When a picnic by the river brings nature out to play

There's a Rainbow in my River 
He Kōpere kei taku Awa

Dawn McMillan 
Illustrated by Nikki Slade Robinson 
Translated by Stephanie Huriana Fong

Discover what’s in the river with newest book in Dawn McMillan’s bilingual Nature Series

There’s a rainbow in my river. 
He’s the colours of the sky. 

He kōpere kei taku awa,

Nō te rangi ōna tae.

When Nan and her mokopuna go down to the river for a picnic, they see Rainbow Trout cruising the waters — and then the fun begins.

Soon Water Spider, Diving Beetle, Kōura, Tuna Kūwharuwharu and friends are there too, all leaping off the page — both in verse (in English and te reo Māori) and colourful pictures.

Celebrated author Dawn McMillan brings her brilliant imagination to the river environment, with art by internationally recognised illustrator Nikki Slade Robinson, and Māori text by translator and TV host Stephanie Huriana Fong.

At the back there are information pages to help kids learn more about the fascinating creatures that live in New Zealand rivers.

The author, illustrator and translator 

Dawn McMillan is the much-loved author of an array of children’s books, including the global hit New Bum! Series. In the 2026 Royal Honours, Dawn was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children’s literature. She lives north of Thames.

Nikki Slade Robinson is an award-winning children's illustrator and author who lives in Ōpotiki. She has established a reputation for innovative, fun children's books that have been widely published here and overseas. 

Stephanie Huriana Fong (Te Rarawa) is a registered translator of te reo Māori who has worked on several books for Oratia, including There’s a Crab in my Castle. Stephanie lives with her whānau in Te Atatū, Auckland.

Publication Date: 5 November 2026 | ISBN: 9781992353061 | RRP $22.99 Paperback, 270 x 210 mm, 32 pages, colour

There's a Crab in my Castle takes young readers to the rocky shore

There’s a Crab in my Castle / He Pāpaka kei taku Pā

Dawn McMillan

Illustrated by Nikki Slade Robinson

Translated by Stephanie Huriana Fong

Fourth book in bilingual nature story series takes young readers to meet seaside creatures 

Summer is coming and there’s plenty of action for young readers down at the seashore in the latest addition to the nature story series by bestselling author Dawn McMillan.

When an inquisitive girl goes to the rocky shore she builds a sandcastle and soon gets many visitors: crab and sandhoppers, snapper, kina, manta ray and more.

 

The fun ensemble of seaside creatures is brought to life across colourful pages with evocative pictures.

With an info page about the animals encountered, There’s a Crab in my Castle encourages young readers to explore the rocky shore and learn about the creatures of sand and sea.

 

A classy hardback edition with bilingual text in English and Māori, this is a book for the bach and for whānau to read together at the end of a long day at the beach.

A teacher resource will be available on the Oratia website.

The Authors

Dawn McMillan is an internationally bestselling writer of children’s books who lives north of Thames. Among her many popular works are I Need a New Bum! and Colour the Stars. She began her Nature Series of books in 2018.

Nikki Slade Robinson is an award-winning, globally successful illustrator and writer who lives in Ōpōtiki. Among her other works are the Muddle and Mo series and The Seven Stars of Matariki. She has also illustrated Dawn's nature book There's a Tui in our Teapot and There's a Moa in the Moonlight. 

Stephanie Huriana Fong is a translator and TV presenter who lives with her whānau in Auckland. She has translated other books by Dawn including Kia Hou Taku Tou! (the Māori edition of I Need a New Bum!).

Publication Date: 15 October 2024 |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004262-1 |  RRP $25.99

Hardback, 270 x 210 mm, 32 pages colour

The joy of sharing cultures, generations and lunches — meet The Grandmothers of Pikitea Street

 

The Grandmothers of Pikitea Street
Ngā Kuia o te Tiriti o Pikitea        

Renisa Viraj Maki

Illustrated by Nikki Slade Robinson

Translated by Kanapu Rangitauira

Touching story about multiple cultures in New Zealand bonding through food and stories across the generations  

‘I hope young readers, and those who read the book with them, connect to this story and see the beauty of our multicultural society,’ says author Renisa Viraj Maki of her debut book. 

‘As an Indian immigrant, I struggled to find stories that celebrate the multicultural experience. That inspired me to write about immigrants and locals connecting across cultures.’

In The Grandmothers of Pikitea Street/Ngā Kuia o te tiriti o Pikitea, Renisa portrays Māori, Ethiopian, Samoan, NZ European, Indian and Chinese grandmothers sharing traditional stories with their grandkids as they make the kids’ lunchboxes for school the next day. 

 

The grandmothers are also preparing dishes for their monthly gathering, where they share their respective traditions and stories.

