In 2021, Scorpio Books opened a dedicated children’s bookshop in the heart of Ōtautahi Christchurch’s CBD. ‘Telling Tales: Scorpio Children’s Books’ is located directly across the courtyard from Scorpio Books.
The sunny new shop is a treasure trove for the children of Ōtautahi, and the child within us all. The thoughtful selection of books aims to ignite imaginations and a thirst for knowledge in a new generation of readers. Our team at Telling Tales believe that books, and the stories they hold, have a unique capacity to inspire and connect us to a better future.
What’s our age range?
Telling Tales is a book shop predominantly for children 14 and under – but that’s just the simple answer. Like their readers, books don’t always fit into neat categories. There’s plenty of books in the Young Adult (YA) genre that might suit younger readers, and plenty of books pitched at 10-year-olds that teens still love as comfort reads. So, while YA lives at Scorpio Books (15+), we’ve got a section at Telling Tales called ‘Young Teen’ that caters to advanced middle grade readers and those up to about 14. If you’re unsure which shop or section you’ll find a particular title in, please ask. We’re always happy to point you in the right direction.
With the best range of carefully curated books in Christchurch, including a robust Gardening section, Scorpio Books is staffed by friendly, knowledgeable, eclectic readers always ready to help with a recommendation.
Browse the shelves, settle into a comfy chair and discover the best new releases and classics, fiction and non-fiction, on almost any topic you can think of. And if we don’t have what you want and it’s still in print, we’ll order it in for you.
Established over 45 years ago, Scorpio Books is a Christchurch institution. Lose yourself in this treasure trove for booklovers.
Scorpio Books offer all CHS Members a 10% discount (valid at both Scorpio Books & Telling Tales)
Grow – Wāhine Finding Connection Through Food
Grow – Wāhine Finding Connection Through Food Sophie Merkens 9780995142367 | $59.99 Review by Scorpio Books ‘Grow’ follows Sophie Merkens – a photographer and food writer – as she travels the length of Aotearoa seeking stories from women who have special connections with place and community through food. From divers and hunters to chefs, foragers, … Read More
The Well Gardened Mind: Rediscovering Nature in the Modern World
The Well Gardened Mind: Rediscovering Nature in the Modern World By Sue Stuart-Smith 9780008100735 $29.99 Review by Scorpio Books Our June Book of the Month is not a new book, but a Scorpio staff favourite. An essential addition to any gardener’s bookshelf, it’s the perfect read to retreat into when the weather prevents us from … Read More
The Abundant Garden: A Practical guide to growing a regenerative home garden
The Abundant Garden: A Practical guide to growing a regenerative home garden By Niva Kay & Yotam Kay 9781988547718 $45.00 Review by Ray Shipley from Scorpio Books Niva and Yotam Kay, of Pakaraka Permaculture in the Coromandel, say in the introduction to The Abundant Garden that they “love making gardening accessible, fun and attainable for … Read More
Soil: The incredible story of what keeps the earth, and us, healthy
Soil: The incredible story of what keeps the earth, and us, healthy By Matthew Evans 9781922351418 $36.99 Review by Charlotte Nicholl from Scorpio Books What we do to the soil, we do to ourselves. Soil is a joyful, magical book by farmer, cook and environmental warrior Matthew Evans. It tells the unlikely story of our … Read More