As We Are Illustration

The first books a child owns get chewed, dropped, read forty times in a row and carried everywhere. They may as well be about home. As We Are Illustration makes board books that explore the sounds of the Māori language and everyday life in Aotearoa, with bright, bold pictures little ones can point at.

From the range we stock Fish of Aotearoa by Kate Dickinson, a bilingual board book naming common New Zealand fish in English and te reo Māori, and My First Te Reo Māori Picture Dictionary, with 100 everyday words and written pronunciation. Kiwi Surfers and Wild About Footy round it out for beach and sports-mad households.

They are compact, around 15 to 17cm square, so they suit small hands and fit in a pram basket. For a baby shower, pair one with a keepsake from our baby and nursery gifts and you have a present that gets used rather than stored.

What age are As We Are Illustration board books suited to?
They are board books, so the thick pages and compact format are made for babies and toddlers. The bold illustrations and simple read-aloud lines keep them useful well into the preschool years, long after the teething stage.

Do the books include te reo Māori?
Fish of Aotearoa names each fish in both English and te reo Māori, and My First Te Reo Māori Picture Dictionary covers 100 everyday words with written pronunciation, checked by a certified Māori language translator.

What size are the board books?
Fish of Aotearoa and Kiwi Surfers are 15cm by 15cm, and Wild About Footy is slightly larger at 17cm by 17cm. All of them are compact enough for a nappy bag, car door pocket or pram basket.

Are these books a good gift for new parents?
Yes. A board book is an easy add-on to a baby shower gift, and a New Zealand story or first words in te reo Māori feels personal. Browse our wider books range to build a small reading bundle.