Kiwis and Koalas

By Sarah Milne
Supporting our tamariki to make sense of distance, belonging, and love across two homes

When Lily’s mum wishes for a bridge between Aotearoa and Australia, Lily and her loyal dog Woof turn that idea into an adventure swapping stick hunts for “bridge hunts” and setting off on a magical journey across both lands. Kiwis and Koalas is a tender, beautifully illustrated story that opens gentle kōrero about having whānau in different places, missing someone you love, and how imagination can help hold big feelings.

Perfect for bedtime or quiet moments, this book gives families an easy way to talk about what “home” means, how love can stretch across oceans, and the comfort we find in staying connected - near or far.

How this resource supports our tamariki:

• Normalises mixed feelings about living between places, offering language for missing, hoping, and belonging.
• Opens up warm parent–child conversations about family overseas and ways to stay close (calls, letters, shared rituals).
  
• Reassures children that love isn’t limited by distance - a message that supports emotional security and resilience.