Road trips in Aotearoa are part of the fabric of growing up in our beautiful country – whether it's down the road to visit nan or trips that take us to the ocean, lakes and mountains. We live in an incredibly beautiful country that’s inspired incredible stories.
As our tamariki (children) discover the wonderful world of reading, we encourage them to discover the rich tapestry of New Zealand literature that takes them all around the country – whether it is the author, a location, or a setting in the story. If there’s anything the last few years have taught us, it’s the magic of discovering our back yard, whether on a holiday or virtual escape by book.
HELL’s Great NZ Book Trip is a new addition to the 2022 Reading Challenge and is a new and engaging way to get more of our tamariki reading
It includes New Zealand themed teaching resources, such as unit plans and activities and will continue to be updated throughout the year as we add author events, competitions, new activities and more!
If you're a parent or caregiver and want to get pizza wheels for your kids, please ask at your local library or their school. If they’re not participating already, they'll be able to join up (and be more inclined to if enough people ask).
If you work at a Library or School and haven’t signed up for the 2022 Reading Challenge yet, you can find out how to do so here:
Sign me up for the 2022 Reading Challenge!
Join us on part of the journey, or take it all in!
Whether you would like to dip in and be inspired by a few resources or journey with us through all the various unit plans and activities — we'll leave that to you.
What’s important is that our tamariki are having fun and enjoying their reading journey. Wherever it takes them.
So come along to HELL’s Great NZ Book Trip around New Zealand — we hope you enjoy what Aotearoa has to offer!
Each resource can be used as an individual shared reading lesson or as part of a unit of study on New Zealand authors. We hope this is a great starting point in bringing more New Zealand content into your classroom.
Suggested reading to begin your book trip
Past winners at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults (that administers the Hell Reading Challenge) make a great starting point to encourage tamariki to get into reading.
Here are just a few suggestions:
Year 5 & 6
Kōwhai and the Giants – Kate Parker
Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea – Tania (TK) Roxborogh Mophead – Selina Tusitala Marsh
Year 3 & 4
#Tumeke! – Michael Petherick
I am jellyfish – Ruth Paul
That’s not a hippopotamus – Juliette MacIver