Explore with Me Children's Books
Celebrating Aotearoa's landscapes & communities.
Nau mai, haere mai!
Welcome to my page.
I'm Mary - a place-based storyteller, māmā, reading advocate and word nerd, creating children's books that celebrate the landscapes and communities of Aotearoa's southern regions.
Through the adventures of a curious kōtare, my books invite kids and their whānau to explore, discover and delight in the world around them.
Each story is a celebration of the places we are lucky to call home. My hope is for the books to spark curiosity, encourage reading, and grow pride in our local communities.
Just as importantly, they give back. Each Explore with Me book supports local causes - from Kai for Kids, to the Te Manahuna Aoraki Project, to the creation of a book nook in a new under-2s kindy - as a small thank you to the places and people who inspire these stories.
It's my way of helping care for our communities and landscapes, so the next generation can explore and love them too.
About the Author
I'm an indie author, trained teacher and māmā. I live on a cropping farm in Mid Canterbury with my husband, Steve, and our two busy boys, Benji and Chester.
When I'm not writing or visiting schools, you'll likely find me out trail running or scoping out destinations for my next pukapuka.
Through my work, I hope to inspire young readers to explore and feel proud of where they live - while celebrating the communities and landscapes that make each district unique. As you can probably tell, I'm a country gal who adores books, writing, kids, and our beautiful Aotearoa.
