Swings + Roundabouts Summer 2020

Resource REVIEWS LITTLE HECTOR MEETS MINI MĀUI By Ruth Paul Picture Puffin; RRP: $18.99 paperback In the sparkling third adventure of Little Hector, our daring hero meets his special Māui cousins and learns about friendship. Little Hector is off on a holiday to meet his rare and special cousin, Mini Māui. For the first time in his life, Hector is the BIGGER dolphin. But Mini thinks he’s BOSSY. The conservation-themed picture book is about size and pecking order, friendship, jealousy and learning to get along. With her signature creativity, humour and pizzazz, Ruth Paul introduces readers to NZ’s tiny endemic Hector’s and Māui dolphins – every game Hector and Mini play together is a real-life game scientists have observed these dolphins playing in the wild. SLINKY MALINKI’S CHRISTMAS 1 2 3 By Lynley Dodd Puffin Board Book; RRP: $19.99 board book Learn to count with Slinky Malinki this Christmas! Oh, that cheeky cat Slinky Malinki has got up to his usual tricks and meddled with the Christmas tree decorations. Count naughty Slinky Malinki’s stolen Christmas tree items from 1-10! This festive board book is sure to raise giggles with grownup readers – especially those who have had their own Christmas trees climbed and dismantled by a pesky but beloved cat. Slinky Malinki’s Christmas 123 is a large hardback cased format with thick, durable board-book leaves and it’s the perfect Christmas present for littlies. DIGGERSAURS MISSION TO MARS By Michael Whaite Picture Puffin; RRP: $17.99 paperback Dinosaurs meet diggers meet . . . SPACECRAFT! This mash-up of favourite things is a brilliantly fun, rhyming read- aloud. While Diggersaurs work hard outdoors shifting earth and granite, Work takes place in outer space upon a distant planet. Meet the Roversaurs – an awesome combination of dinosaur and spacecraft. They’re busy on Mars, tunnelling through the ground, mapping new territory, testing soil samples and growing plants – what do they have planned? And might they need some help from the Diggersaurs? Award-winning, bestselling Michael Whaite brings Mars to life with bright, bold colours and details to pore over. Perfect for children aged 3-7 years. December 2020 { 35 }