Humble Bumble  Miriama Kamo  Craig Phillips 

Humble Bumble (2025)
Miriama Kamo, ill. Craig Phillips
Picture book, paperback, 32 pages
English language pb edition: Humble Bumble: ISBN 978 1 77543 927 1
Māori language pb edition: Te Pī Māhaki: ISBN 978 1 77543 928 8

 

In Humble Bumble Miriama Kamo has written a lovely fable about cooperation and working together.

‘Ko Humble Bumble ahau. I am Humble Bumble.’’

Humble Bumble is a worker bee and so she goes out each morning with the other bumble bees, such as Bumble Pīpī and Bumble Brie, to gather pollen from the flowers.

Unfortunately, Humble Bumble doesn’t live up to her name. When she sees that Bumble Brie has gathered a heavy load of pollen (puehu), Humble Bumble flies back to the nest, shouting, ‘Kia reri koutou – get ready everyone! We’re bringing a lot of puehu.’’ As the pollen is unloaded, Humble Bumble manages to take all the credit, while Bumble Brie has done all the work.

Enjoying the praise of the other worker bees, Humble Bumble tries the same method again when she spots Bumble Whī – the fastest bee – with a heavy load of pollen. By loudly announcing the arrival of more pollen, Humble Bumble gets the credit for Bumble Whī’s work. ‘Poor Bumble Whī was ignored.’

The admiration goes to Humble Bumble’s head. She marks all the flowers in the next field as having been collected, so that she can have them to herself. The other bees have to fly to fields further away. Humble Bumble is proud of what she has achieved.

‘But I am too humble to brag,’ she called out proudly.

Exhausted, Humble Bumble falls asleep in a flower with half the field uncollected. She is woken by Pī Kuīni, the Queen Bee, and the rest of the bumblebees. ‘A field this big needs dozens of bumbles … A whole day of collecting has been wasted!’ Then, through their example, they teach Humble Bumble the importance of working together.

‘Eharu taku toa, e te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. My success is not mine alone but the success of many.’

Miriama Kamo has woven several traditional Māori sayings into her text, at appropriate places, to point up Humble Bumble’s behaviour (or misbehaviour). The moral is always clear.

‘Kāore te kūmara e kōrero ana mō tōna ake reka. The kumara never speaks of its own sweetness.’

 

Illustrator Craig Phillips has created a beautiful and colourful world of flowers for the bumble bees. He has also mastered the tricky feat of showing creatures with four arms. While the various four-armed worker bees may look the same in their matching black and yellow stripes, he has given them variations in hair style and antennae so the reader can distinguish them. Humble Bumble has even tucked a little blue flower into her head fuzz just to suggest that, if she weren’t so modest, she’d be the best.

 

This is an illustrated story with lots of words but the text is large and well set out. (Designer: Vida Kelly)

Some common Māori words are used in the text (just as in ordinary New Zealand speech). The traditional sayings are each provided with their own translation when they occur.

A useful Glossary explains the significance of the various Māori phrases and sayings.

A remarkable fact page, Get the Buzz on Bumblebees, provides some surprising facts about Humble and her friends.

A Māori language edition, Te Pī Māhaki, is also available.

 

Trevor Agnew 

12 Sep 2025 [Review 3795]

 Leonardo’s Dragon: Five Far-Flung Dragon Tales  
Donovan Bixley

Leonardo’s Dragon: 
Five Far-Flung Dragon Tales  
Author and illustrator: Donovan Bixley 
Upstart Press (Auckland) 2025
Picture book, paperback, 80 pages
ISBN 978 1 77694 071 4  

 

‘Come with me, Caterina. Come and meet the dragon.’

This handsome picture book is a companion to the artist-author’s equally handsome A Portrait of Leonardo. Donovan Bixley was so intrigued by the tale of Leonardo da Vinci’s pet dragon that he has written an account of it and linked it with four other dragon tales.

The connecting character in these stories is Caterina, a bright young servant girl who works with her mother in the kitchens of the Vatican’s Belvedere Palace, where Leonardo da Vinci is a guest artist. Caterina has an enquiring mind, so she is intrigued by rumours of Leonardo’s dragon. Her determination to see if the beast really exists brings her into contact with some widely-travelled dignitaries. She is told (or sometimes eavesdrops on) several dragon stories before the truth is revealed.

Giovanni of the Mirrors tries to tell Caterina his version of the Polish legend of the Wawel Dragon of Krakow, although Caterina persuades him to turn the dragon’s nemesis into a bright young girl. She stands alone against the dragon which threatens the city.

‘Its teeth were as sharp as daggers, its scales like armour and its hunger was endless.’

