Ben and Mark Boys of the High Country

Author /Photographer: Christine Fernyhough and John Bougen.

This book was a real treasure for me as I already had purchased this for my two boys at home. I have a dream to own land and pictured my own two boys as Ben and Mark running around a farm and being real boys.

Some interesting points about this book.

-Wonderful great pictures and photographs...really interesting photos around the farm;

-Easy to read captions about the photos;

-Chapters are all different and talking about the boys life on the farm;

-Chapters highlighted were; The Boys themselves, their dogs, mustering sheep, their horses, cattle and deer, sheep, fun, Events and the future.

Read the book and afterwards you might picture yourself as one of them living in a really different place rather than living in Papatoetoe Manukau.

Publisher RANDOM HOUSE
ISBN978-1-86979-068-4

Reviewed by Mr Gilbert.

The Wild West Gang

Author / Illustrator: Joy Cowley and Trevor Pye

This story is a very interesting and funny story, its about a boy called Michael who can't wait to spend more time with his Auntie's family also known as the Wild West Gang. The wests always do lots of interesting things that Michael is not allowed to do at home.

But there are surpises in store for Michael as they set off on their adventures, with the West family.

Publisher HarperCollins

ISBN 1-86950-285-x
Reviewed by Kanta Gounder

Journey to Tangiwai - The Diary of Peter Cotterill

Author/Illustrator : David Hill

Peter Cotterill was given a dairy for his 13th birthday from his Great Aunt Ethel. He hates diaries and decides to write in it only when he feels like it, which turns out to be often.

He writes each day what happens in his life - school, paper round, scouts and his family including his Uncle Hugh who fought in World War 2 and now questions whether he should have.

It has an exciting and surprising conclusion.
Scholastic Publisher

Reviewed by Mrs. Beetham

The Treasure

Author / Illustrator: Melanie Drewery / Bruce Potter

"Come and snuggle on the couch with me and I will tell you of my greatest taonga."
Moving and growing; an egg, small and delicate; sparkled and caught my eye; paua shell; pounamu.

What is this greatest taonga/treasure that a mother reveals to her child?

Reed Publishing 1-86948-640-4
Reviewed by A. Cossey

'Beans' - Dream Sleepers and other Stories

Author/Illustrator: Patricia Grace

Beans is a recount of a young boys Saturday morning. We are taken through his every steps as if we are inside his head experiencing his Saturday morning. We feel the blistering cold as he rides up the steep hill on his way to his Saturday rugby game, we breathe hard as he does when he sprints down the field for the ball and we experience the satisfaction of riding home with a can of drink in one hand and a downhill slope to guide us home.

I loved this story as Patricia Grace made me feel part of it. I love Patricia Grace as an author because she involves her reader and creates imagery that makes you laugh, cry and squirm sometimes all at once!

Longman Paul Isbn 0582717795

Reviewed by Miss Nola

Biddy Alone

Author/Illustrator: Wanda Cowley.

Its the story of Biddy, who goes to live on a bird santuary. Biddy loves her cat Kit, but is not allowed to take her onto the island. Biddy smuggles her cat onto the island but unfortunately Kit escapes from her. Biddy rushes into the forest to find her wayward cat.
This is were Biddy's adventure begins. She uses her knowledge of how to survive in the forest taught by her dad. The reader has an opportunity here to learn about bushcraft and conversation in New Zealand.
I enjoyed reading about Biddy's bravery, strength and loyalty to her cat, Kit.

Publisher: Ashton Scholastic
IBSN:0-86943-005-0

Reviewed by Mrs Thompson

Whitebait Fritters

Author/Kingi McKinnon
Illustrator/Kelvin Hawley

Wiremu's father is going whitebaiting and Wiremu wants to go too. Mum takes Wiremu's side and encourages dad to take him.
This is wonderful father and son relationship where spending quality time together is of great importance.

Scholastic Publishers
ISBN 1869434870

Reviewed by Mrs Pokai

The Kuia and the Spider

Author: Patricia Grace
Illustrator: Robyn Kakukiwa

This is one of my favourite picture books about a bad-tempered grandmother kuia (granny) and a grumpy spider. They fight all day and all night long about who is the best weaver. They fight for so long that they get tired and fall asleep... then next morning they wake up and start arguing all over again.

