Books published by publisher Random House New Zealand Ltd

Another adventure for Kapai and his mates. This time they head off to Wellington in Uncle Slims bug yellow bus. They visit the Beehive and when they meet the Speaker on the steps a big gust of wind comes and sweeps Kapai off his feet and way out into the Cook Strait but he is saved by Gooney the albatross and they land on the deck of the Cook Strait ferry. When they dock in Wellington the Speaker is there to take them all to Bellamy's for kai.

Poignant YA historical romance between a teen who runs away to fight in World War One, and his sweetheart back at home.Harry Wainwright is 17, not quite 18, but he can't wait to enlist for the Great War - so instead of going back to boarding school he runs away to war. He does this with the help of his sweetheart, Jessica. They are a wholesome Edwardian couple, steeped in all the respectable morality of their age. Both are in love with romance. Their letters begin idealistically and enthusiastically but gradually both young people learn of the horror of war and its associated cynicism. Rather than a depressing read, this is an interesting chronicle of the times and a charming portrayal of innocent love. Finalist in the Senior fiction category of the NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2003.

"Written and illustrated by well-known children's writer and illustrator Gavin Bishop, Taming the Sun contains four stories, including two well-known legends (Maui And The Sun and Maui And The Big Fish) and two less well-known legends (Rona And The Moon and Kahu The Taniwha).Aimed at children with reading ages 3-7 years, these myths are simply and yet elegantly written. Gavin's characteristic sense of humour is evident in all of the stories; and while each story is exciting and often a little bit scary, they are resolved beautifully. Gavin allows the essence of the original myths to remain while also re-telling them for a new generation of children.The illustrations are stunning - the different colour palette for each story and the strong mix of techniques create bold and beautiful images that integrate with the words in a powerful and meaningful way.Taming the Sun is an imaginative, fresh and much-needed addition to the picture book genre, which takes traditional myths to a new level. Created by one of New Zealand's most talented and passionate children's book writers and illustrators.SHORT-LISTED FOR NZ POST CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDS 2005."--Random House

A fascinating historical novel for young adults set in pioneer New Zealand.The year is 1833 and Lizzie Kemp's father, James, is a missionary to Maori at Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands. Lizzie is twelve years old: sparky, determined, and recently crippled by an illness. When hers baby brother dies and her mother becomes ill, nothing Lizzie does seems able to make things better. As the eldest daughter of seven children, much is expected of her. Life isn’t easy, but does God care? Is there any point in praying, as her father has taught her? Based on a true story, Lizzie, love is a moving and vibrant cameo of life in early colonial New Zealand. Brenda Delamain brings Lizzie Kemp to us: thoughtful, brave and fully alive.

The second book in the hilarious and outrageous 'Aunt Effie' series for junior readers.Aunt Effie, dressed in her green canvas invalid's pyjamas, hibernates all winter, leaving her 26 resourceful nieces and nephews to deal with snowstorm and flood, ravening monsters, a barnful of hungry animals and a wild ark-ride over the Vast Untrodden Ureweras. Among the comic cast of cousins are Daisy, whose primness puckers the mouth, Alwyn, who echoes and 'backwardises' the most emphatic statements, and Jack, a junior version of Jack-the-deer-culler Lasenby. There's a horse who acts as a dubiously qualified doctor, a gander who causes the ark to roll, and cows with insomnia - snoring in tune. With his trademark embellishments and wonderful blend of humour, excitement and wacky fun, award-winning writer Jack Lasenby has created another story of mayhem and delight.

A gripping young adult novel that sweeps from the pioneer past to the present.In the late 1820s, Lizzie Dawson, only sixteen, was forced to be the child bride of a notorious whaler in the remote Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand. There began a living hell — until she met Matthew, a young Maori preacher, and with love came defiance. Flash forward to today. Bel, also sixteen, is sent to a remote farm in the Sounds. Her parents are in the throes of divorce and Bel's turbulent thoughts attract an uneasy force. '"At last," says a voice in my head. "You're here." And I know without a doubt that Lizzie has come for me, and me alone.' Lizzie has an urgent story to tell. Past events drive her to reach across time, across worlds. In this extraordinary first novel, Lorraine Orman evokes the nineteenth-century whalers' lives as vividly as the contemporary story. Cross Tides sweeps you into its double world with eerie, irresistible power.

