Swings + Roundabouts Summer 2020

MĀUI AND THE SECRET OF FIRE Retold by Donvan Bixley Advised and translated by Dr Darryn Joseph and Keri Opai Upstart Press; RRP: $19.99 paperback; $24.99 hardback Māui and the secret of Fire, is the latest adventure within the Tales of Aotearoa series, taking a fresh take on Māui, the cheeky trickster, following the success of How Māui Slowed the Sun and How Māui Fished up the North Island. As with these previous books, Māui and the Secret of Fire, is a great rendition of this well-known pūrākau with the humour and cheekiness you would expect from a story about Māui, and one retold by Bixley. As Bixley notes at the end of the book, Māui offers many traits we see in many tamariki, endless curiosity (which is revered within the Māui tales), where Māui tests the boundaries and experiments to make sense about the natural world. Māui demonstrates this through the traits of being curious, problem- solving, leadership, not giving up, the sharing of knowledge, and a reminder that just because you are young it doesn’t stop you from making a difference. The book’s vibrant imagery aligns perfectly to the trademark humour and retelling of these stories giving children an accessible and relatable backdrop to the story within a te ao Māori world with many te reo Māori words throughout. Bixley has also developed a range of teachers’ notes to extend the experience children can have with the book. There is also a te reo Māori version, Māui me te Ahi a Mahuika. THE LITTLE YELLOW DIGGER SAVES CHRISTMAS By Peter Gilderdale Illustrated by Fifi Colston Scholastic; RRP: 19.99 paperback An all-new Little Yellow Digger book, written by Betty and Alan Gilderdale’s son, who is carrying on his mother’s gift of story telling with rhyme, and illustrator Fifi Colston, illustrating in the style of the late Alan Gilderdale. As a small country school prepares for its Christmas end of year show, they get a call from ‘Santa’ who is on his way to the hall when he runs into a spot of trouble! Fortunately, the Little Yellow Digger is on hand to rescue Santa and his truck full of presents. “I’m driving to your school play, but I’ve had some awful luck. The mountainside came tumbling down and swallowed up my truck. I’m sorry, I can’t get to you. I am completely STUCK.” This book offers us all another Christmas story to enjoy, with the illustrations subtly placing Aotearoa as the location of the story. It’s also a joy for children when the adults are stumped and the children save the day. This book will be enjoyed by tamariki 2.5+. ERNIE AND THE MAGIC KENNEL By Robert Rakete and Jeanette Thomas Illustrated by Kimberley Andrews Scholastic; RRP: $19.99 paperback This book is a debut from the popular ‘The Breeze’ radio hosts, Robert Rakete and Jeanette Thomas, and inspired by The Breeze’s very own station dog and Jeanette’s rescue dog. The authors’ proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to the Saving Hope Foundation and the DUFFY Books in Homes. This is a fun rhyming book about two dogs in an adventure of a lifetime to visit the Queen within a magical kennel, and about being accepted for who you are, finding your place in the world, friendship and being loyal to those you love. Had Benny finally found his tribe, his pack, his crew, his team? A family home to call his own as promised by the Queen? He looked at Ernie. Ernie smiled, and nodded, “Yes it’s true. We’re brothers now, don’t ask me how, just know that I love you.” The illustrations are superb and offer a touch of magic. This book will be enjoyed by tamariki 2.5+. December 2020 { 36 }