August 2011 (play podcast)

My Princess Boy, by Cheryl Kilodavis, illustrated by Suzanne DeSimone, published by Simon and Schuster
The Sissy Duckling, by Harvey Feirstein, illustrated by Harvey Cole, published by Aladdin
The Boy Who Cried Fabulous, by Leslea Newman, illustrated by Peter Ferguson, published by Tricycle Press

Picture books featuring same-sex couples 12 August 2011 (play podcast)

Donovan's Big Day, by Leslea Newman, published by Tricycle Press
A Tale of Two Daddies, by Vanita Oelschlager, published by Vanita Books King and King, by Linda de Haan, published by Tricycle Press

New Zealand intermediate fiction – 29 July 2011 (play podcast)

The Travelling Restaurant, by Barbara Else, published by Gecko Press
The Pyre of Queens, by David Hair, published by Penguin

Picture books about grief – 17 June 2011 (play podcast)

Mending Lucille, by J.R. Poulter, illustrated by Sarah Davis, published by Lothian
The Important Things, by Peter Carnavas, published by New Frontier Publishing
The Bear and The Wildcat, by Kazumi Yumoto, illustrated by Komako Sakai, published by Gecko Press

New Zealand picture books – 3 June 2011 (play podcast)

Gypsy Day on the Farm, by Jennifer Beck, illustrated by Lisa Allen, published by New Holland
A Bigger Digger, by Brett Avison, illustrated by Craig Smith, published by Five Mile Press

New Zealand books – 20 May 2011 (play podcast)

Dirt Bomb, by Fleur Beale, published by Random
New Zealand Hall of Fame – 50 Remarkable Kiwis, by Maria Gill, illustrated by Bruce Potter and published by New Holland

Indigenous picture books – 6 May 2011 (play podcast)

The Taniwha of Wellington Harbour, by Moira Warama, illustrated by Bruce Potter, published by Puffin
Stolen Girl, by Trina Saffiotti, illustrated by Norma MacDonald, published by Magabala Books
The Old Frangipani Tree at Flying Fish Point, by Trina Saffioti, illustrated by Maggie Prewett, published by Macabala Books

ANZAC day books – 21 April 2011 (play podcast)

Lest We Forget, by Feana Tu‘akoi, illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt, published by Scholastic
Nice Day for a War, by Matt Elliot, illustrated by Chris Slane, published by HarperCollins

Hardback Picture Books 08-04-11 (play podcast)

And Picasso Painted Guernica, Alain Serres, Allen and Unwin
Press Here, Herve Tullet, Allen and Unwin

A Tribute to Three Authors 27-03-11 (play podcast)
John pays tribute to the works of Eva Ibbotson, Dick King-Smith and Brian Jacques.

Journey to the River Sea, by Eva Ibbotson, published by Pan Macmillan
Babe the Gallant Pig, by Dick King-Smith, published by Random House for Young Readers
The Redwall Series, by Brain Jacques, published by Random House Children's Books

New Zealand Post Book Awards Finalists 11-03-11 (play podcast)
 Smiling Jack, Ken Catran, HarperCollins
Sensational Survivors, Sandra Morris, Walker Books
Finnigan and the Pirates, Sherryl Jordan, Scholastic



New Zealand Intermediate Fiction 11-02-11 (play podcast)
Just Jack, Adele Broadbent, HarperCollins
The Mine's Afire!, Susan Battye and Thelma Eakin, Scholastic



Best Books of 2010 28-01-11 (play podcast)
Mirror, Jeannie Baker, Walker Books
Scat, Carl Hiaasen, Orion
H.O.U.S.E., Alexandra Machowiak, ill. Daniel Mizielinski, Gecko Press



Fiction 23-12-10 (play podcast)
Unhooking the Moon, Gregory Hughes, Quercus
Odd and the Frost Giants, Neil Gaiman, Bloomsbury



New Zealand Picture Books 10-12-10 (play podcast)
Baa Baa Smart Sheep, Mark Sommerset, ill. Rowan Sommerset, Dreamboat Books
Quaky Cat, Diana Doonan, ill. Gavin Bishop, Scholastic
The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate, Joy Cowley, ill. Sarah Davis, Gecko Press



Fiction 26-11-10 (play podcast)
The Magician's Elephant, Kate DiCamillo, Walker Books
The Haystack, Jack Lasenby, Harper Collins
Boys Don't Cry, Malorie Blackman, Doubleday



Hardback Picture Books and Non-fiction 12-11-10 (play podcast)
H.O.U.S.E., Alexandra Machowiak, ill. Daniel Mizielinski, Gecko Press
The Moon and Farmer McPhee, Margaret Mahy, ill. David Elliot, Random House
The Legend of the Golden Snail, Graeme Base, Puffin



Picture Books 29-10-10 (play podcast)
It's a Book, Lane Smith, Walker Books
Hill and Hole, Kyle Mewburn, ill. Vasanti Unka, Penguin
Willbee the Bumblebee, Craig Smith and Maureen Thompson, ill. Katz Cowley, Scholastic