I like this book very much because the pictutres are great, they almost look like photos, and the story is very funny. An extra bonus is that some of it is written in Maori. I recommend that you get it out of the library and read it. You will enjoy it like me.

ISBN:0-14-050387-0
Puffin Books

Reviewed by Ms Mulrennan

The Forgotten Taniwha

Author/Illustrator: Robyn Kahukiwa

Ngakau Pono the taniwha, had been the kaitiaki of Aotearoa and the Maori people for hundreds of years. But one day, strangers arrived in Aotearoa with a different language and different customs. Everything changed and Ngakau Pono was left all alone. He went to sleep for many years.

Suddenly, there was a huge earthquake in Aotearoa that caused a tsunami and destroyed the land. Read this book to find out what happens when Ngakau Pono wakes up?

Puffin Books 978-014352-003-0
Reviewed by L. Lepou

Pipi and Mussels

Author: Dot Meharry

Pipi, mussels, New Zealand, seashore, whales, humour, Pipi's and mussels lived side by side along the coast, sharing their food until the whales came. This humourous story tells why pipi live in the sand and mussels live on rocks.

Published by : Reed publishing

The Whale Rider

Author - Witi Ihimaera
Illustrator - Bruce Potter

This timeless story tells how the courage of one girl in standing against the tide of tradition her tribe to become reconnected with their ancestral life force.

Published by - Reed Publishing
I.S.B.N. -1-86948-584X

Reviewed by - Anoma Gunawardena

The Puffin Treasury of New Zealand Children's Stories

Story No. 2 Bidibidi

Author Gavin Bishop

Illustrator Gavin Bishop

Bidibidi, the sheep, is tired of trudging around the mountains where she lives. When she sees a rainbow she decides that that is where she would rather be. With some encouragement from Stella, the Kea, Bidibidi sets out to find the rainbow. She is helped along the way by some friends as she strikes some perilous situations.

I really enjoyed this story, especially that Bidibidi was brave and she was helped by friendly animals on her way.

Puffin Books ISBN 014331825x

reviewed by Mrs Osborne

The Kuia and the Spider

Author:Patricia Grace
llustrator: Robyn Kahu Kiwa

A New Zealand book with beautiful pictures. The illustrations are very colourful and life-like. It is an easy book to read aloud. Maori Art and language is celebrated right through out the story with a great picture of the weaving of a kete.
I liked the way the Kuia and the spider argue, and yet they are friends really. Both are lonely and so this is the only way they communicate. The story also shows a typical kiwi weekend which we all can relate to. The only thing I didnt like about this book was that it did not have a proper ending, it just trailed off at the end.

Penguin Books

Reviewed by R. Achary

Child of Aotearoa

Author: Melanie Drewery

Illustrator: Bruce Potter

This is a beautifully illustrated picture book about Maori settlement and their history in Aotearoa. The visual images tell the story while the text enhances and explains the illustrations. It begins with a picture of a Kauri forest, Moa and a white sandy beach. The text describes the land before people arrived using images and language that embody the uniquely New Zealand landscape. The narrator's tone is intimate and invites the reader to listen to the story. The book continues to describe the migration of a people that over time developed into a culture that was unique to Aotearoa. The story depicts key events over the generations such as tribal competition, warfare, migration and intermarriage with other cultures. This is a book with informative and appealing illustrations and text that simply expresses the connection of Maori to Aotearoa.

Publisher: Reed Children's Book ISBN 1-86948-690-0

Reviewed: Linda Hirschfeld

Dad's Takeaways

Author: Melanie Drewery

Illustrator: Christopher White

This story is set in New Zealand during the summer school holidays. The family are on holiday at the beach and it is Dad's turn to make dinner, so what are they going to have? The decision is made to have takeaways and Dad decides that they are going to have the best takeaways in the world! He gets the children to put into a carry bag some newspaper, matches, blunt knives, a hammer, togs and towels as well as thick gloves. They grab some buckets, a sack and fry pan. What sort of takeaways are they going to have?

After having an adventurous time getting their takeaways the family decide that they certainly did have the best takeaways in the world! They also learn about looking after the environment and they make some wonderful memories as well.

This is a story that many children and adults could relate to. I really enjoyed reading it and it brought back to my mind many of my childhood holiday memories.

Published Mallinson Rendel Publishers Ltd, 2007

Reviewed by A Barthow