94 books like Little Bo Peep and More...

By Donovan Bixley,

Here are 94 books that Little Bo Peep and More... fans have personally recommended if you like Little Bo Peep and More.... Shepherd is a community of 11,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Book cover of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

Elissa Brent Weissman Author Of Hanukkah Upside Down

From my list on New Zealand.

Why am I passionate about this?

My family and I moved from America to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2019. As a children’s author, one of the best parts has been discovering a new world of literature. New Zealand is a very small country, so bookstores, libraries, and schools are filled with books from the U.S., the UK, Australia, and more. As one New Zealander so eloquently put it, “Kiwi kids read the world.” On the flip side, it’s extremely rare for books from New Zealand publishers to make it to other parts of the world, no matter how great they are. I hope this introduction to Kiwi KidLit makes you eager to seek out even more!

Elissa's book list on New Zealand

Elissa Brent Weissman Why did Elissa love this book?

Forget Clifford and Snoopy. When it comes to fictional dogs, the most famous of all in New Zealand is Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy. (“Dairies” are what New Zealanders call corner stores.)

Hairy Maclary—a black, shaggy dog with a spring in his step—goes off for a walk with some of his cleverly named friends, like Bottomly Potts covered in spots, and Schnitzel vom Krumm with a very low tum. With a fun, sing-songy rhythm, cute dogs, and one very scary cat (the notorious Scarface Claw!), it’s no wonder this book’s been delighting “wee ones” for forty years.

By Lynley Dodd,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Join Hairy Maclary and his friends on their first ever adventure in this golden 40th anniversary edition of the beloved rhyming classic!

Hairy Maclary is off for a walk in town, and on the way he's joined by many furry friends of all shops and sizes, from Bottomley Potts (covered in spots) to Schnitzel von Krumm (with a very low tum). But when they suddenly find themselves face-to-face with Scarface Claw - the toughest Tom in town - it's time to run all the way back home!

The brilliantly clever rhyme and vivid, engaging pictures have made this story into…


Book cover of A Stick and a Stone

Elissa Brent Weissman Author Of Hanukkah Upside Down

From my list on New Zealand.

Why am I passionate about this?

My family and I moved from America to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2019. As a children’s author, one of the best parts has been discovering a new world of literature. New Zealand is a very small country, so bookstores, libraries, and schools are filled with books from the U.S., the UK, Australia, and more. As one New Zealander so eloquently put it, “Kiwi kids read the world.” On the flip side, it’s extremely rare for books from New Zealand publishers to make it to other parts of the world, no matter how great they are. I hope this introduction to Kiwi KidLit makes you eager to seek out even more!

Elissa's book list on New Zealand

Elissa Brent Weissman Why did Elissa love this book?

With all the gorgeous scenery in New Zealand, my family and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting out into nature by hiking on weekends.

In sparse but skillful rhyme, this book follows a group of families that go exploring together. A gentle story with soft illustrations, this contemporary picture book feels like a cozy classic.

By Sarina Dickson, Hilary Jean Tapper (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Stick and a Stone as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 2, 3, 4, and 5.

What is this book about?

A stick, a stone, a feather, a bone...

Come exploring with our campers as they spot treasures along the track to their campsite. Don't forget to keep an eye out for the cheeky kea along the way! But what happens when the curious campers take a wrong turn?

Praise for A Stick and a Stone:

'It inspired us to go outside and do a nature treasure hunt. Something in this gorgeous book for everyone!' - Gleebooks

'Reminiscent of We're Going on a Bear Hunt and A Summery Saturday Morning, this beautifully illustrated story will delight parents and children alike. 3+'…


Book cover of The Boy with Two Shadows

Elissa Brent Weissman Author Of Hanukkah Upside Down

From my list on New Zealand.

Why am I passionate about this?

My family and I moved from America to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2019. As a children’s author, one of the best parts has been discovering a new world of literature. New Zealand is a very small country, so bookstores, libraries, and schools are filled with books from the U.S., the UK, Australia, and more. As one New Zealander so eloquently put it, “Kiwi kids read the world.” On the flip side, it’s extremely rare for books from New Zealand publishers to make it to other parts of the world, no matter how great they are. I hope this introduction to Kiwi KidLit makes you eager to seek out even more!

Elissa's book list on New Zealand

Elissa Brent Weissman Why did Elissa love this book?

