MCW Books

Kimi the Kekeno’s Big Adventure

By December 20, 2025No Comments

Shelley Burne-Field’s second middle grade novel for young readers is a funny and exciting ocean adventure. Kimi the kekeno is going on the biggest adventure of his life — the long and scary journey to the magical Stone Circle.

Along the way Kimi and his friends meet a giant squid who needs their help, a wise old stingray and a very hungry hammerhead shark. Does shy and gentle Kimi have what it takes to make the journey? Can the friends still make it to the Stone Circle moon ceremony on time?

Listen to Louise Ward’s glowing review on RNZ.

Read an interview with Shelley at Kete.

Kimi the Kekeno’s Big Adventure

by Shelley Burne-Field

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781991006837

Published: April 2025

Format: Paperback, 176 pages

Shelley Burne-Field

Shelley Burne-Field

Shelley Burne-Field (Sāmoa, Ngati Mutunga, Ngati Rārua, Pākehā) is a kaituhituhi from Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke's Bay. She writes articles and creative non-fiction as well as fiction of all sorts, including short stories. This is her first children's story. She is an alumni of the Master of Creative Writing from Auckland University 2020 and also Te Papa Tupu mentoring programme. Her story 'Speaking in Tongues' was the only New Zealand Finalist in the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Her work is now in print in anthologies around the world, and has appeared in Newsroom and on RNZ. Her story 'Pinching out Dahlias' is the most read short story published in Reading Room. Shelley is a proud member of the NZSA.

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