Reimagined Rhymes for an Aotearoa we want our tamariki to grow up in.

new zealand nursery rhyme book

Modern Nursery Rhymes that celebrate Aotearoa

Nursery rhymes that will make you laugh, in English & te reo Māori. Celebrating our native birds, bush and people.

Get the book - $26.99

As seen on Suzy Cato's corner

  • "Our 16month old is absolutely obsessed with your book. He grabs it off the shelf himself." - Kate, new mama

  • "Now I buy these for all my grandchildren!" - Hine, Grandma

  • "Kiwi Rhymes is in our bedtime routine and I read it to Ihaka at least 3x each night and he loves it! Xxx" - Tania
Get the book - $26.99

The stories we tell our tamariki shape their world

"When I became a new mama I wanted to share stories and rhymes that reflected our values and the world I wanted my daughter and our tamariki to grow up in.

This isn’t what I saw in traditional rhymes with Peter locking his wife in a pumpkin shell, or Margery Daw having a 'Master'. So, ‘Kiwi rhymes for modern times’ evolved." - Janet, author.

Led by and translated into te reo Māori by Matanga Reo Tamati Waaka, illustrated by Ana Craw, and guided by cultural advisor Johannah Kātene-Burge.

The old rhyme reimagined in Kiwi Rhymes:

I didn't know what Peter was up to in the pumpkin shell, so I reimagined this rhyme into a more relevant, fun rhyme for Aotearoa!

Get the book - $26.99

Get modern rhymes

Why choose Kiwi Rhymes?

  • Belonging

    Aotearoa is home to so much diversity: birdlife, nature and people. Seeing ourselves and Aotearoa reflected in our stories helps our kids feel belonging.

  • Designed to change

    Kiwi Rhymes was written to grow with our tamariki. Every rhyme is designed to be changed, so swap names, pronouns or words to make the stories your own.

  • Language & Culture

    Written alongside Māori and non-Māori tamariki, this bilingual book celebrates te reo Māori because learning a language helps us honour a culture.

Get the book - $26.99

A sneak peek...

  • Scallywag Weka

    The Scallywag weka are racing around in Dad's underwear!

  • Bright Bottoms

    Glow-worm bottoms and celebrating our beautiful Aotearoa.

  • Twinkle Twinkle

    Singing twinkle twinkle with tips to find your way out of the bush.

  • Kererū in the Kowhai

    Kererū getting giddy in the Kowhai tree after a big feed!
Get the book - $26.99