Canterbury Picture Books

The Little Penguin Who Wouldn’t Eat His Dinner Jane Buxton, ill. Philip Webb, Reed, 25 pages, paperback, NZ$14.99. ISBN 1-86948-596-3

The Penguin Who Wanted to Fly Ben Brown, ill. Helen Taylor, Reed, 32 pages, paperback, NZ$16.99. ISBN 1-86948-406-1

No Ordinary Flowergirl Marlene J. Bennetts, ill. Trish Bowles, Reed, 28 pages, paperback, NZ $16.99. ISBN 1-86948-432-0.

Kiwi Kicks for Goal, Kiwi and the New Player John Lockyer, ill. Bob Darroch, Hodder Moa/Hachette, 32 pages, paperback, NZ$17.99 each.
ISBN 1-86971-079-7, ISBN 1-86971-080-0

Canterbury Picture Books

Later generations will look back on the early years of this century as a golden age of children’s books, especially picture books. Interestingly each of these five New Zealand picture books has a Canterbury artist or author. Each of them is a book to be proud of.

In 1993, Ben Brown and Helen Taylor of Lyttelton created The Penguin Who Wanted to Fly, first as a comic-style picture book and then as a popular play. Now with its text lightly polished and handsome new realistic illustrations, the plucky little Adelie penguin with high ambitions, is presented to a new generation. “I’ll try and I’ll fly,” he says as he climbs progressively higher up the rocks and icebergs. “Good grief, what a drop!” While he never succeeds in flying, the penguin makes an amazing discovery, which will bring joy to young readers. Helen Taylor’s watercolours are a superb match to her husband’s amusing text, making this book an exemplar of design and typography.

John Lockyer’s Kiwi is a keen junior football player, who learns a lot as he prepares for play with the black-clad Pipis team (which includes Weta, Koura and Kiore). In Kiwi Kicks for Goal, he is able to overcome his own nervousness about kicking when he has to help Pukeko kick. In Kiwi and the New Player, Kiwi has to deal with his own prejudices when Hawk joins the team. “He had heard about hawks too…They were fierce and impatient…Hawks were scary.” Kiwi soon learns that Hawk has great tackling skills but is shy. Bob Darroch of Waimate has created the best pictures of his illustrating career for these two lively books, which will be treasured for their simple stories, positive messages and remarkable cartoon illustrations of animal football encounters.

“Fish is boring,” said Paru, “I want something different.” The title outlines the basic story of The Little Penguin Who Wouldn’t Eat His Dinner. Young readers will soon see interesting parallels as Paru, the yellow-eyed penguin, decides he doesn’t like fish and begins an amusing survey of other possibilities. Inspired by the fantails and pigeons, he tries insects and berries. “But, oh no! They tasted terrible.” Jane Buxton of Rangiora has created a witty text, nicely matched by Philip Webb’s, handsome colour illustrations, which shows how Paru learns which food is best for him, and saves his father as well.

Christchurch writer, Marlene J. Bennetts has captured a grim moment in a young girl’s life – the beautiful apricot-coloured, net and lace dress, which Kyra was to wear at Aunt Rene’s wedding, has been left at home – and from it has created an inspiring and cheerful story, No Ordinary Flowergirl. Since Kyra lives in Brisbane, this elegant picture book also provides a simple, unforced introduction to some Maori customs and traditions. Trish Bowles’ skilful illustrations capture all the excitement of the wedding at the marae, and the pleasure Kyra finds in her unexpected new role.

These books are a useful reminder that it’s not too early to buy good Christmas presents.

Trevor Agnew

This review first appeared in The Press, Christchurch on 18th November 2006.

Last Tree on the Island, Bob Darroch, 2006

THE LAST TREE ON THE ISLAND, Bob Darroch [text & ill] Reed, Auckland, New Zealand, 2006, 25 pages, paperback, NZ$14.99 ISBN 1-86948-593-9

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A KIWI? Ian Watt & Bruce Potter [ill.], Reed, Auckland, New Zealand, 2006, 30 pages, paperback, NZ$19.99
ISBN 1-86948-572-6

A BOOMING IN THE NIGHT, Ben Brown & Helen Taylor [ill.] Reed, Auckland, New Zealand, 2006, 25 pages, paperback, NZ$16.99
ISBN 1-86948-586-6


New Zealand Picture Books for Young Readers

Three of the five writers and illustrators who created these lively picture books live in Canterbury. Ben Brown and Helen Taylor are a husband and wife team from Lyttelton, whose latest book about Pukeko, A Booming in the Night, has been shortlisted for this year’s New Zealand Post Book Awards. Disturbed by the booming love-calls of Kakapo, Pukeko begins a quest to find a companion for the lonely night-parrot. Despite visiting a wide range of beautifully-illustrated creatures, Pukeko fails, only to encounter a delightful and witty conclusion. Ben Brown’s text carries subtle jokes and Helen Taylor’s striking watercolours reward careful scrutiny.

The artistic talents of Temuka’s Bob Darroch are seen at their best in exaggerated situations. Thus his cartoonist’s flair is shown fully in The Last Tree on the Island, where events rapidly run out of control after Mr Smitt casually cuts down the last tree on the small island where he and his wife live. When Mrs Smitt points out all the advantages of the ex-tree, Mr Smitt - a true Kiwi bloke - creates a series of elaborate No. 8 wire mechanisms to provide the missing shade, shelter for birds, erosion control, fuel, and somewhere for his wife to swing. Soon the tiny island is buried under pounding machinery. The environmental message is nicely matched by the humour of the situation, especially Mrs Smitt’s unexpected solution. This is a charming companion volume to Bob Darroch’s Tree.

The Tree, by Bob Darroch

Have you ever seen a Kiwi? is the question asked by Ian Watt, and his answer, transmitted through a clever arrangement of flaps and holes, is that there are many types of Kiwi, ranging from boot polish to the reverse side of the dollar coin. (“Have you ever seen a Kiwi…sitting pretty on a cake?” refers to kiwifruit) The question is repeated with variations, and culminates in the appearance of the real Kiwi. The colour paintings are by Bruce Potter and the design is by Cheryl Rowe.

Trevor Agnew

First published in The Press, Christchurch, on March 11th 2006.

Glossary:
Kakapo - New Zealand nocturnal parrot
Kiwi - New Zealand flightless bird and national symbol
Kiwifruit - New Zealand fruit, also known as Chinese Gooseberry
Pukeko - New Zealand swamphen