The 2025 Storylines Notable Books List, for the highest quality books in five genres published between 16 November 2024 and 15 November 2025, is compiled from entries from publishers by expert panels of authors, teachers, librarians, academics and parents.
The annual list was begun by Storylines in 1999 and selection is eagerly sought by authors, illustrators and publishers. It provides a valuable reading and purchasing guide to families, schools and libraries, and to young readers, with the books in each genre listed in ascending order of age range suitability within each genre
The 2025 Storylines Notable Book Award winners
Storylines Notable Te Reo Māori (original texts or translations into Te Reo Māori, any genre)
Peta Pūkeko
Te Whaea o te Motu: Whina Cooper me te hīkoi roa mō te manatika
Written by David Hill; Illustrated by Story Hemi-Moorhouse; Translated by Stacey Morrison.
(Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2025)
Te Kai Kōhua Nui
Written by Angie Belcher; Illustrated by Zak Ātea; Translated by Pānia Papa.
(Scholastic New Zealand, 2025)
Te Pī Māhaki
Written by Miriama Kamo; Illustrated by Craig Phillips; Translated by Ariana Stevens.
(Scholastic New Zealand, 2025)
Matariki ki te Ao
Written by Miriama Kamo and Dr Rangi Matamua; Ilustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White; Translated by Leon Blake and Pānia Papa
(Scholastic New Zealand, 2025)
Storylines Notable Picture Books (age range from birth to 8 years)
A Guide to Rocks
Written by Sacha Cotter; Illustrated by Josh Morgan.
(Huia Publishers, 2025)
Te Ngahere i te Pō: The Forest at Night
Written by Kiri Lightfoot; Illustrated by Pippa Keel Situ.
(Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand, 2025)
Wrapping Things
Written by Linda Burgess; Illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper.
(Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand, 2025)
Hunt for Niu Tupu
Written by Inangaro Vakaafi; Illustrated by Maka Makatoa.
(Mila’s Books, 2025)
You Can’t Pat a Fish
Written and illustrated by Ruth Paul.
(Walker Books Australia, 2025)
The Only Dinosaur in School
Written by Leonie Agnew; Illustrated by Julia Hegetusch.
(Scholastic New Zealand, 2025)
Tomboy the Headstrong Horse
Written by Susan Brocker; Illustrated by Raymond McGrath.
(Scholastic New Zealand, 2025)
At Home on the Farm
Written and illustrated by Ned Barraud.
(Scholastic New Zealand, 2025)
The Big Boil-Up
Written by Angie Belcher; Illustrated by Zak Ātea
(Scholastic New Zealand, 2025)
OGG
Written and illustrated by H P Fryer
(Scholastic Australia, 2025)
Storylines Notable Junior Fiction (age range from 7 years to 13 years)
Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum
Written by Hannah Tunnicliffe; Illustrated by Erica Harrison.
(Flying Eye Books, 2025)
The Last Journey
Written by Stacy Gregg
(Simon & Schuster, 2025)
The Only Branch on the Family Tree
Written by Sherryl Clark
(University of Queensland Press, 2025)
The Case of the Missing Stuff: Violet and the Velvets #1
Written by Rachael King
(Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand, 2025)
The Secret Green
Written by Sonya Wilson
(Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand, 2025)
The Case of the Angry Ghost: Violet and the Velvets #2
Written by Rachael King
(Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand, 2025)
Pipi and Pou and the Haunted Forest
Written by Tim Tipene; Illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White
(One Tree House, 2025)
Pipi and Pou and the Shadow Below
Written by Tim Tipene; Illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White
(One Tree House, 2025)
Dreamslinger
Written by Graci Kim
(Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2025)
The (not so) Superheroes (The Terrible Trio, Book #1)
Written by Swapna Haddow; Illustrated by Minky Stapleton
(Scholastic New Zealand, 2025)
Storylines Notable Young Adult Fiction (age range from 13 years to 18 years)
Truth Needs No Colour
Written by Heather McQuillan.
(Cloud Ink Press, 2025)
Bear
Written by Kiri Lightfoot; Illustrated by Pippa Keel Situ.
(Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand, 2025)
It’s a Bit More Complicated Than That
Written by Hannah Marshall.
(Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand, 2025)
The Retreat
Written by Helen Vivienne Fletcher.
(HVF Publishing Ltd, 2025)
The Edge of Light #2: The Miracle
Written by A M Dixon.
(One Tree House, 2025)
Beneath Our Feet
Written by Jack Hartley.
(Scholastic New Zealand, 2025)
Storylines Notable Non-fiction (age range from 3 years to 18 years)
Omnibird: An Avian Investigator’s Handbook
Written and illustrated by Giselle Clarkson.
(Gecko Press, 2025)
The Living Tree: A New Zealand Habitat
Written and illustrated by Dave Gunson.
(Bateman Books, 2025)
The Incredible Insects of Aotearoa
Written by Simon Pollard and Phil Sirvid.
(Te Papa Press, 2025)
Whāia Te Taniwha: Kōrero from Te Waipounamu
Contribution from Justice-Manawanui Arahanga-Pryor, Leisa Aumua, Conor Clarke, Lucy Denham, A. J. Manaaki Hope, Meriana Johnsen, Moewai Rauputi Marsh, Waiariki Parata-Taiapa, Andrea Read, Jayda Janet Siyakurima, Ruby Solly and Paris Tainui
(Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, 2025)
Taniwha
Written and illustrated by Gavin Bishop.
(Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2025)
Mother of the Nation: Whina Cooper and the long walk for justice
Written by David Hill; Illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse.
(Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2025)
Pekapeka, Secret Forest Bat
Written by Katie Furze; Illustrated by Ned Barraud.
(Scholastic New Zealand, 2025)