Melanie Koster | Writer

  I'm excited to announce that Elephant Park , illustrated by Jenny Cooper and published by Scholastic NZ is coming in November!

 Thanks, Jo for the awesome review on Kiwi Reviews! 'Mr Four's favourite song at his kindy is "I Saw A Taniwha" but this is the first time he has actually seen a book about one. He and his sister, Miss Five, were enchanted by the cover picture and there was a long discussion as to whether this Taniwha might be friendly or just plain scary! It was not long before Miss Five decided that the Taniwha was actually Grandma because she could see some similarities in the descriptions. Mr Four thought that Tama's sisters were really mean and it was nasty of them to try to scare their brother. Miss Five agreed. The two siblings get on well, and neither approved of the way the girls were teasing Tama. Hopefully this attitude will continue as they get older! They were both delighted when the "Taniwha" scared the girls so they had to get out of the water, and they could not stop laughing. Mr Four was pleased that Tama was able to have a good time playing in the water...

  We were so thrilled to find out that  Tama and the Taniwha  has been shortlisted in the picture book category of the NZ Booklovers 2024 Book Awards!  What a huge honour to be included on this list with such fabulous books by incredibly brilliant authors and illustrators! https://www.nzbooklovers.co.nz/2024-awards

You can now read  Tama and the Taniwha at the beach! Our pukapuka features on a StoryWalk® at Himetangi Beach, near Palmerston North. Read all about it in the articles below. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/manawatu-guardian/news/storywalk-joins-other-new-attractions-at-himatangi-beach-near-palmerston-north/RF6WMEFXMBDINMGHTEU5JDSWDA/ https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/301014190/sun-surf-sand-and-now-a-storywalk-at-himatangi-beach https://www.mdc.govt.nz/news/2023/storywalk-launches-at-himatangi-beach

We were absolutely delighted that Tama and the Taniwha  won a Storylines Notable Book Award in the picture book category, and Ko Tama me te Taniwha  in te reo category. Congratulations to all the other authors and illustrators!  

  Be in to win some great book prizes! Return your completed colouring competition by 8 September . Drop off to: University Bookshop Canterbury (University Drive, off Ilam Road, Christchurch) or Email to:  melaniekosterwriter@gmail.com Make sure to include your name, age and contact details.  If you would prefer a higher quality PDF, please contact us and we can email one to you. Winners will be announced at the launch of Tama and the Taniwha  on 13 September at UBS 5.30pm. Good luck!

Join us at the launch of Tama and the Taniwha , on Wednesday 13 September from 5.30pm at the University Bookshop Canterbury! Click HERE to RSVP

Monica and I are excited to announce  Tama and the Taniwha  is coming out in September!   The book will also be available in a te reo Māori edition, Ko Tama me te Taniwha, translated by Pānia Papa.

I was born on the wild West Coast of the South Island, and brought up in a book-loving, story-telling family. I live in Christchurch with my whānau of artists, inventors and tinkerers. I am the author of two previously published picture books: The Reluctant Little Flower Girl (illustrated by Jenny Cooper, published by Mallinson Rendel in 2008) and Milly Maloo and the Miracle Glue (illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson, Scholastic NZ 2011). I was shortlisted six times for the Joy Cowley Award before winning it in 2022, published in Flash Frontier and in the Australian publication for children The School Magazine.