Swings + Roundabouts Spring 2020

OMALETTA HEN By Janelle Wilkey Illustrated by Deborah Hinde Scholastic; RRP: $18.99 Paperback Omeletta Hen is a fun and humorous tale about a hen, Omaletta, who knows very much, what she wants, and a boy, Nelson, who discovers that sometimes you have to listen to what nature (or the hen) is telling you! Winner of the 2019 Storylines Joy Cowley Award, this is the author’s debut picture book, which is based on a family pet. An egg in the garden. An egg on the path. An egg in a shoe. An egg in the bath. “Cluck, Cluck! Wonderful me.” “Cackle, cackle! My eggs are free!” The young boy despairs as everyday he needs to hunt for the eggs as his hen won’t lay her eggs in his henhouse, so decides to lock Omeletta in until she lays in the nest, but Omaletta has her own ideas on where she should lay her eggs! The illustrations work perfectly with the story showing the ever-changing emotions of both the boy and the hen and especially the mischievous spirit of Omeletta hen. A great book for children 2.5+. MY LITTLE BOOK OF BUGS. TAKU PUKAPUKA ITI MŌ NGĀ PEPEKE Edited by Julia Kasper & Phil Sirvid Photographed by Jean-Claude Stahl Te Papa Press; RRP: $19.99 Board book This is a beautiful board book which has been designed for babies and toddlers but is a perfect way to also introduce new te reo Māori and some interesting facts about bugs to younger children as well. This bright and attractive book features stunning photos of New Zealand bugs from the collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The informative text shares valuable knowledge about our natural world and is in both English and te reo Māori: “Ants make trials to lead other ants to food. Ka whakatakoto te pōpokorua i ngā ara hei ārahi i ētahi atu pōpokorua kit e kai”. SLEEP LITTLE KIWI, SLEEP By Deborah Hinde PictureBook Publishing; RRP: $19.99 Paperback When night falls Little Kiwi ventures out for kai and meets nocturnal creatures along the way, including a menacing predator – before arriving back to his burrow safe and sound as the sun rises. “The sun wakes, golden fingers stretching to the sky, as the moon and stars fade away with a sigh. Tuī sings hello to the light, while night creatures slumber, hidden from sight. Deep in the burrow, safe and sound. All is quiet. All is still. Sleep, Little Kiwi, sleep.” Sleep, Little Kiwi, Sleep in many ways reads as a meditative text, and so wasn’t surprising when I read that the author wrote the story inspired by her grandson’s struggle to switch off and go to sleep. Although you won’t be necessarily wanting children you are reading to, to fall asleep, it is great to have books that offer a type of relaxation and calmness within our busy days and to slow down. The soothing text is complimented by gorgeous illustrations that highlights the creatures and forest within a simple night palette. Intermeshed within the text are common te reo Māori kupu for some of creatures and fauna featured, with a small pictorial glossary at the back. Great for tamariki 2+. September 2020 { 42 }