There’s no way to talk about Kiwi KidLit without acknowledging Margaret Mahy, New Zealand’s most celebrated children’s writer and the author of more than 120 books.

The Boy with Two Shadows is a classic from 1971 about a witch who entrusts a boy with her shadow for two weeks.

I love how the playful story and language have some bite—there’s a deliciously sharp edge here that you won’t find in picture books today. Add wonderfully retro illustrations by Jenny Williams, and you feel instantly transported to 1970s New Zealand.

By Margaret Mahy, Jenny Williams (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Boy with Two Shadows as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

There once was a little boy who took great care of his shadow...

One day a witch notices the care he has for his shadow and asks him to look after her shadow while she goes away on holiday. But minding a witch's shadow turns out to be more complicated than the boy ever imagined!

Discover a magical and mischievous story about a boy, a witch and one cheeky shadow.

From the celebrated children's writer Margaret Mahy and award-winning illustrator Sarah Greig.

Book cover of How My Koro Became a Star

Elissa Brent Weissman Author Of Hanukkah Upside Down

From my list on New Zealand.

Why am I passionate about this?

My family and I moved from America to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2019. As a children’s author, one of the best parts has been discovering a new world of literature. New Zealand is a very small country, so bookstores, libraries, and schools are filled with books from the U.S., the UK, Australia, and more. As one New Zealander so eloquently put it, “Kiwi kids read the world.” On the flip side, it’s extremely rare for books from New Zealand publishers to make it to other parts of the world, no matter how great they are. I hope this introduction to Kiwi KidLit makes you eager to seek out even more!

Elissa's book list on New Zealand

Elissa Brent Weissman Why did Elissa love this book?

Matariki, the Māori new year, comes in late June, winter in New Zealand. It begins when the star cluster known as Matariki first appears in the sky. It’s a time of honoring ancestors, being with family, reflecting on the past, and dreaming for the future.

This moving story by Brianne Te Paa is about a boy who takes the lead in honoring his koro (grandfather), who dies shortly before Matariki. The sadness and warmth come through the night-sky color palette and the grown-up-feeling illustrations. To an American still learning about Matariki and Māori culture, this story feels unique, yet the way it captures the bonds between whānau (family) makes it feel universal.

By Brianne Te Paa, Hemi-Morehouse (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How My Koro Became a Star as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A young boy learns about the customs around celebrating Matariki from his grandfather. They watch the stars from the top of a mountain, prepare their offering of food for the gods, and the boy learns about Te Waka o Rangi and the tradition of calling out the names of loved ones who have passed away so that they can become stars. Just before Matariki the following year, the boy's Koro suddenly dies. He gathers and prepares the food offering and asks each family member to come with him up the mountain when Matariki is due to rise, but they all…


Book cover of The New Zealand Wars | Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa

Kristyn Harman Author Of Aboriginal Convicts: Australian, Khoisan and Maori Exiles

From my list on the Frontier Wars fought downunder.

Why am I passionate about this?

Kristyn Harman is an award-winning researcher who successfully completed doctoral research investigating the circumstances in which at least ninety Australian Aboriginal men were transported as convicts within the Australian colonies following their involvement in Australia’s frontier wars. She has published extensively on historical topics, and currently lectures in History at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia. Having lived in both countries, Kristyn is fascinated by the different understandings that New Zealanders and Australians have of their nation’s respective pasts. She is particularly intrigued, if not perturbed, by the way in which most New Zealanders acknowledge their nation’s frontier wars, while many Australians choose to deny the wars fought on their country’s soil.

Kristyn's book list on the Frontier Wars fought downunder

Kristyn Harman Why did Kristyn love this book?

Just a few years after New Zealand became a British crown colony, armed conflict broke out in 1845 between representatives of the crown and local Māori. These frontier wars continued to be fought, particularly across New Zealand’s North Island, up until 1872. Understanding New Zealand in the present requires gaining an understanding of the New Zealand Wars. Vincent O’Malley’s book provides an insightful introduction to these complex conflicts. He explores in some detail what caused these conflicts, where and how the various battles that make up the wars were fought, and who might rightfully claim the various victories involved. O’Malley also usefully examines the consequences flowing from the New Zealand Wars. His book is richly illustrated with many evocative full color and black and white images depicting key participants, places, and moments in the New Zealand Wars.

