Selling kids' books since 1970

Books for Kids started in 1970 with two women, both called Anne, both ex-teachers, and a van. They drove around the Waikato selling books to schools. When the van got too small they opened a shop in Peachgrove, and later moved to the one you'll find us in today, on Grey Street in Hamilton East.

Since then the shop has passed through the hands of six more owners, every one of them a former teacher or librarian. The previous owners still pop in to see how we're going, give us tips, and make sure we're looking after the place. We take that very seriously. This shop has been the Waikato's only children's bookshop for more than fifty years, and we're the ones lucky enough to be holding it right now.

Hi. I'm Kate

I taught in primary schools before I bought Books for Kids in 2026, and my best memories from the classroom are the ones where I had a picture book in my hands and dozens kids totally captivated. Greedy Cat. The Gingerbread Man. The Book with No Pictures. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. If you've ever read a great picture book to a child and seen them just LOVE it, you know what I'm talking about. It's magic!

I'm also here because I'm curious about the nuts and bolts of business. I like understanding how things work, from supply chains to loyalty programmes, and finding ways to make them better. So alongside the books, I'm always quietly working on making the shop easier to buy from, whether you're a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, or a school librarian with the most eclectic wish list, I want Books for Kids to be your favourite place to shop.

Here are my Favourite Picture Books

When you visit us

Whether you're online or in-store, we want you to relax, because you're in safe hands. If you've got an hour to kill and want to fossick through old favourites and new releases, go for it. If you're on a mission for one very specific book you can't find anywhere else, tell us, and we'll find it. Either way, we want you to leave thinking the selection was amazing and that when it comes to kids' books, this is hands down the shop.

Tell us About your Special Request

Meet Guy

Our Store Manager


Guy is my brother, and he's the one who chooses what goes on our shelves. He was a librarian at St Andrews Library, so if you're a Hamilton book person you've probably already met him. He curates our collections so there's something for every kind of kid, and he fizzes over an exceptional illustration. Outside the shop he's a professional artist with two street-art murals around town. His favourite book in the shop right now is The Pizza Shape Book, because it's his two-year-old's favourite too.

Take a Look at The Pizza Shape Book

Meet Jane

Our Expert Bookseller


Jane has been selling books for decades and loves it so much she does it EVERYWHERE. As well as working with us, you'll find her at Poppies in the CBD, at the Auckland Writers Festival every year, and at pretty much any book event in the Waikato. Her favourite book in the shop is Gozzle, and if you ask, she'll read it to you with great enthusiasm.

Take a Look at Gozzle

Meet Elise

Junior Reading Specialist


Elise has worked at Books for Kids since she was at high school, and her sister worked here before her, so her family goes back a long way with the shop. She's now studying science at uni, which means most of her own reading is textbooks, but she keeps up with every new release and has a real knack for matching kids with the graphic novels and chapter books they'll love.

Here's some of Elise's Faves

Meet Helena

Our YA Expert


Helena is our newest team member and our resident YA expert. She's an avid reader of contemporary YA and New Adult, and she keeps an eye on what's happening on BookTok so the rest of us don't have to. You'll find her in the shop on Fridays and Sundays.

Browse our Young Adult Books

Meet Rob

The Glue of the Whole Operation


Rob is my partner, our emergency relief bookseller and courier driver, chief of vacuuming, growth & strategy planner and occasional sales idol. He also keeps me in line.
Whenever Rob gets 30 seconds to sit down, he loves flicking through Asterix comics. It turns out that reading them as an adult makes you realise just how much of the content went over your head as a child. IYKYK 😉

Here's Asterix, if you Dare!

Come and See Us


We're at 310 Grey Street, Hamilton East. There's nearly always something on, from preschool storytimes to author events after hours. Sign up to our newsletter below and you'll hear about it first.

We're Open:
9-5 Weekdays
9-4 Weekends