Children's books for a family trip to New Zealand

Children's books for a family trip to New Zealand, from a bouncy rhyming dog to a Māori weaving tale.

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A story set where you are headed can turn the journey into part of the trip. For New Zealand, that means children's books by authors and illustrators from New Zealand, starting with Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd. Below are three books worth packing, each available in English with links to find them at Bookshop.org or Amazon.

Best toddler classic
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
Lynley Dodd · ages 2-6 · picture book

A scruffy dog and his friends flee Scarface Claw the tomcat, in bouncing rhyme.

Best Māori-culture pick
The Kuia and the Spider
Patricia Grace, illustrated by Robyn Kahukiwa · ages 4-8 · picture book

An old woman and a spider argue over who is the better weaver.

Best early reader
Mrs Wishy-Washy
Joy Cowley · ages 2-6 · early reader

A farm woman scrubs her muddy animals clean, again and again.

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