Parishay's Book Club

12: The Little Prince's Big Secrets

Parishay's Book Club

Show Notes

Ready to blast off!! Strap on your goggles, because this week on Parishay's Book Club, we crash-land right into the starry world of an absolute classic: 'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry! Joining Parishay in the studio is special guest Sonya McArthur, brilliant author behind 'Tales of Curiosity'. Together, they unpack the ultimate cosmic mystery: why do grown-ups care so much about boring numbers when there are tiny planets, talking foxes, and magical roses to discover? Tune in as Parishay and Sonya decode the wise secrets of the desert and figure out what the fox really means when he says the most important things can only be seen with the heart. Plus, do not miss the wackiest game of 'Design A Planet' ever! Who would survive on a world made of bouncing jelly or ticking clocks? Grab your crayons for a stellar challenge and dream up your very own asteroid bursting with imagination and fun. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

More from Parishay's Book Club

Oct 22, 2026

Get ready for an unforgettable chat on Parishay's Book Club. Today, Parishay is joined by the incredible North Island educator and author, Kimberley Kearney. Together they are celebrating her absolutely gorgeous picture book, The Lost Words, which is beautifully illustrated by Taylor Terewai Tiave. This is a finalist for the 2026 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. In this episode, Kimberley opens up about her personal Ngati Maniapoto and Tuhoe heritage, sharing how she transformed her family history into this stunning masterpiece. She also shares some professional tips on how you can craft your very own cultural stories from scratch. The fun keeps going when we play a fast paced imagination game together, using beautiful te reo Māori kupu to build epic starters. Finally, we wrap everything up with a very special word collector challenge for our young listeners. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

Oct 8, 2026

Step into the fascinating world of the past on this special episode of Parishay’s Book Club! Ten-year-old host Parishay is joined in the studio by Professor Tony Ballantyne, a distinguished historian and remarkable non-fiction author. Tune in as they dive into his latest book, Captain Cook and the Unsettled Afterlives of Empire, exploring how history changes depending on who is telling the story, why listening to diverse perspectives matters, and how we can connect with our local roots. Tony also shares brilliant, practical tips and tricks for young writers looking to dive into non-fiction research, turn history into a treasure hunt, and write true stories that keep readers completely hooked. Plus, hear about this week's fun listener challenge to interview an elder and become a family historian! This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

Sep 24, 2026

Ever wondered how a simple spark of inspiration can turn into a beloved children's book? Join Parishay and author-editor, Lisa Dick on Parishay's Book Club for a heart warming chat. Lisa shares the fascinating 18-year journey behind her debut picture book, The Baby Sleeps. From an idea struck while pushing her oldest son in a pram to notes kept safe in a bedside drawer for a decade, Lisa opens up about the creative process. Tune in as Parishay and Lisa chat about zooming from outer space back to earth, collaborating with illustrator Laura Bee, and balancing family life with writing. Plus, Lisa shares brilliant publishing tips for aspiring young writers, reads her favourite passage, and joins a fun art challenge set by Parishay. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

Sep 10, 2026

Get ready for an enchanting adventure on Parishay's Book Club. In this episode, Parishay welcomes amazing guest Mathew French to the studio to explore the absolute childhood classic, The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton. Together they climb the magical Faraway Tree, discuss rotating lands, and chat about eccentric characters like Moon Face and the Saucepan Man. Mathew treats listeners to a live reading of his favourite passage and tackles a hilarious Dunedin flying challenge in the Washing Basket Express, steering his basket past Baldwin Street and right into the public library. Also, find out how to build your very own secret reading fort for this week's listener challenge. Grab your favourite storybook and discover why reading is your ultimate superpower. Tune in to uncover the magic of storytelling and let your imagination fly. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

Aug 27, 2026

Get ready for a magical celebration of NZ Children's Book Week on Parishay's Book Club! In this very special episode Parishay welcomes the amazing award winning author Swapna Haddow to the studio. You probably know Swapna from her hilarious books like Dave Pigeon, Bad Panda, and My Mum is a Lioness. Together they dive deep into the fascinating world of story creation. Swapna reveals her favourite writing spots and shares exactly how she dreams up such brilliant ideas for young readers. The duo also discusses the absolute best ways to motivate tamariki to put down their screens and fall completely in love with reading. The fun reaches a whole new level when Parishay challenges Swapna to a hilarious game of The Story Starter testing her on the spot imagination with tiny glowing dragons, spooky library books, and a talking pet parrot! Listeners are also given an exciting backyard writing challenge. Tune in to uncover the ultimate secrets of becoming an author and let your imagination fly. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

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