By Vincent O’Malley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The New Zealand Wars | Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The New Zealand Wars were a series of conflicts that profoundly shaped the course and direction of New Zealand history.Fought between the Crown and various groups of Māori between 1845 and 1872, the wars touched many aspects of life in nineteenth-century New Zealand, even in those regions spared actual fighting. Physical remnants or reminders from these conflicts and their aftermath can be found all over the country, whether in central Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, or in more rural locations such as Te Pōrere or Te Awamutu.Following on from the best-selling The Great War for New Zealand, Vincent O'Malley's new book provides…


Book cover of Half the World from Home: Perspectives on the Irish in New Zealand, 1860-1950

Rebecca Lenihan Author Of From Alba to Aotearoa: Profiling New Zealand's Scots Migrants 1840-1920

From my list on British and Irish migration to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Why am I passionate about this?

Understanding the demographic, technological, and cultural pressures that prompt migration fascinates me. What makes a person leave behind everything they have ever known to go somewhere they have never seen, knowing the move is probably permanent? What features of individual and group identity are most important when you are on the other side of the world from everything that previously formed that identity? Examining such questions makes me reflect on my life and what makes me me. For example, visiting Scotland for my PhD research made me realize that I was not ‘New Zealand European’ but a New Zealander, which is a distinct identity. 

Rebecca's book list on British and Irish migration to Aotearoa New Zealand

Rebecca Lenihan Why did Rebecca love this book?

What I love most about this book is its challenge for New Zealand historians to examine the role of different British cultures in shaping New Zealand society. Akenson, a Canadian author, took a one-year research fellowship in New Zealand, and this resulting book has changed the face of migration studies in New Zealand in the decades since.

He describes previous works as cementing a tradition of biculturalism, ‘lumping… all white settlers into a spurious unity’, but more than just laying down the challenge to do something about that ‘lumping,’ he then shows a way forward, examining the Irish in New Zealand. Marvellous!

By Donald Harman Akenson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Half the World from Home as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Book by Akenson, Donald H


Book cover of A Woman of Good Character: Single Women as Immigrant Settlers in Nineteenth Century New Zealand

Rebecca Lenihan Author Of From Alba to Aotearoa: Profiling New Zealand's Scots Migrants 1840-1920

From my list on British and Irish migration to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Why am I passionate about this?

Understanding the demographic, technological, and cultural pressures that prompt migration fascinates me. What makes a person leave behind everything they have ever known to go somewhere they have never seen, knowing the move is probably permanent? What features of individual and group identity are most important when you are on the other side of the world from everything that previously formed that identity? Examining such questions makes me reflect on my life and what makes me me. For example, visiting Scotland for my PhD research made me realize that I was not ‘New Zealand European’ but a New Zealander, which is a distinct identity. 

Rebecca's book list on British and Irish migration to Aotearoa New Zealand

Rebecca Lenihan Why did Rebecca love this book?

What I love most about this book is the focus on women. That sounds really obvious, given the title, but it’s unusual. Male migrants are so easy to find in historical sources. On shipping lists, women and children were often only recorded as ‘wife and 5 children’ of a named man.

Due to this bias in the primary sources, men are usually at the center of 19th-century migration literature. Their experience is taken as the norm. Their motivations are assumed to be the ones guiding the migration. So I really love that this spotlight on women highlights the experiences and importance of these migrants to New Zealand and also that it has forced historians who have come after this publication to try harder to include women in their migration stories, too. 

By Charlotte Macdonald,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Woman of Good Character as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Between the 1840s and 1880s, thousands of young single women came to New Zealand as assisted migrants from Britain and Ireland. In this detailed study of forgotten lives, Charlotte Macdonald highlights the experiences and identities of a vitally important migrant group, one previously overshadowed by the stories of gold diggers, pastoralists, soldiers, adventurers and agricultural labourers.Macdonald, a pioneer of research into women’s history, brings a new perspective on New Zealand’s European settlement. Her compelling study will appeal to anyone seeking to investigate the origins of contemporary New Zealand identity.


