On the New Books Display this Week

Picture:

• "Mutt Dog" by Stephen Michael KING (21st Anniversary edition)
• "A Guide to Rocks" by Sacha COTTER; illustrated by Josh MORGAN

Fiction:

• "The Magic Faraway Tree : The Folk of the Faraway Tree" by Enid BLYTON; illustrated by Mark BEECH  (The Magic Faraway Tree series)
• "Roller Girl" by Victoria JAMIESON
• "Willa and Woof : Birthday Business" by Jacqueline HARVEY  (Willa and Woof series)

Non fiction:

• "Roarrr! : Ancient Creatures of Aotearoa" by Donovan BIXLEY
• "The Periodic Table of Elements : Understanding the Building Blocks of Everything" by Jon Chad (Science Comics series)
• "Axel Scheffler's Treasury of Fairy Tales" by Axel Scheffler

Senior Fiction:

• "Escape" by Sophie McKENZIE

Book Fair 2026 - Coming Soon

St Brendan's School Book Fair 2026 will be held in our school library, next door to Room 9. The Book Fair will be open before and/or after school most weekdays between Tuesday, 28 July and the evening of Monday, 3 August. More information about Book Fair opening hours will be on display next term. All purchases from the Book Fair help to earn free books for our school library.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2026 - Non-fiction

Hooked: Learning to Fish written by Al Brown and illustrated by Hope McConnell

Omnibird: An Avian Investigator’s Handbook written and illustrated by Giselle Clarkson

Survive Aotearoa written by Bronwen Wall and Jonathan Kennett and illustrated by Kimberly Andrews

Taniwha written and illustrated by Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngāti Awa)

Whenua: Māori Pūrākau of Aotearoa written and illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu)


See the list of Te Reo Maori, Young Adult and other award finalists here.

Image via New Zealand Book Awards Trust 

On the New Books Display this Week

Picture:

• "Hauraki Broo / Ngā Purū o Hauraki" by Nikki SLADE-ROBINSON (Trilingual Chinese Language Week edition)
• "Pūkeko Who-Keko?" by Toby MORRIS; illustrated by Sara OGILVY
• "Left to Nowhere" by Ian CHAPMAN
• "Koro Wētā" by Heather HAYLOCK; illustrated by Sarah TROLLE

Fiction:

• "The Terrible Trio : The (Not So) Superheroes" by Swapna HADDOW; illustrated by Minky STAPLETON (The Terrible Trio series)
• "The Case of the Angry Ghost" by Rachael KING; illustrated by Phoebe MORRIS (Violet and the Velvets series)
• "Death Sets Sail" by Robin STEVENS (Murder Most Unladylike series)
• "Boy vs Beast : Ice Beast" by Mac PARK (Boy vs Beast series)
• "Creaky Acres" by Calista BRILL; illustrated by Nilah MAGRUDER

Non fiction:

• "Insect" by Laurence MOUND (DK Eyewitness series)
• "Hooked : Learning to Fish" by Al BROWN; illustrated by Hope McCONNELL
• "Roald Dahl's Marvelous Joke Book" by Roald DAHL
• "Simple Machines" by Nicolas BRASCH

Senior Fiction:

• "Hiva and the Heartbeats" by Selina Alesana ALEFOSIO

New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2026 - Junior Fiction

Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum written by Hannah Tunnicliffe and illustrated by Erica Harrison

Dreamslinger written and illustrated by Li Chen

Kimi the Kekeno’s Big Adventure written by Shelley Burne-Field (Ngāti Mutanga, Ngāti Rārua)

The Terrible Trio 1: The (not so) Superheroes written by Swapna Haddow and illustrated by Minky Stapleton

Violet and the Velvets 2: The Case of the Angry Ghost written by Rachael King and illustrated by Phoebe Morris


Visit the blog again next week for the Non-fiction finalists or if you can't wait till then have a look here for a list of all the finalists.

Image via New Zealand Book Awards Trust 

On the New Books Display this Week

Picture:

• "The Best Dog Ever" by Smriti PRASADAM-HALLS; illustrated by Chris JEVONS
• "Meri Kirihimete Kererū!" by JulietteMacIVER; illustrated by Daron PARTON

Fiction:

• "Dragon Girls : Ash The Blaze Dragon" by Maddy MARA (Dragon Girls series)
• "1000 Minutes of Danger" by Jack HEATH 
• "Ella and Olivia : Kiwi Club" by Yvette POSHOGLIAN; illustrated by Danielle McDONALD (Ella and Olivia series)
• "The Magic Faraway Tree" by Enid BLYTON; illustrated by Mark BEECH  (The Magic Faraway Tree series)
• "I Survived : The California Wildfires, 2018 - Graphic Novel" by Lauren TARSHIS; illustrated by Cassie ANDERSON (I Survived - Graphic Novel series)
• "Molly and the Bear : An Unlikely Pair" by Bob SCOTT & Vicki SCOTT (Molly and the Bear series)

Non fiction:

