Living Books Listed by Author
What is a Living Book?
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A living book is written in a way that draws the reader emotionally and intellectually into the subject. The author displays a passion for their subject and they are often an authority in their field. Living books pass on their readers' great ideas and inspire them to want to learn/wonder about the subject more. Living books do not list facts, or dates, and present dry information, rather intertwine important information into stories, narratives, and cleverly written conversations. They do not talk down or moralise their young audience. They can be fiction or non-fiction, chapter or storybooks.
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“One more thing is of vital importance; children must-have books, living books. The best is not too good for them; anything less than the best is not good enough. And if it is needful to exercise economy, let go of everything that belongs to soft and luxurious living before letting go of the duty of supplying the books, and the frequent changes of books, which are necessary for the constant stimulation of the child’s intellectual life.” Charlotte Mason
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Below is an index of all the books I have reviewed on the website in alphabetical order, by author.
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Here is a list of the Ester Glen Award Laureates. If I have reviewed a book, there will be a link to the review.
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Top 100 New Zealand Children's Books of the 20th Century as compiled by Lorraine Orman, children's literature expert & writer in 2000. If I have reviewed a book, there will be a link to the review. (Original Source)
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Books in RED are Living Books
** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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Acres, Avis
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The Hutu and Kawa Series **
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Hutu and Kawa meet Tuatara (1956)
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Hutu and Kawa Find an Island (1957)
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Opo the Gay Dolphin (1956)
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Anderson, Mona
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Home is the High Country (1979) **
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A River Rules My Life (1960) **
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Anstis, Marnie
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Taketakera, The Millennium Tree (2018) **
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Barker, Lady
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Station Life in New Zealand (1870) **
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Baxter, James K.
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Barraud, Ned & Candler, Gillian
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Beames, Margaret
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​Hidden Valley (1983)
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Boom, Rosie
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The Barn Chronicles 2013 **
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Cowley, Joy
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Hunter (2006)
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Dallas, Ruth
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Ragamuffin Scarecrow (1969)
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Duggan, Maurice
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Falter Tom and the Water Boy (1957) **
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Dunstan, Peggy
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A Fistful of Summer (1981)
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de Roo, Anne
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The Gold Dog (1969)
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Moa Valley (1969) **
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Boy and the Sea Beast (1971) **
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Cinnamon and Nutmeg (1972)
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Mick's Country Cousins (1974)
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Scrub Fire (1977)
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Traveller (1983) **
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Because of Rosie (1980) **
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Jack Nobody (1983)
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Friend Troll Friend Taniwha (1986)
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Bat's Nest (1986)
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Ell, Gordon
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Ellin, E. M. (Elizabeth Muriel)
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The Children of Clearwater Bay (1969) **
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The Greenstone Axe (1975) **
England, Clarice
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​Druscilla (1980)
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Falla, Molly
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A Sketchbook of New Zealand Birds (1966)
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A Pocketful of Penguins (1970)
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A Kea on My Bed (1974)
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Hall, Margaret
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After the Earthquake (1989)
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Harris, Hazel P.
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On the Trail of Te Kakaha (1977)
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Jones, Gwenyth
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These Islands (1973) **
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Locke, Elsie​
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Runaway Settlers (1965) **
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The End of the Harbour (1968) **
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Maori King and British Queen (1974)
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Look Under the Leaves (1975)
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The Boy with the Snowgrass Hair (1976) **
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Moko's Hideout (1976)
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Explorer Zach (1978) **
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Journey Under Warning (1983) **
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A Canoe in the Mist (1984) **
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The Kauri and the Willow (1984) **
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Two Peoples, One Land: A History of Aotearoa/New Zealand (1988) **
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Joe's Ruby (1995) **
McAlpine, Rachel (Editor)
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McKean, Megan (Australian Author)
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Hello, New Zealand! (2019)
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Marshall, Heather
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Second-hand Children (1984)
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Mahy, Margaret
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Clancy's Cabin (1974)
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Mansfield, Katherine
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The Candle Fairy (1991)
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Noble, Jp (Editor)
Park, Ruth (Australian Author)
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The Hole in the Hill (1961)
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Pollard, Simon
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Why is that Lake so Blue? (2018)
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Saunders, Ken (Kenneth)
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Wanganui Adventure (1977) **
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Jimmy and the Bridge (1959)
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Soper, Eileen L.
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Young Jane (1955) **
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The Month of the Brittle Star (1971) **
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Sutton, Eve
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My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes (1973)
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Green Gold (1976)
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Johnny Sweep (1977) **
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Tuppenny Brown (1977) **
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Surgeon's Boy (1978)
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Skip for the Huntaway (1983)
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Kidnapped by Blackbirders (1984)
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Valley of Heavenly Gold (1987)
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Thompson, N. D. (Nola Dilyse)
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Sally Becomes a New Zealander (1960) **
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Wardell, Phyl
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Gold at Kapai (1960)
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The Secret of the Lost Tribe of Te Anau (1961)
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Passage to Dusky (1967)
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Hazard Island (1976)
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The Nelson Treasure (1983)
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Beyond the Narrows (1985)
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Woodward, Stephen John