Book cover of Nobody Is Ever Missing

Bridget van der Zijpp Author Of I Laugh Me Broken

From my list on women who travel far from home to gain perspective.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of three novels that all explore contemporary notions of fidentity. In 2016 I received a scholarship to travel from New Zealand to Berlin for three months and fell in love with the city. I ended up staying there for nearly four years, until the pandemic started. As a writer I liked the way that being detached from your regular life, and living in a country where you are unfamiliar with the language and the rules, makes you alert to the quirks. It helps you to gain a fresh perspective about the place that you came from, and also the place that you are in.

Bridget's book list on women who travel far from home to gain perspective

Bridget van der Zijpp Why did Bridget love this book?

For me, Catherine Lacey’s debut novel Nobody Is Ever Missing is a kind of reverse exploration of foreignness.

Elyria escapes from a comfortable New York life to New Zealand, where she backpacks down to the South Island towards a half-hearted invitation to stay from a poet she once met. Interesting to see your own country through the eyes of another writer as she observes “a boring little mountain, a plain blue lake, a gas station, the same as ours only slightly not” while she searches for a “small and manageable life”.

As she outwardly drifts through the landscape she also takes us on a very inward journey, interrogating her own thoughts about her adopted sister’s suicide, the mutual grief that drew her to her husband, and her mother’s drinking.

By Catherine Lacey,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Nobody Is Ever Missing as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the spirit of Haruki Murakami and Amelia Gray, Catherine Lacey's Nobody Is Ever Missing is full of mordant humor and uncanny insights, as Elyria waffles between obsession and numbness in the face of love, loss, danger, and self-knowledge.

Without telling her family, Elyria takes a one-way flight to New Zealand, abruptly leaving her stable but unfulfilling life in Manhattan. As her husband scrambles to figure out what happened to her, Elyria hurtles into the unknown, testing fate by hitchhiking, tacitly being swept into the lives of strangers, and sleeping in fields, forests, and public parks.

Her risky and often…


Book cover of Ursa

Mandy Hager Author Of The Nature of Ash

From my list on speculative YA fiction from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a writer from Aotearoa New Zealand, I’ve always been interested in social justice and human rights, and my own writing explores such issues, including who holds the power and who exerts the control. By writing about real-world issues in a speculative future, it allows us to peel back the layers of conditioning and look at ourselves and our actions through the eyes of an outsider – which forces us to examine our best and worst human traits. I love the way speculative fiction can do this, and I love that it challenges us to do better.  

Mandy's book list on speculative YA fiction from Aotearoa New Zealand

Mandy Hager Why did Mandy love this book?

Described as an ‘alternate history coming-of-age YA’, Ursa packs a real punch. Set in a world deeply divided into those who can live freely and those denied all human rights, it shows what happens when the desire for freedom in those oppressed ignites into a revolution. Brutal and unflinching, with important things to say about fascism and xenophobia, you won’t be able to stop reading!

By Tina Shaw,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ursa as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of Children of the Furnace

Mandy Hager Author Of The Nature of Ash

From my list on speculative YA fiction from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a writer from Aotearoa New Zealand, I’ve always been interested in social justice and human rights, and my own writing explores such issues, including who holds the power and who exerts the control. By writing about real-world issues in a speculative future, it allows us to peel back the layers of conditioning and look at ourselves and our actions through the eyes of an outsider – which forces us to examine our best and worst human traits. I love the way speculative fiction can do this, and I love that it challenges us to do better.  

Mandy's book list on speculative YA fiction from Aotearoa New Zealand

Mandy Hager Why did Mandy love this book?

The first in a trilogy, it takes a little while to adjust your reading ‘ear’ to the strange new language used, but then you’re rewarded by another great speculative cli-fi novel, with complex, layered characters, lots of tension, and a plot that will challenge you to think harder about how climate change may affect the future. 

By Brin Murray,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Children of the Furnace as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Truth died in the fires. Only through courage can it be born again. Under the iron rule of the Revelayshun, one boy discovers the truth… ‘Ty promised my ma he’d bring me up right. Bring him up to hear the rhythm beat, she said, and to feel the heartsblood warm. Not Strong – not in their way – but strong in the ways of the heart.’ When the Revelayshun murders his pa, Wil discovers through savage inquisition that he’s marked as a Heater, one of the old-time heretics who burned up the world. But Wil holds the key to a…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in New Zealand, nursery rhyme, and sheep?

New Zealand 63 books
Nursery Rhyme 20 books
Sheep 23 books