Author(s): Susan Paris & Kate De Goldi (Editors)

Senior Fiction | Aotearoa New Zealand | Children's & YA Graphic | Sophisticated Picture | Read our reviews! | Children's book sale

A TREASURE CHEST BRIMMING WITH DELIGHTS

A unique, entertaining miscellany of all-new material for 9–13-year-olds in one beautifully presented package. Alongside familiar names (Paul Beavis, Giselle Clarkson, Ant Sang, Gavin Bishop, Kimberly Andrews, Tim Denee, Johanna Knox, Dylan Horrocks, Josh Morgan), you’ll find welcome surprises: a new song from Troy Kingi, gothic fiction by Airini Beautrais, a te reo Māori crossword from Ben Brown, an adaptation of Maurice Gee’s The Champion presented in comic format, and work from emerging talents J. Wiremu Kane and Austin Milne.

The editors have stayed faithful to their original intent: to reach an audience that’s curious, discerning, and up for anything ... with commissioned content that reflects the diversity of experience across Aotearoa New Zealand to reach as many kinds of readers as possible.

Annual 3 is playful and smart and packed with content – a book for the whole family. Where else would you find a poem about not kissing in church, a pattern for a knitted brain, a kākāpō in a kimono for colouring, an essay about Harry Potter, and a comic about head lice? Not to mention the board game Camp Kūkū and “The Traditional Big Spread of Aotearoa NZ” (remember the Biscuits and Slices craziness?).

“Annual is pick-your-own, and all of it is wonderful ... “
– Catherine Woulfe, New Zealand Listener

“The sort of book that will be passed on through the generations.”
– Angela Oliver, Booksellers New Zealand

“Children who love to read will find plenty to occupy them but those who are more reluctant are also catered for ... ”
– Penny Guy, Bookrapt

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STELLA'S REVIEW:
Wrap your eyes around this! The third Annual is a treasure trove of hilarious tales, heartfelt memories, captivating comic strips, and fascinating facts. Not to mention evocations to play scrabble or knit yourself a brain hat, foraging instructions complete with recipes, and how to be a young environmentalist. So it’s still the holidays and the book stack has been depleted. The favourites have been read several times and it’s too hot outside. Maybe, you’re off to spend a few days with your grandparents — they will enjoy dipping into this with you. For me, Kate De Goldi's and Susan Price’s Annuals remind me of school holidays at my Nana and Grandad’s, sifting through the not-so-interesting Bibles to find the Girl’s Own Annuals and the old National Geographics. While these were quaint when even I was a child, they are doubly so now. Annual 3 is anything but quaint. It’s adventurous and thoughtful — a great mix of stuff from some of our best authors and illustrators. Gregory O’Brien and Eve Armstrong discuss art, Art Sang makes a comic strip of Maurice Gee’s 'The Champion', and there’s a diary entry for the campaign (ambition) to be class rep. There are doll stories of very different natures, one about belonging by Henrietta Bollinger, and the other rather more sinister from Airini Beautrais. Austin Milne introduces us to a girl, Holly, who would rather (can’t help but) draw ornate ‘plus’ signs than do equations; dotted throughout is Old Dingus — the ‘uptight’ dad (parents read this as exasperated); and if you are hanging out with friends or siblings you could try out the play, read poetry or board game away with Camp Kuku or practice your te reo with Ben Brown’s crossword puzzle. Aimed at 9—14-year-olds, there is plenty of food here for a hungry mind. If you’re lucky you might rustle up a lunch of kawakawa frittata and maybe Giselle Clarkson’s lovingly illustrated 'Big Spread'. You choose! Daily delights abound in this wonderful miscellany.