Sumptuously illustrated by Nikki Slade Robinson and with a fine te reo translation by Kanapu Rangitauira, The Grandmothers of Pikitiea Street will be in bookstores ahead of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

Renisa’s hope is that ‘stories like this warm people’s hearts to our shared human experiences. After all, who doesn’t love a hug from grandma or sharing delicious food?’ 

The authors

Renisa Viraj Maki is a Kiwi-Indian leadership consultant and artist who is a graduate in art history. She is dedicated to writing stories that reflect cultural diversity; this is her first book. Renisa lives in Auckland.

Nikki Slade Robinson is an award-winning illustrator and author who has published numerous children’s books, including with Oratia Books There's a Weta on my Sweater and There's a Moa in the Moonlight, with Dawn McMillan. She lives in Ōpotiki.

The translator

Kanapu Rangitauira (Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou, Te Whakatōhea) is a registered translator and teacher of te reo Māori. Among his book translations is Nanny Mihi's Medicine/Ngā Rongoā a Nanny Mihi (Oratia Books, 2022). Kanapu lives with his family in Rotoiti, Rotorua. 

Publication: 8 September 2022  |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004217-1 | RRP $22.99

Paperback, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pages, colour

 

Extinct NZ animals come back to life in Dawn McMillan's third nature story book

There’s a Moa in the Moonlight / He Moa kei rō Atarau

Dawn McMillan

Illustrated by Nikki Slade Robinson

Māori text by Ngaere Roberts

 

The third in Dawn McMillan's bilingual nature story series is out today, bringing our extinct animals back to life in a young girl’s imagination

‘I thought a child’s view of extinct animals was a fun idea with an important message of conserving endangered species,’ says bestselling author Dawn McMillan. 

From that idea emerged There’s a Moa in the Moonlight, the third in Dawn’s series of nature stories following There’s a Tui in our Teapot (2018) and There’s a Weta on my Sweater (2020).

 

In the beautifully illustrated book in English and Māori, an inquisitive girl peers out her back window as night falls, only to see a moa in the garden munching all the melons!

Before long moa is joined by a laughing owl hooting in the night, huia eating grubs in the hibiscus tree, a Haast’s eagle soaring in the sky, and a kawekaweau lizard gobbling fallen guava.

 

What will Mum say when she sees all these animals in her garden?

The spread of fact boxes about the animals (shown above) follows the story, helping kids to learn more about our disappeared fauna.

 

Concludes Dawn: ‘I enjoyed meeting moa and friends and hope that readers will be pleased to meet them too.’

 

There's a Moa in the Moonlight is out today in good bookstores across the country, and you can find more info here.

The Authors

Dawn McMillan is an internationally recognised writer of children’s books who lives north of Thames. Among her many popular works are I Need a New Bum! and Sir Singlet. Her two previous nature series books are There's a Weta on my Sweater and There’s a Tui in our Teapot, the latter also illustrated by Nikki Slade Robinson. Nikki is a widely published author and illustrator, internationally known for her Muddle and Mo series and numerous other children's books. Ngaere Roberts is a teacher and translator of te reo Māori who lives in Helensville; she delayed her retirement from translation to complete the reo for There's a Moa in the Moonlight.

Dawn McMillan

Nikki Slade Robinson

Publication Date: 2 November 2021 |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-96-4 |  RRP $25.99

Hardback, 270 x 210 mm, 32 pages colour

A tui in our teapot, a takahe by the toaster ... and that's just the start

Children’s author Dawn McMillan and illustrator Nikki Slade Robinson hit it off after meeting on a school tour last year — and decided they must work together. 

The result is the uproarious kids' story There’s a Tui in our Teapot, rendered into te Reo Māori by distinguished translator Ngaere Roberts in this bright, bilingual birdy book.

Tui has made it into Nan’s teapot, takahe is by the toaster, kaka is tucking into the kiwifruit, kereru is starting on the apples, and that’s just part of the mayhem when the menagerie gets into the kitchen. 

Still, all ends well when Nan comes in to get the family their breakfast.

There’s not only vivid illustration, hilarious text and a fine Māori translation — but also a fun spread at the end that shares facts about the 16 native birds featured.

There's a Tui in our Teapot is out today in a smart hardback edition. 

It will be launched officially on NZ Bookshop Day, 27 October, at Books for Kids in Hamilton.

Dawn McMillan is an internationally recognised writer of children’s books who lives north of Thames. Among her many popular works are I Need a New Bum!, Why do Dogs Sniff Bottoms and Colour the Stars. Nikki Slade Robinson is an award-winning children’s illustrator and author who lives in Opotiki, known for titles such as Muddle and Mo and The Seven Stars of Matariki. Translator Ngaere Roberts is a teacher and expert in te Reo Māori.

Dawn McMillan

Nikki Slade Robinson

Publication Date: 16 October 2018 |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-47-6 |  RRP $24.99

Hardback, 270 x 210 mm, 32 pages colour