A touching coming-of-age story that shows the impact of the second world war on New Zealand families Brother Harry is home from fighting in Egypt – just for a while. He’s a breath of fresh air in the midst of food rationing and twice-a-day milking. He teaches 13-year-old Helen to drive, and to fire the rifle, just in case… But Dad’s heart is wonky, and sister Jess is an ice-queen. Then Harry lets slip that Helen’s not actually who she thinks she is For Helen it’s a dizzying job, finding the wisdom, courage and humour to ‘grit up’ and get on with it.An extraordinary story evoking one girl’s irrepressible spirit.

A gripping fantasy adventure novel for young readers. Over the galaxy, a strange, deafening tide is flooding. The planet Pluto disappears. Creeping in from between star systems is The Unquiet. It stinks like a million burning tyres, and it jabbers and screams as if the sky is in agony. Soon it attacks the earth: swallowing entire countries. A second, smaller power seeks out Tansy, a young girl in a town at the bottom of the world. She has a gift.The earth urgently needs that gift, and it also needs the knowledge that a boy called Anaru holds. Together Tansy and Anaru – with guides from another realm – travel far into the heart of the earth. What will they discover there? How can they help to stem the world’s great unrest? Calling on great myths of the world, The Unquiet is a spellbinding story that cradles a deep peace at its core. “There’s only one planet that weaves into its spinning the wild thread of imagination. It touches everything we know.”

Very funny, must-read-aloud yarn for junior readers about the fantastical adventures of a talking horse and a boy looking for his mother. Billy wakes one morning to find his mother gone and the house in control of a strange woman burning the porridge. According to Billy, his father has gone all lackadaisical. So it’s Old Smoko, a well-spoken Clydesdale farm-horse, who takes Billy to school each day and teaches him to read. Together Billy and Old Smoko go in search of Billy’s real mum under the Kaimai Ranges, out the back of Waharoa. They meet a queen disguised as the Rawleighs Man, cannibal eels and man-eating Captain Cookers, but even they cannot prevail against a boy and his horse, especially when they have both read the mythology section of the School Journal. Billy learns the secret of Mount Te Aroha, hears the ancient Maori story of Snow White, and sees how Auckland got its electricity. He goes pig hunting, plays footy, discovers roast pork and apple sauce sandwiches – and falls in love with the blue eyes of Harrietta.Written by one of New Zealand's wittiest and most original and delightfully anarchic storytellers fior children, this book is guaranteed to make the world a better place for those who believe in the value of friendship.

Fantasy, adventure and realism combine in a junior fiction novel by an award-winning writer. When David’s uncle comes to visit he sets off a bizarre series of events. Things become complicated when the pet rats turn bright red. David senses that somehow the red rats are connected to the story he is reading, and he becomes more convinced when the colour red becomes contagious.The parallel story sees Felix and his friend Bella inadvertently shifted into a strange land where they must solve a riddle. But this puts them into great danger. How will they escape and find their way home?Young readers will want to solve the confusing conundrum of the red rats; they’ll delight in the word riddles and be absorbed by David’s story as well as by the fantastical adventures of Felix and Bella, skilfully told by the NZ Post Award-winning writer James Norcliffe.

A group of friends links forces to take on the town's bullies in this boisterous story for junior readers. ‘Die you scumbags!’ Adam cried, immediately swinging into action with the double-barrelled, pump action water cannon… Finn heard the throaty growl of the V8 before Adam saw the car approaching… ‘Ad!’ he called urgently. ‘Don’t do it.’ But Adam does do it - and that's the start of real trouble. Not only has Adam fired on the town's toughest gang but one of them is the older brother of Ivan Spittle, wedgy king and leading contender for the school's 'bully of the year' award. Adam and Finn lie low, but their hideout is discovered by Kim, Tara and Robbie. Together they form The Dare Club; taking outrageous risks and stirring up Ivan and his motley crew. As disaster looms, the unlikely gang uncover secrets about one another - secrets that will either split them up or give them strength for their final test, a confrontation with Ivan's gang.With a cast of zany kids The Dare Club is a bubbly, boisterous story that'll rock the socks of those who dare!