• "LEGO Play Book : Ideas to Bring Your Bricks to Life!" by Tim GODDARD and others
• "Electricity : Energy in Action" by Andy HIRSCH (Science Comics series)
• "Fish" by Steve PARKER (DK Eye Witness series)

Browsing:

• "Life Through Time : The 700-Million Year Story of Life on Earth" by John WOODWARD

Senior Fiction:

• "Wings of Fire : Talons of Power - Graphic Novel" by Tui T. SUTHERLAND; illustrated by Mike HOLMES (Wings of Fire - Graphic Novel series)
• "Dreamslinger" by Graci KIM (The Slinger series)

New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2026 - Picture Books

A Guide to Rocks written by Sascha Cotter and illustrated by Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata)

Koro Wētā written by Heather Haylock, illustrated by Sarah Trolle and translated by Ngairo Eruera (Ngāti Ranginui, Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa)

Left to Nowhere written and illustrated by Ian Chapman

Pūkeko Who-Keko? written and illustrated by Toby Morris

The Only Dinosaur in School written by Leonie Agnew and illustrated by Julia Hegetusch (Muaūpoko)

Visit the blog again next week for the Junior Fiction finalists or if you can't wait till then have a look here for a list of all the finalists.

Image via New Zealand Book Awards Trust

On the New Books Display this Week

Picture:

• "Dancing with Memories" by Sally YULE, Professor Ralph MARTINS & Maggie BEER; illustrated by Cheryl ORSINI
• "Gozzle" by Julia DONALDSON; illustrated by Sara OGILVY

Fiction:

• "Kristy's Big Day - Graphic Novel" by Mary Ann MARTIN & Gale GALLIGAN (Baby-Sitters Club - Graphic Novel series)
• "Hilo : Then Everything Went Wrong" by Judd WINICK (Hilo series)
• "Snug" by Michael MORPURGO; illustrated by Faye HANSON (Little Gems series)
• "Detective Beans and the Map of Mystery" by Li CHEN (Detective Beans series)
• "Bitza : Rules? What Rules?" by Andrew DADDO; illustrated by Stephen Michael KING (Bitza series)
• "Junie B Jones and a Little Monkey Business" by Barbara PARK & Colleen A F VENABLE; illustrated by Honie BEAM (Junie B Jones - Graphic novel series) 

Non fiction:

• "Crystal and Gem" by Dr R.F. SYMES & Dr R.R. HARDING (DK Eyewitness series)
• "Animal! The Animal Kingdom as you've Never Seen it Before" by John WOODWARD (DK Knowledge Encyclopedia series)
• "The Easter Story" by Joy COWLEY; illustrated by Donald MORRISON
• "Eye Twisters : The Science and Magic of Optical Illusions"

Senior Fiction:

• "Holes" by Louis SACHAR 
• "Sunshine" by Jarret J. KROSOCZKA

On the New Books Display this Week

Picture:

• "Dig, Dump, Roll" by Sally SUTTON; illustrated by Brian LOVELOCK
• "Finding Grace / Kimihia A Grace" by Emma HINTON; translated by Lois McIVER; illustrated by Nicky HARTLEY 

Fiction:

• "Dawn on the Coast - Graphic Novel" by Mary Ann MARTIN & Arley NOPRA (Baby-Sitters Club - Graphic Novel series)
• "Willa and Woof : Mimi is Missing" by Jacqueline HARVEY (Willa and Woof series)
• "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine RUNDELL; illustrated by Tomislav TOMIĆ (Impossible Creatures series)
• "Meet Ella : Swim Class" by Rebecca McRitchie; illustrated by Danielle McDONALD (Meet Ella series)
• "Piggy - The Entity" by Terrance CRAWFORD & Dan WIDOWSON (Piggy series)
• "Dream On" by  Shannon HALE

Non fiction:

• "Cat" by Juliet CLUTTON-BROCK (DK Eyewitness series)
• "Did You Know : Kiwi"  (Did You Know series)
• "Alive Again! The Easter Story" by Sarah J DODD & Ligi RAFFAELLA
• "Ernest Rutherford - Just an Ordinary Boy" by Maria GILL; illustrated by Alistar HUGHES

Senior Fiction:

• "Becoming Brianna" by Terri LIBENSON (Emmie & Friends series)
• "Wings of Fire : The Hybrid Prince" by Tui SUTHERLAND  (Wings of Fire series)

On the New Books Display this Week

Picture:

• "Don't Be Silly Santa" by Annie SIMPSON; illustrated by Ian WORRALL-DUTTON
• "Wowee! Look at that Tree!" by Ben KNIGHT

Fiction:

• "Dragon Girls : Maya the Ember Dragon" by Maddy MARA (Dragon Girls series)
• "The Bold Kitten" by Holly WEBB
• "InvestiGators : Case Files" by John Patrick GREEN (InvestiGators series)
• "The Magic Faraway Tree : The Enchanted Wood" by Enid BLYTON; illustrated by Mark BEECH  (The Magic Faraway Tree series)
• "Karen's Surprise - Graphic Novel" by Ann M. MARTIN & Sauna J. GRANT (Baby-sitters Little Sister - Graphic Novel series)
• "Star Wars Adventures - Volume 2" (Star Wars Adventures series)

