Here you can find a growing range of NZSL resources to use with kids. Check out the Google Play Store or App Store for these apps to download onto your device.
These apps are not the property of Deaf Aotearoa.
I Want to Fly – Ready to Read
In this narrative, Rabbit is bored with hopping and wants to be able to fly. When he accepts Hawk’s offer of help, Rabbit soon realises he has made a big mistake.
T-shirts – Ready to Read
This lively, rhythmic, rhyming text describes T-shirts belonging to various family members. It’s an old favourite, which has been updated with new illustrations.
Special Visit to Koro & Nanny – Ready to Read
In this narrative, Ani and her parents travel to the countryside to visit Koro and Nanny. Ani wakes up in the night and is frightened of the dark. Koro hears her calling out and comes to comfort her. He takes her outside to show her the stars and tells her they are kaitiaki – guardians to watch over her and keep her safe.
Late for the Race – Ready to Read
Everyone is ready to start the bike race except for the bossy and demanding Princess. The Queen helps the Princess gather the things she needs – but this is one time the Princess will not be allowed to wear her crown.
Talking to Nanny – Ready to Read
Aroha misses her nanny very much but lives too far away to go and visit her. Instead, her mum sets up the computer so that Aroha and Nanny can use the Internet to see and talk to each other.
The King’s Birthday – Ready to Read
The King is upset because nobody seems to have remembered his birthday. Lunch, however, reveals a lovely surprise. This is a sequel (with lots of delightful links) to The Hole in the King’s Sock
Tim’s Costume – Ready to Read
In this narrative, Tim needs to make a green costume to wear to a party. He and his family think of and reject a series of ideas until at last Tim comes up with an idea for the perfect costume.
Me and My Dog – Ready to Read
In this poetic text, a young girl and her dog greet the morning with joy and enthusiasm. Alliterative, lively verbs bounce the text along and provide many opportunities for exploring language.
I’m the King of the Mountain – Ready to Read
In this lively, rhythmic text, suitable for sharing across all levels, a flea boasts that he is King of the Mountain, only to have the title snatched from him by a bigger, more threatening neighbour. The title is repeatedly relinquished as bigger, more intimidating animals come along, but the clever flea, using a little trickery, wins back the day.
Dad’s Snore – Ready to Read
In this humorous narrative Dad’s snore is affecting everyone in the household.
The Safe Place – Ready to Read
This story, set on a Pacific island, tells of a hen’s search for a safe place to hatch her chicks. The strong narrative structure can be used as a model for writing, and the repetitive aspect of the text provides support for the reader.
Is That an Earthquake? – Ready to Read
A young boy wonders anxiously whether the movements and noises around his home could be an earthquake, and then, suddenly an earthquake does happen. The story incorporates a recount and an explanation and is told entirely through dialogue. There are safety instructions inside the back cover.
Dragons! Dragons! Dragons! – Ready to Read
In this lively, humorous, interactive book for shared reading, four fiery dragons are having trouble making friends.
Bubbles – Ready to Read
Bubbles by Dot Meharry
illustrated by Fraser Williamson
This app is intended as a New Zealand Sign Language resource.
The Hole in the King’s Sock – Ready to Read
In this humorous fairy tale, the King commands his servants to mend a hole in his sock. Nothing works until, at last, the Queen comes up with a solution that means the King will never have to put up with cold feet again.
Crocodile’s Christmas Jandals – Ready to Read
The crocodile loves his new Christmas jandals. But while he is at a beach barbecue, the waves steal away one of his blue jandals and all he can find is a left-foot red jandal. Later in the week, the crocodile wears the odd jandals to a football match. He discovers that he is sitting next to a girl who is wearing his jandal! They are both delighted to have found their missing jandals, and as well as finding his missing jandal, the crocodile is very happy to have found a new friend.
Hairy Maclary
The immensely popular Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy is now available as an interactive digital book with an AUSLAN, American, and New Zealand sign language options in addition to the wonderful narration by David Tennant (Doctor Who).
Turi TV
Turi TV is a service of Van Asch Deaf Education Centre. The app will connect you to a world of resources that can assist you with your child’s education. The app allows you to stay in touch with our resources team and receive regular updates with new content information.
Other Resources
Jack feels big
Being able to name specific feelings like frustrated, overwhelmed and lonely is powerful. Kids can certainly feel these things, but may lack the vocabulary to properly identify them. Jack Feels Big is a collection of colourfully illustrated stories for parents to read to their kids to help them learn these important words. New volume, Sophie Feels Like Me brings another five feeling stories!
Thumbs Up! An Introduction to New Zealand Sign Language
Thumbs Up! An Introduction to New Zealand Sign Language is a resource designed for students in years 7–8 working at curriculum levels 1 and 2. The resource supports the teaching and learning of NZSL as an additional language in English-medium schools.
New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is used by members of New Zealand’s Deaf community and those linked with this community, including hearing people who have Deaf relatives or interpreters who work with Deaf people.