Helping children express themselves is just one of the goals of a series of books by local author Kiri-Michelle Mohi.

The series, christened Real Raw Resources, deals with a range of issues that children may be facing in a way that can help them make sense of the world around them.

Mohi’s first book – My Colour is Enough — was published late in 2022 and is about identity.

She has since produced six more books through her Fruits of Te Arawa publishing company and next month will launch books 8 and 9 in the series.

Book 8 is called My Not So Special Touches and is a child’s guide and voice around physical and mental touch and what is appropriate or not appropriate and book 9 is My Parents Chase Waterfalls, dealing with addiction in the whānau.

Mohi said the books addressed issues from childhood adversity, grief and loss, and diversity, to some pretty tough topics – which was what led to the Real, Raw, Resources title.

They were designed to be used by teachers or support carers to work alongside a child, read it with the child and encourage the child to ask questions.

She liked to emphasise that not all of the books were bedtime reading or your average children’s books and said they were resources created to provoke conversation and awareness and shine a light on some real-life issues tamariki/children were dealing with.

“Children’s voices speak from within each book, where the adults working alongside the child can provoke conversation from the book content.

“Children often don’t have the language, vocabulary or spoken words to articulate what they want to say or how they feel, that’s where these books come in handy, they give the voiceless a voice.”

Each book was coloured for a reason as the titles were not the easiest for children to remember.

“Often, they will ask an adult for the ‘blue book’ or the ‘red book’.”

The books have been well-received and have led to many opportunities for Mohi.

Over the past year, she was one of eight Māori and Pasifika writers and creatives to be part of a week of workshops and school visits in Wellington.

The event was created by Read NZ, Te Pou Muramura and gave Kiri the opportunity to rub shoulders with Huia Publishing staff and different social influencers.

She spoke at Foxton, Otaki and Levin schools about her journey to becoming an author, helping to fuel a passion in children for reading and writing.

Her books were now in these schools and in libraries in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.

Kiri-Michelle Mohi with the two latest books that will be launched next month. Photo / Supplied

Mohi was also running a workshop at Paengaroa School in the second week of the July school holidays alongside other writers and illustrators, called Pen Warriors.

She continued to work in social services while writing as well as visiting and reading to schools when invited, and visited 19 schools in 2024.

Her books were available at Paper Plus, Te Puke or directly through a message via Facebook or Instagram to Fruits of Te Arawa Publishing or Kiri-Michelle Mohi.

Mohi also allowed a “pay the books off” system as she believes the books should be accessible to all and the books are published on a not-for-profit basis.

Books 8 and 9 will be launched at an event at The Daily Café on July 4, starting at 10.30am, where there will be book readings, spot prizes and treats for children.

She said there was no obligation to buy. Mohi was hoping to complete the series with book 10 by the end of the year.