Great Mates - 30 NZ Stories for Children

In the latest in this ever-popular series of children’s anthologies, Barbara Else has hand-picked the best tales of friendship. Philip Webb has lovingly illustrated each one in a quirky style that helps us imagine the world of each story.

Friendship is a universal theme for Kiwi kids. This collection of 30 New Zealand stories about friends covers a range of emotions and situations: being the new kid at school, competing with friends, sharing adventures and jokes, getting furious with your friends and finding friends in unexpected places.

Great Mates brings together some of New Zealand’s most popular writers, such as David Hill, John Parker and Emma Neale, with newer names such as Joseph Ryan, Shaun Barnett, Jeff Taylor and Joan Braddock.

The authors tell stories about new friends, old friends, funny and sad friends, fantastical and magical friends. Then there are the worst mates and the best of enemies. There are grown-up friends, friends your own age and animal friends. They play on the beach, argue at school and hang out at home and even in outer space.

 Barbara Else (left) is a successful writer of adult and children’s fiction and she has edited many children’s anthologies, including Showtime! 30 New Zealand Stories for Children, published in 2008.

Philip Webb is a well-known New Zealand children’s illustrator. In 2009 he won the Honour Award in the Picture Book category of the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards for Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig, written by Diana Neild.
Random House - Hardcover - $29.99

This is the ninth book in this popular series, the latest fun-filled anthology from this successful team.

30 New Zealand Stories for Children

Another 30 New Zealand Stories for Children

30 Weird & Wonderful New Zealand Stories

Claws & Jaws: 30 New Zealand Animal Stories

Mischief & Mayhem: 30 New Zealand Stories

Hideous & Hilarious: 30 New Zealand Historical Stories

Dare & Double Dare: 30 New Zealand Sporty Stories

Showtime! 30 New Zealand Stories for Children