The Bomb | Te Pohū

In this story about being true to oneself, a boy searches for the secret to doing the perfect dive bomb into the water. With training from Nan, an expert and former champion, and by listening to his own voice, he finds his unique style and pulls off a wonderful, acrobatic, truly awe-inspiring bomb.

Awards & Recognition

  • NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2019 - Winner: Margaret Mahy Book of the Year - THE BOMB

  • NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2019 - Winner: Picture Book Award - THE BOMB

  • NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2019 - Finalist: Russell Clark Award for Illustration - THE BOMB

  • PANZ Book Design Awards 2019 - Winner: Scholastic NZ Award for Best Picture Book - THE BOMB

  • PANZ Book Design Awards 2019 - Finalist: HarperCollins Award for Best Cover - THE BOMB

  • Storylines Notable Book Award 2019 - Picture Book - THE BOMB

  • New Zealand Listener: 50 Best Books of 2018 - THE BOMB | TE POHŪ

  • International Board on Books for Young People - IBBY Honour List 2020 - for Illustration - THE BOMB

Opening scene
Kid in nature
Photo 7-05-19, 1 56 19 PM.jpg

  • ‘A quintessentially New Zealand picture book… funny, inspirational, enjoyable, & packed full of characters & scenes instantly recognisable to young New Zealanders’

    THE BOMB - Dionne Christian & Zoe Gadd, Weekend Herald

  • “Reading THE BOMB is an uplifting and invigorating experience that feels like a breath of fresh summer air….Fresh, fun, vibrant and distinctly kiwi, this is another fabulous offering from the creative pairing of Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan.”

    THE BOMB - Emma Wood, Otago Daily Times

  • “A riot of fun about being true to yourself…. Just like the best books for children, THE BOMB invites many return readings to pick up all the extra little bits of visual storytelling included in the illustrations – so much subtle and rich detailing.”

    THE BOMB - Judges comments, PANZ Book Design Awards 2019

  • “You can enjoy this book for the rich illustrations and sweet story. Or you can appreciate it for its part in breaking down toxic masculinity as our hero comes to understand that emulating other guys in his friend group might be stopping him from becoming who he truly wishes to be.”

    THE BOMB - Moana Ete, Capital Magazine

  • “A triumph! This book screams 'fun' and right from the cover, invites us to dive right in. Love the splashes of bold colour. It is a classically NZ story, instantly resonant but from a unique, non-clichéd angle. Visually, there is so much to pore over. It is a book that makes you smile just to look at it!”

    THE BOMB - Judges comments, PANZ Book Design Awards 2019

  • “No matter who we are or where we're from, we can all see ourselves reflected in this timeless and sparkling story of courage and transformation. Joy and humour permeate the story and illustrations of THE BOMB, and we're rewarded with each encounter – we see a new layer, another detail is revealed, fresh energy bubbles up.”

    THE BOMB - Judges comments, New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2019

  • “The judges were all equally captivated by the spell this book cast. It’s a summery, waterlogged story about a child growing in self-confidence while striving to perfect the perfect “bomb”, supported every step of the way by the reassuring presence of Nan.. The joyful rhythm and perfect pacing of the text combined with risk-taking design and movement takes this book to the next level. It is magic, and in short it is most definitely THE BOMB.”

    THE BOMB - Judges comments, New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2019

  • “What a heart-stealer this one is…..THE BOMB was the perfect summer book to give my niece (hey Zoe!). It’s about summer, it’s about confidence, it’s about knowing yourself, and best of all, it’s about fun.”

    THE BOMB - Nicole Young, Book Riot

  • “Layer upon layer of goodness and wonder.”

    THE BOMB - Catherine Woulfe, The Spinoff

  • “THE BOMB is a story of its time and reminiscent of the taste and smell of a New Zealand summer.”

    THE BOMB - The Sapling

  • “Compositions are highly energetic, colours are rich, there is movement, expression and layers of detail. You could throw a dart and always hit something that encapsulates New Zealand.”

    THE BOMB - The Sapling

  • “Ka wani kē! What a delight! This new book from Huia Publishers, also released in English as THE BOMB, is a funny, insightful tale about one tamaiti’s endeavour to perfect the best bomb ever. The illustrations are equally wonderful, filled with small details and variety, sweeping you up into the story.”

    THE BOMB - Kay Benseman, The Sapling

  • “THE BOMB takes us back to a particularly kiwi childhood as a boy searches for the secret to a perfect bomb, seeking advice from his family but especially his amazing Nan. Lyrical, beautiful and uniquely New Zealand.”

    THE BOMB - Unity Books Summer Newsletter

  • "Pops of amazing colour, a gorgeous feel throughout ... gorgeously touching, it really is something special ... It's a very modern take on Kiwi summer just for children."

    THE BOMB - Niki Ward, Ekor Books, RNZ Review

  • “Another great book from Sacha Cotter & Josh Morgan, but I love this one best of all.”

    THE BOMB - Lucy, The Children’s Bookshop, Kilbirnie

Order your copy from HUIA Publishers today

Previous

Cannonball
Next

The Marble Maker | Te Kaihanga Māpere