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Article  •  9 May 2023

 

Top Penguin kids books that tie into the new history curriculum

Read on for book recommendations that tie into the new NZ school history curriculum

For Primary 

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First to the Top

First in a series of illustrated biographies suitable for primary school children, celebrating the life of outstanding New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and how his achievements contributed to Aotearoa New Zealand’s collective identity.

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Dinosaur Hunter

Once upon a time in Aotearoa, scientists said this land had never had any dinosaurs. A woman from Hawke’s Bay found the fossils and proved them wrong. Written for primary school children, this illustrated biography tells the inspiring true story of Joan Wiffen and her contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand’s scientific record.

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Sky High

In a time when aviation was just taking off and women weren’t expected to have adventures, Jean Batten set world records for solo flight. Written for primary school children, this is the illustrated biography of a trailblazing New Zealander.

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Speed King

The legendary Burt Munro set a world land-speed record on his motorcycle! Written for primary school children, this is the illustrated biography of a determined New Zealander character who achieved his dream and found fame late in life.

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Hero of the Sea

Written for primary school children, this stunning biographical picture book for young readers tells the story of Sir Peter Blake, the world-renowned New Zealand yachtsman, adventurer and environmentalist.

 

For Primary to Intermediate

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Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story

For primary through to intermediate students this is a multiple-award-winning book about the ‘big picture’ of this whenua, its history and its people, from earliest formation to the present day. With detailed illustrations throughout, it’s perfect for reluctant readers and a range of learning styles.

 

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Amazing Aotearoa Activity Book

Based on the content of Aotearoa, this standalone book offers a range of fun and educational activities about our land and its people, for early primary to intermediate level students.

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Conrad Cooper’s Last Stand

Will a Māori god listen to the prayers of a ten-year-old Pākehā boy? Set in 1978 against the Bastion Point occupation, Conrad Cooper's Last Stand is award-winning fiction for senior primary and intermediate readers about colonisation, and the power of protest to challenge abuse of power.

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Finding

For upper primary and intermediate readers, this warm and engrossing novel tells the layered, multigenerational story of Aotearoa’s colonisation. Covers the key historical events since European settlement through to contemporary times, with strong themes of biculturalism and connection to whenua.

 

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Wildlife of Aotearoa

For primary through to intermediate students, an award-winning, fully illustrated guide to our whenua, our amazing wildlife and the history of human impact on our unique environment.

 

For Intermediate to High School

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Coastwatcher

For intermediate readers through to junior high school, this action-packed novel is about a New Zealand coastwatcher of WW2 – people stationed on Pacific Islands to report to Allied forces on the Japanese Army’s movements, a voluntary job that came with immense personal risk.

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The Calling

For intermediate to high school readers, this vivid novel is about finding your calling, societal expectations of women, the extraordinary nun Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, and the realities of religious bigotry in late-19th century New Zealand. Capturing a past time and place as well as real figures from our history, this novel raises many points for discussion.

 

For High School

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The Sparrow

A powerful new historical novel from one of New Zealand’s best-loved YA authors Tessa Duder, exploring the arrival of Pākehā settlers to Auckland. A great read for teen fans of historical and adventure fiction with a strong portrayal of various historical figures.

Featured Titles

First to the Top
Meet Sir Edmund Hillary, a shy but determined beekeeper from New Zealand who dreamed of being the first person to climb to the summit of Mt Everest, the world's tallest mountain.
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Dinosaur Hunter
Meet Joan Wiffen, a super-determined, self-taught palaeontologist, and join her on the hunt for the fossils that will prove New Zealand once had dinosaurs.
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Sky High
Meet Jean Batten, the brave, trail-blazing and glamorous aviator, who strove to set new records in death-defying solo flights across the world.
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Speed King
Meet Burt Munro, an unknown, elderly New Zealander whose obsession with setting a world land-speed record at Bonneville on his ancient Indian motorcycle made him a Kiwi legend.
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Hero of the Sea
Meet Peter Blake, the famous New Zealand yachtsman, who won the world's most famous yacht races and worked to help save the world's precious waterways.
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Aotearoa
Discover the story of New Zealand through this multiple-award-winning, richly illustrated visual history by Gavin Bishop.
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Amazing Aotearoa Activity Book
There are 60+ awesome games, puzzles and activities in this fun, creative and high-quality activity book based on Gavin Bishop's bestselling Aotearoa.
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Conrad Cooper's Last Stand
Conrad Cooper has just decided that Tane, the god of the forest, is the perfect guy to solve his problems. Leonie Agnew's Conrad Cooper's Last Stand is a surprising, brave and award-winning novel for young readers.
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Finding
Master storyteller David Hill traces the fortunes of two New Zealand families over seven generations, through wars, depressions, disasters, protest and social change in this exciting novel for intermediate readers.
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Wildlife of Aotearoa
Encounter New Zealand's amazing array of wildlife in this award-winning illustrated companion volume to Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story
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Coastwatcher
No training could have prepared Frank for a dangerous coastwatching mission against the Japanese in this award-winning WWII novel by David Hill
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The Calling
A novel about finding your calling, the extraordinary nun Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, and the realities of religious bigotry in late-nineteenth century New Zealand.
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The Sparrow
A powerful new historical novel from one of New Zealand’s best-loved YA authors
Read more

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My Kiwi Hero - activity sheet!

Meet Joan Wiffen, a super-determined, self-taught palaeontologist, and a Kiwi Hero! Who is your Kiwi Hero? Print off our activity sheet below and draw a picture of them! 

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Hero of the Sea: activity

Use the key to unlock the secret message!

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