Non fiction:

• "Racing Legends" by David CLAYTON
• "Roald Dahl's Whizzpopping Joke Book" by Roald DAHL
• "Space : The Universe as You've Never Seen it Before" (DK Knowledge Encyclopedia  series)
• "Football" by Hugh HORNBY (DK Eye Witness series)

Senior Fiction:

• "Shadow House : The Missing" by Dan POBLOCKI (Shadow House series)
• "The Kill Factor" by Ben OLIVER

On the New Books Display this Week

Picture:

• "The Hundred and One Dalmations" by Dodie SMITH & Peter BENTLY; illustrated by Steven LENTON
• "In the City" by Carron BROWN; illustrated by Stef MURPHY
• "The Oak Tree" by Julia DONALDSON; illustrated by Victoria SANDØY 

Fiction:

• "Deltora Quest 3 - 21st Anniversary Edition" by Emily RODDA
• "Junie B Jones and the Silly Smelly Bus - Graphic Novel" by Barbara PARK & Colleen A F VENABLE; illustrated by Honie BEAM  (Junie B Jones  - Graphic Novel series)
• "Blurmp : A Blurmp in Time" by Jim BENTON (Blurmp series)
• "Gymnastics Diaries : Bar Star" by Georgia GODWIN & Laura SEIVEKING; illustrated by Amanda ERB  (Gymnastics Diaries series)
• "The Ghost in the Bath" by Jeremy STRONG; illustrated by Scoular ANDERSON (4U2Read series)
• "Sea Legs" by Jules BAKES; illustrated by Niki SMITH
• "Press Start! : Game on, Super Rabbit Boy!" by Thomas FLINTHAM (Press Start series)

Non fiction:

• "Music" by Kirsty HOLMES (Genius Kid: Activities series)
• "Computers : How Digital Hardware Works" by Jason VIOLA; illustrated by Falynn KOCH (Science Comics series)
• "Quarks, Sparks and Quantum Mysteries" by Lisa HARVEY-SMITH; illustrated by Aiden RYAN

Senior Fiction:

• "Refugee : The Graphic Novel" by Alan GRATZ; illustrated by Syd FINI

On the New Books Display this Week

Picture:

• "Alpacas in Space" by Matt COSGROVE (Macca the Alpaca series)
• "The Big Story of Being Alive" by Neal LAYTON

Fiction:

• "Ella Forever : School Rivals" by Serena GEDDES (Ella Forever series)
• "Stuck" by Kayla MILLER (Click series)
• "Dragon Girls : Rosie the Twilight Dragon" by Maddy MARA (Dragon Girls series)
• "Gruff Justice" by Ross MONTGOMERY; illustrated by Marisa MOREA  (Little Gems series)
• "Diary of a Pug : Pug the Unicorn" by Kyla MAY (Diary of a Pug series)
• "The Sword Thief - Graphic Novel" by Gorgon CORMAN & Hannah TEMPLAR (39 Clues - Graphic Novel series)

Non fiction:

• "The Maps and Flags Book" by Joe FULMAN
• "Did You Know? - Tiger"  (Did You Know? series)
• "Minecraft Survival Challenges - The Heroic Edition" 
• "Dog" by Juliet CLUTTON-BROCK (DK Eyewitness series)

Senior Fiction:

• "Adorable Empire" by Laura TERRY

Reference:

• "The Catholic Children's Bible" 

On the New Books Display this Week

Picture:

• "Kia Hīteki i te Rā Whakanui Māmā / Hoppy Mother's Day" by Norah WILSON; illustrated by Kimberly ANDREWS (E Oma, Rapeti / Run Rabbit series)
• "Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever" by Suzanne LANG; illustrated by Max LANG (Grumpy Monkey series)

Fiction:

• "Gymnastics Diaries - Fantastic Floor" by Georgia GODWIN & Laura SIEVEKING; illustrated by Amanda ERB (Gymnastics Diaries series)
• "Reel Life" by Kane LYNCH
• "I Survived the Nazi Invasion" by Lauren TARSHIS; illustrated by Alvaro SARRASECA (I Survived series)
• "Bitza" by Andrew DADDO; illustrated by Stephen Michael KING  (Bitza series)
• "Owl Diaries : The Wildwood Bakery" by Rebecca ELLIOTT (Owl Diaries series)
• "The Different Stories" by Paul JENNINGS
• "Star Wars Adventures : Volume 1" by Disney (Star Wars Adventures series)

Non fiction:

• "Taniwha" by Gavin BISHOP
• "Humpback Whale : A First Field Guide to the Singing Giant of the Ocean" by Dr. Asha DE VOS
• "Sports" by Kirsty HOLMES (Genius Kid: Activities series)
• "A World of Super Cars" by Paul MASON (Genius Kid: Activities series)

Senior Fiction:

• "Invisible Emmie" by Terri LIBENSON (Emmie & Friends series)