One Weka Went Walking Written by Kate Preece Illustrated by Pippa Ensor Bateman; RRP: $24.99 Hardback One Weka Went Walking is visually stunning with its detailed watercolour illustrations which feature a curious weka exploring it’s home on the Chatham Islands and meeting some of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s most endangered birds from the tiny black robin to one of the world’s rarest seabirds, the Chatham Island tāiko/magenta petrel. At the bottom of each double-spread is a fact about the featured bird. The book is written in English with poetic rhyming text, but offers some Māori translations along with the occasional Moriori. This book is one to treasure and will be enjoyed by tamariki 4+. The Grizzled Grist Does Not Exist Written by Juliette Maclver Illustrated by Sarah Davis Gecko Press; RRP: $29.00 Hardback Here is the perfect follow-up for all those who enjoyed the award-winning That’s Not a Hippopotamus book. This time the class head to the wilderness ready to show off their outdoor survival skills including Liam’s whose specialty is ‘hiding’. This comes in handy when the rest of the children and the very frazzled teacher walk into a trap … This fun read-aloud with rhyming text and comical illustrations will be enjoyed by tamariki 3+. Arewhana Hunahuna Written by David Barrow Nā Karena Kelly i whakamāori Gecko Press; RRP: $19.99 Paperback Arewhana Hunahuna is the reo Māori edition of the brilliantly interactive and internationally bestselling picture book, Have You Seen Elephant? which tickled the funny bones of both children and adults. A small boy and his elephant play an absurd game of hide and seek in this beautifully illustrated picture book that will have young readers shouting out loud in delight, and adults laughing too as Elephant hides, in full view. It’s great to have a te reo Māori book that is playful, and which will be able to be enjoyed from beginner learners of te reo Māori to tamariki immersed in te reo. For tamariki 2+. We Saw a Spinosaurus Written by Kyle Mewburn Illustrated by Daron Parton Scholastic; RRP: $21.99 Paperpack Dinosaurs are lingering in school corridors, with children tentatively following them, spotting all the familiar dinosaurs we all know, until finally they open a door … Children will enjoy the slight tension in the story as they creep after the dinosaurs, with the repetitive catch phrase, "Do you think it saw us? Shh! Don’t make a sound." This funny rhyming story with a play on nonsensical words and its bold and bright illustrations will appeal to children 2+. December 2022 { 40 }
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