Book Reviews

Our book, DVD, and app reviews highlight what's available to read and learn about mental health and wellbeing. All reviews are independently written by MHF staff or guest reviewers on a range of mental health and wellbeing topics.

Māori Made Easy, Māori Made Easy 2 and Māori at Work

Book Reviews / Māori, 11 Sep 19
Scotty Morrison's Maori Made Easy series is full of innovative strategies for anyone wanting to learn te reo Maori
Read More

Invisible Jerry

Book Reviews / Children & Youth, 11 Sep 19
A wonderfully illustrated kids’ book about feeling lonely, but also building confidence to initiate friendships
Read More

Feel a little: Little poems about big feelings

Book Reviews / Children & Youth, 27 Aug 19
‘Feel a little’ contains 14 poems, each one about a different feeling with illustrations to match
Read More

The psychology of school bullying

Book Reviews / Non-Fiction, 21 Aug 19
This book explores what bullying is, what factors can lead to it occurring, and what proactive strategies can reduce the likelihood of bullying happening in schools
Read More

The book of knowing: Know how you think, change how you feel

Book Reviews / Children & Youth, 7 Aug 19
An engaging book about how anxiety is affected by the body, mood, and behaviour and highlights the importance of understanding how you think, so you can change how you feel.
Read More

I AM Calm: How to leave your worries behind

Book Reviews / Children & Youth, 24 Jul 19
This illustrated book normalises and validates feelings of anxiety and worrying for children and parents and provides strategies to add to our calm kete
Read More

The procrastinator’s guide to killing yourself: Living when life feels unliveable

Book Reviews, 10 Jul 19
A short but deep reflection on what it can be like to feel suicidal, and to find a way through these experiences. It’s a guide, a pep talk and a written peer support session
Read More

Waiwhero: The red waters. A celebration of womanhood – He Whakahirahiratanga o te Ira Wahine

Book Reviews / Māori, 26 Jun 19
A beautifully written book on the traditional Māori teachings of menstruation
Read More

My Anxiety handbook: Getting back on track

Book Reviews / Children & Youth, 19 Jun 19
A book for young people (12-18) which covers what anxiety is and how it could be triggered, with strategies and exercises
Read More

The ‘Chair’ series: The Chill Out Chair and The Goodbye Chair

Book Reviews / Children & Youth, 5 Jun 19
Two books for New Zealand children which help us learn about emotions
Read More

Aroha’s way: A children’s guide through emotions

Book Reviews, 22 May 19
A picture book for children around uncomfortable emotions - fear, apprehension, worrying thoughts and nervousness - with ways to manage them.
Read More

Parri$ Young Queen: The story of a girl who conquered the world

Book Reviews / Personal stories, 15 May 19
A different kind of autobiography that both inspires and activates the reader to be unapologetically you
Read More