In her dreams, Caterina becomes a sea-going dragon – a sea serpent perhaps – which guides a double-hulled voyaging cane through a stormy crisis. (Kiwi readers will have no trouble identifying the voyagers.)

Next day, Caterina is serving at a papal banquet and overhears the Ottoman ambassador telling dragon tales. His story of ‘The Unfortunate Soldier and the Dragon’ shows how dragons may seem savage and threatening but they also respond well to fair treatment.

In the Vatican gardens, gathering herbs, Caterina literally bumps into a kindly old man. ‘It was as if someone had finally seen her, the Caterina who was sharp and inquisitive, and not just plain old Caterina the kitchen lass.’  (Readers will spot his identity quicker than Caterina does.) He tells her his own hilarious version of the story of Saint George’s encounter with the dragon (or rather Donovan Bixley’s version of Kenneth Grahame’s version).

After this, Caterina finally meets Leonardo’s dragon, the beast which has been terrifying some Vatican dignitaries. This meeting brings a perfect conclusion to her dragon quest.

Because the illustrations are by Donovan Bixley, it goes without saying that they are elegantly designed, richly-coloured and craftily detailed. He has brought to vibrant life not only the myths but also the dragons. Each dragon is depicted completely differently, matching the theme of its particular story. 

The best picture shows a Japanese flying dragon carrying an unfortunate soldier – a deeply alarmed samurai – high above the mountains.

As a bonus, Donovan Bixley has followed Leonardo’s example and included a few of his preparatory sketches. Donovan Bixley’s fans will be pleased to find that, as with all his other books, he has neatly carved (or, in this volume, embroidered) his initials into one of the pictures.

This book is a pleasure to read and a joy to look at.

 

Trevor Agnew 

22 Sep 2025 [Review 3792] 

 

The Hatchling  Suzanne Main        

 

The Hatchling Suzanne Main         

Dogbox Press, Auckland (2025)
Young novel,
Paperback, 201 pages
ISBN 978 0 473 74948 4  

 

Willow and Hunter are twins who live with their grandfather in the coastal village of Seaview. From near their home, an archipelago, a chain of several hundred islands, reaches far out into the ocean.

‘It was one place Willow had vowed never to go.’

Willow is an eager star-gazer and map enthusiast, so it is a mystery why she shuns the Conundrum Isles. Even more mysterious are the strange noises from the locked attic, but their increasingly forgetful grandfather can’t find the key. An ex-sailor, he is so absent-minded that he even forgets the twins’ birthday. Does he have Alzheimer’s disease?

When the twins finally manage to get into the attic, they discover that a large egg has hatched. The creature which emerges has blue-green scales and stubby wings which makes Hunter think of a baby dragon.

‘Do dragons hatch from eggs?’

‘In st-stories they do.’ (Bullied at school, Hunter stutters when nervous.) 

Willow feels a mental bond with the creature, which they name Monty. She can tell when Monty is hungry. There are some amusing moments as the twins sort out Monty’s feeding and toilet arrangements, while Monty sorts out learning to fly. Hunter is worried that Monty may also have sorted out the neighbour’s cat. Another worry is the possibility of Grandpa being put in a nursing home. Will the Family Service put the twins into foster care?

At this moment of domestic crisis, Monty makes a brief but dramatic appearance on the evening TV News, causing neighbourhood panic. Then a mysterious, but strangely familiar old woman makes a surprising entrance into the twins’ lives and everything changes.

Suzanne Main keeps her narrative rolling along, with oily villains, high-speed chases and plenty of surprises, even if there is a bit too much telling and not quite enough showing.

Holly makes a resourceful heroine and there is even a movie joke which young readers will appreciate.

This is an ideal story for any child who has ever wanted a pet dragon.

The intriguingly mysterious cover illustration is by Jenny Cooper.

 

Trevor Agnew 

28 August 2025 

[Review 3791] 

 

 Keith and the Kitten   
Elaine Bickell Minky Stapleton

Keith and the Kitten
Vol.1 Keith vs Queenie
Elaine Bickell
Illustrator: Minky Stapleton
Scholastic (2025)
Picture book, paperback, 24 pages  
ISBN 978 1 77543 930 1 

 

‘A charming Chihuahua, whose name was Keith,

Had big bulgy eyes and sharp little teeth.’

Keith is a lucky dog. He is spoiled by his owner, given fine foods and cute clothes. He is even allowed to sleep in her bed. Then comes a shocking new arrival: a kitten!

‘It’s your new baby sister – come and meet Queenie.’

Keith thinks his comfortable lifestyle is threatened by Queenie. The reader soon realises that, although tiny, Keith is also a bully. A cunning bully. He damages furniture and blames Queenie.

