Curating creativity and care. A place for creating stories together through books and gatherings with nature.

Welcome Haere mai

The Light Library is a collaborative publishing practice weaving bilingual picture books and creative gatherings in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Our work begins with community—children (and grownup ones), artists and nature—coming together to make art that becomes the foundation for stories. Through workshops and creative activations, participants play and explore. These collaborative artworks become the backgrounds for our bilingual books (English and Te Reo Māori), printed locally and rooted in reciprocity.

Threads of Becoming is our evolving book series:
Finding Grace (2023) invites connection through movement and mystery.
Seeking Will (2026) journeys through storms, seeking courage to continue.
Being Mana (in development ) explores presence and the power of becoming.

From the books, workshops and creative gatherings emerge. We facilitate art-making in libraries, parks, and community spaces—weaving storytelling and making-with-our-hands to connect with nature and ourselves.

Seeking Our Way offerings are growing this year—workshops and installations inviting you to map storms, make handmade books and discover embodied practices for navigating change.
Creativity as a way of being with uncertainty.

When we create together, we weave something larger—threads of becoming that hold us and help us stand in the storms of life.

Everything we make is local and printed local. Made with care and offered as an invitation to create, play and together find our way.

The Light Library invites children and adults to join creative making, to be transformed into books and gatherings – be part of the process and explore what emerges.

Celebrating our book and community

  • Emma Hinton, creative nature workshops with tamariki. the Light Library workshop with Arataki Visitor centre.

    Being part of nature

  • Creative nature workshops with tamariki. The Light Library workshop with Auckland Botanic Gardens.

    Creative experience and collective rewriting.

  • Writing a story together and creative play with The Light Library.

    Create together

  • I have a Story to Tell, more pages from a poem and a binding workshop with The Light Library.

    Sharing our stories of place and people

Upcoming Gatherings

June 2026

Reading: Seeking Will, Rapua a Will
Glen Eden Library (our local) - Thurs 4th June - 10.30am-11am

Matariki Whānau Day - Joining the team at Arataki
Sat 27th June, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

July

Seeking Our Way: PART 1 - Storm Mapping
Tues 7th July , 1pm-2:30pm at Arataki Visitor Centre BOOK HERE

Seeking Our Way: PART 2 - Storm Layers
Sat 18th July , 10:30am-12pm at Te Uru Gallery, Titirangi BOOK HERE

Maanawatia a Matariki - Joining our Whānau & Maunga!
Storytelling & Storm mapping workshop, Fri 10th July at Pironga Forest Park Lodge

August/Sept

Waiheke Picture Book Festival
Storm Mapping workshop - Sun 16th August

Reading: Seeking Will, Rapua a Will
Ranui Library - Tues 8th Sept - 11am-11:30am

Creative Nature Workshop - with Auckland Parks
Weds 30th Sept , 10:30am-12pm - La Rosa Park TBC

Oct/Nov

Create a book together: Being Mana (Pt1 of 4)
Sat 10th Oct , 10:30am-12pm at Te Uru Gallery, Titirangi BOOK HERE SOON

EXHIBITION - Seeking Will, Rapua a Will - Original Artwork
From 14th Nov at Arataki Visitor Centre - TBC Opening Sat 14th Nov

Create a book together: Being Mana (Pt2 of 4)
Sat 28th Nov , 10:30am-12pm at Arataki Visitor Centre BOOK HERE SOON

Bookstore

Finding Grace | Kimihia a Grace Book | Pukupuka Finding Grace | Kimihia a Grace Book | Pukupuka
Quick View
Finding Grace | Kimihia a Grace Book | Pukupuka
$23.00

Finding Grace | Kimihia a Grace - Bookstore Copy

A child adventures into nature, finding treasures to share and her own Grace. Bilingual in English and Te Reo Māori

Printing in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Perfect Bound 210mm- 210mm

Limited Edition Copy - Finding Grace | Kimihia a Grace Book Limited Edition Copy - Finding Grace | Kimihia a Grace Book
Quick View
Limited Edition Copy - Finding Grace | Kimihia a Grace Book
$30.00

Finding Grace | Kimihia a Grace

A child adventures into nature, finding treasures to share and her own Grace.

Collector’s Edition - Bound by hand, art book limited to 100 copies, signed by the author and illustrator.

Bilingual in English and Te Reo Māori

Printing in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

210mm- 210mm

Printing is in progress for release May 2023. The Light Library will keep you updated.

Seeking Will | Rapua a Will - Book | Pukupuka Seeking Will | Rapua a Will - Book | Pukupuka
Quick View
Seeking Will | Rapua a Will - Book | Pukupuka
$23.00

Seeking Will | Rapua a Will
A boy and his dog seek the will to keep going through a storm.

Seeking Will is a bilingual picture book (English and Te Reo Māori) about finding courage, connection and the strength to take the next step—even when the path is uncertain.

Beautifully illustrated, community created and printed in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
210mm × 210mm, perfect bound, 40 pages.

Available NOW
Choose pickup (Auckland) or shipping (NZ-wide).

A child adventures into nature, finds treasure to share and her own Grace.

Finding Grace | Kimihia a Grace

Bilingual - English and Te Reo Māori
Picture Book