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)
Secret Gardens of Aotearoa Book Review
Secret Gardens of Aotearoa: Field notes and practical wisdom by Jane Mahoney & Sophie Bannan ISBN: 9781991006240 | $49.99 Secret Gardens of Aotearoa is a beautiful book that showcases twelve intriguing and unique gardens and the people who tend to them, along with advice, guides, and plenty of stunning photography. Written and photographed by … Read More
Soil to Table: The Land Gardeners Book Review
Soil to Table: The Land Gardeners Bridget Elworthy & Henrietta Courtauld ISBN: 9781760762636 | $89.99 The Land Gardeners – Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld – are gardeners and healthy soil researchers and advocates based in the UK. Their first book, Cut Flowers, focused on the role of healthy soil in growing beautiful blooms. Soil … Read More
The Natural Garden: Landscape Ideas for New Zealand Gardens Book Review
The Natural Garden: Landscape Ideas for New Zealand Gardens Xanthe White ISBN: 9781776950584 | 59.99 Available for pre order from 3 October 2023 Xanthe White is a garden designer based in Auckland, who for nearly three decades has worked as the lead designer of her studio on a broad range of projects both in … Read More
Around the World in 80 Plants Book Review
Around the World in 50 Plants Jonathan Drori, illustrated by Lucille Clerc ISBN: 9781399610698 | $37.99 After the incredible success of Around the World in 80 Trees, Jonathan Drori has returned for another trip around the world – this time with plants as the focus. Around the World in 80 Plants has recently been … Read More
The Everyday Herbalist Book Review
The Everyday Herbalist The Essential Guide to Growing & Using Herbs in Aotearoa Jane Wrigglesworth ISBN: 9781991006165 | $49.99 The Everyday Herbalist is a comprehensive and timely guide to herbs and their uses in Aotearoa. Author Jane Wrigglesworth has written for publications like NZ Gardener and Lifestyle Block for many years, with a focus … Read More
The Power of Trees Book Review
The Power of Trees: How ancient forests can save us if we let them Peter Wohlleben ISBN: 9781760643621 | $40.00 The Power of Trees is the follow-up to German forester Peter Wohlleben’s well-loved The Hidden Life of Trees. With passion and wonder, Wohlleben takes us on a journey into the science, beauty, function, and … Read More
A Forager’s Life
A Forager’s Life Finding my heart and home in nature Helen Lehndorf ISBN: 9781775542209 | $39.99 A Forager’s Life is a beautifully written memoir of a life living in the company, comfort and bounty of nature, by poet and teacher Helen Lehndorf. As a young person, Lehndorf’s life was shaped by the land around … Read More
Fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand: A Curious Forager’s Field Guide
Fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand: A Curious Forager’s Field Guide Liv Sisson ISBN: 9781761047879 | $45.00 Written by local writer, forager, and food-lover Liv Sisson, Fungi of Aotearoa is an accessible and engaging book about the wonders and mysteries of fungi. Early on in the book, she outlines just how much there is still to … Read More
Elderflora A Modern History of Ancient Trees
Elderflora – A Modern History of Ancient Trees Jared Farmer ISBN: 978103500905 | $39.99 In this compelling book, historian Jared Farmer weaves a captivating story of humans’ relationship with trees – particularly very old ones, known as elderflora. Farmer combines history, politics and science, travelling back in time and through many cultures and places … Read More
Regenesis: Feeding the World without Devouring the Planet
Regenesis – Feeding the World Without Devouring the Planet George Monbiot ISBN: 9780241563458 | $37.00 Regenesis is a fantastic deep dive into the complex and fascinating world of agriculture by George Monbiot, a British columnist and environmental activist. Rational and passionate, Monbiot unpacks and dispels a lot of the popular mythology about farming and challenges … Read More
Houseplants and Design: A New Zealand Guide
Houseplants and Design: A New Zealand Guide Liz Carlson 9781991006110 | $45.00 This book is an accessible, detailed, and beautiful guide to houseplants and their many benefits, from Lyttelton-based writer Liz Carlson. The photography in this book is outstanding, with a combination of detailed images of a huge variety of specimens alongside inspirational photos … Read More
New Zealand Gardens to Visit
‘New Zealand Gardens to Visit Juliet Nicholas & Rosemary Barraclough 9780143776086 | $55.00 This is a gorgeous, large, lush and detailed guide to gardens across the country that are open for visitors. Moving from north to south, and covering 50 gardens in total, this book spans a wide variety of styles, exploring the great … Read More