Haiku is a form of poetry that is appealing to both children and adults. Haiku are most often about moments in nature, or simple nature descriptions. It’s a Japanese form of poetry that has been adapted for English language. Originally…
Author reading: Whose Feet are These?
During lockdown Kids Restore Kepler asked if I would read one of my books aloud. Here it is – Whose Feet are These? illustrated by Fraser Williamson. This little book is now sadly out of print. If you missed out…
Nature Heroes
My latest book New Zealand Nature Heroes is 80 pages of “inspiration and activities for young conservationists”. Stories of scientists and volunteers …. … are matched with activities young people can do to be nature heroes themselves. I’m developing a website www.discovernature.nz/nature-heroes/ to carry…
Wellington Museum Book Reading Event
Pick up your free colouring page from “Whose Home is This?”
Bookshop Day Event
Come along on at 2pm 26 October 2019 to the wonderful Schrödinger’s Books in Petone and take part in some nature-themed craft for kids. I’ll be signing books and showing a sneak preview of “New Zealand Nature Heroes”, which will…
Whose Home is This? Book Awards Finalist
I’m excited to announce that my book “Whose Home is This?” illustrated by Fraser Williamson is a finalist in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2019. “Whose Home is This?” is a finalist for the Elsie…
Meet the Author – Animals of Aotearoa
Out this month, is a 112 page hardback compendium of New Zealand wildlife. Including all the favourites from the ‘explore and discover’ series and over 100 more. Animals of Aotearoa is available to pre-order now from publisher Potton & Burton,…
New Book Out Now – Whose Home is This?
Launching this month is my new book for kiwi nature kids. “Whose Home is This?” Illustrated by Fraser Williamson and published by Potton & Burton. “Whose Home is This?” follows on from the award winning “Whose Feet are These?” and…
Writing Workshops for Children – creating powerful writing
Children are such creative thinkers. And so honest and perceptive too. That’s why I enjoy visiting primary schools and public library school holiday programmes. Best of all is spending time with them in a writing workshop. In 2017, I visited…
Writers in Schools – book now for 2018!
Attention teachers, librarians and schools, you have until 15 December to book me through Writers in Schools for Term 1 2018! Are you: Planning a Book Week Wanting to give your year 4-8 students a non-fiction writing boost Keen to…
About Illustrating – Link to Interview with Ned Barraud
Children often ask about the illustration process for the ‘explore and discover books’. Ned Barraud the illustrator is interviewed on The Sapling about how he fits illustrating children’s books in with his day job, about the process and about some…
Win a Copy of Up the River
To enter this competition go to https://www.facebook.com/GillianCandlerAuthor/ and enter before 9am Monday 18 September 2017. Note you need to have a New Zealand postal address to enter. For more on my thoughts about writing Up the River, see my last blogpost https://gilliancandler.co.nz/up-the-river-new-book-about-new-zealands-freshwater/ SaveSave…
Up the River – new book about New Zealand’s freshwater
Up the River: explore and discover New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and wetlands is the latest addition to the ‘explore and discover’ books, following on from books about the seashore, ocean, garden, and forest habitats. Up the River is the sixth…
FAQs About Writing ‘From Moa to Dinosaurs’
Recently I was interviewed by The Sapling about From Moa to Dinosaurs, a finalist in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults To read the full interview with me and with the other non-fiction finalists click here.…
Free Downloadable Forest Birds ID Card
With the first print-run of “In the Bush: explore and discover New Zealand’s native forests” came a detachable forest bird ID card in the inside back cover. This card won’t be included in subsequent print-runs. Instead it’s available to download…
Finalist in Book Awards 2017
I’m delighted to announce that “From Moa to Dinosaurs: explore and discover ancient New Zealand” is a finalist in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2017. Here’s the link to the complete list of finalist books and…
The State of Children’s Non-Fiction in New Zealand
Follow this link to read an article I’ve written on the state of children’s non-fiction. I argue that there must be a better name for these splendid books than ‘non-fiction’ and that we need more good quality non-fiction titles for…
Make a Gecko with Sticky Feet
Did you know that geckos have ‘sticky’ feet? They can even walk upside down on ceilings or up a pane of glass! Children at Porirua, Cannons Creek and Whitby Libraries had a go at making their own geckos with sticky…
Author interview – Porirua Library
Here’s an interview I gave to Bee Trudgeon of Porirua Library, ahead of the school holiday sessions I’ll be running next week Wednesday 19 April. I love her questions, especially the one about what animal I’d like to be if…
School Holiday Event – Read Around the World and about New Zealand too
I’m looking forward to being the special guest at the Porirua Library’s school holiday event. On April 19 I’ll be visiting 3 of the branches to read from my books and have some fun making crafts. I’ll be sharing “Whose…
Keeping up to date: From Moa to Dinosaurs
Keeping up to date with scientific discoveries about New Zealand’s origins can be a bit hit and miss. Think about what you remember from school or nature documentaries you’ve seen. Like me, you might have had the idea that our…
NZ Bookshop Day Event – meet the author
Come along to Marsden Books in Karori and meet author and illustrator of the Explore and Discover series, take part in the nature quiz and win prizes When: 3pm, 29 October 2016 Where: Marsden Books, 159 Karori Road, Karori What…
Storylines Family Days – book fun for families
I recently took part in the Storylines Family Days in Dunedin and Christchurch. A special feature of the days is the number of pre-schoolers who come along and it was great to see them having a go at the activities,…
Book Launch Invitation
Blog readers and their friends and families are welcome to the launch of my latest book – From Moa to Dinosaurs: explore and discover ancient New Zealand. This new book is part of the award-winning explore and discover series, illustrated by Ned…
“Whose Beak is This? finalist for Elsie Locke Award
I’ve always been a huge fan of Elsie Locke, so it’s such an honour to be named a finalist for the Elsie Locke Award for non-fiction in the NZ Children’s Book Awards for 2016. (The NZ Children’s Book Awards and…
On Writing and Nature
I’m taking part in Porirua Library’s A Long Hot Summer Story Festival in January. Ahead of that event I was interviewed by Children’s Librarian Bee Trudgeon. You can read the interview here: http://www.porirualibrary.org.nz/Services/Children-s-Library/Bee-s-Bookish-Blog – scroll to October 28, 2015
Book Launch Invitation
Blog readers are invited to the launch of Whose Beak is This? my new picture book, illustrated by Fraser Williamson. Date: 31 October, Place: Paper Plus, North City Shopping Centre, Porirua, Time: 2-3pm Bring your children or grandchildren, free bird mask…
Just in time for the Great Kereru Count – New Book Launched
My favourite place – the New Zealand bush – is the topic of my latest book. It’s a book for children, informed by many walks in the bush with botanists, bird lovers, and those steeped in bush lore. Many of…
Awakening Curiosity – writing science for children
Read my tips about science writing for children in the latest edition (Winter 2015) of The New Zealand Author. In Awakening Curiosity: writing science for children I discuss 4 science education research-based principles that I apply to my writing and 2 tips for writers…