Unfortunately for selfish Keith, his owner adores Queenie:

‘Move over Keith, Queenie’s sharing our bed.’

Keith’s sneaky effort to destabilise the sleeping arrangements backfires and he is exiled to his own uncomfy plastic basket. Meanwhile Queenie is queening it in the owner’s bed. Keith has got what he deserved.

Young readers will soon spot that Elaine Bickell has created a crafty parable about the arrival of a new sibling.

She also tells a good story in rhyming couplets. The text is easy to read and the verse scans well. Key words are printed in bold type for emphasis.

Artist Minky Stapleton has created striking illustrations of the two combatants. Keith may be small and cute but we can also see his sharp little teeth. Queenie has huge eyes and a fluffy silhouette, but closer examination shows a pair of vampire style fangs. Their desperate manoeuvres as they fight their cat-and-dog battle battles are hilarious.

A second volume is promised.

 Trevor Agnew 

29 Sep 2025 [Review 3790] 

 Nee Naw’s Cracker Christmas   Deano Yipadee  

 

Nee Naw’s Cracker Christmas  
Deano Yipadee
Illustrator: Bruce Potter
Scholastic (2025)
Picture book, paperback, 32 pages
ISBN 978 1 77543 929 5

 

‘Nee Naw! Nee Naw! I’m a little fire engine. Nee Naw! Nee Naw! I’m happy I’m me.’

Deano Yipadee (the pen name of Mosgiel’s Dean O’Brien) writes his Nee Naw stories in verse and sings them as well. This means that young readers may sing along to the choruses in this Christmas tale.

Nee Naw’s Cracker Christmas involves all of the firefighters and both of their regular customers, Granny and Farmer Tom. The entire firefighting team is invited to a grand outdoor Christmas celebration at Granny’s country home. As usual a comic emergency erupts. This time, the culprits are her ill-behaved goats, Plinky and Plonky, who steal a large Christmas cracker. The goats are so surprised by the resultant explosion that they knock over Granny’s full-sized Christmas tree. Nee Naw, the little fire engine, sees that the disaster can be remedied if all the fire crew and their machines cooperate, and so he signals for aid. Soon, Dusty the Digger and Toot the tow truck get the tree securely back into place while Moto Mike strings up the lights.

Ellie Copter is involved too. ‘Nee Naw said, “We need you to fly to the top of the tree and place the star up high.”’

 As always, the rescue operation is followed by a celebration, which finishes with everyone singing the Nee Naw song, just as Santa arrives.

Bruce Potter has succeeded well in the difficult task of illustrating this mayhem. This is the fourth of the Nee Naw series he has illustrated, following on from Paul Beavis. Bruce Potter has maintained the pictorial styling and character personalities created by Paul Beavis. This is a remarkable feat, so skilful that most young readers will not even have noticed the change of artists.

 Deano Yipadee writes and sings, so interested young readers can stream or download the song Nee Naw’s Cracker Christmas available ‘from all good digital sites.’ Deano Yipadee’s website is at www.yipadee.com.

 

Trevor Agnew 

29 Sep 2025 [Review 3803]  

 

Kua Kainamu te Kirihimete: Christmas Countdown
Norah Wilson, ill. Kimberly Andrews

           

Kua Kainamu te Kirihimete:                    
Christmas Countdown
Norah Wilson, ill. Kimberly Andrews
E Oma Rāpeti series No. 8,
Scholastic (2025)
Picture book, paperback, 32 pages
ISBN 978 1 77543 921 9

                       

The fact that this is the eighth volume in the ever-popular bi-lingual series, E Oma Rāpeti [Run Rabbit] shows what a success this series has been.  Aimed at preschoolers and junior classes, each book follows the learning adventures of little Rāpeti and his mother. Little Rāpeti’s friends - including a pukeko, a tui, a kauri snail, a lamb and a chicken – also add to the simple fun.

The sweet thing about young Rāpeti is that his interests and enthusiasms are exactly those of young children everywhere. In Kua Kainamu te Kirihimete: Christmas Countdown (2025) he’s busily counting the days (or rather nights) to Christmas. Of course, he’s impatient and pesters his mother.

‘Māmā, e whia ngā moe ka Kirihimete?  Mummy, how many sleeps until Christmas?’

Fortunately the answer is rima [five], so that Rāpeti’s mother is spared too much repetition in the days ahead. Meanwhile, Rāpeti and friends are busy with different activities each day. As the countdown proceeds, they make Christmas tree decorations.

‘Tapahia. Kaurukuhia. Cut it. Colour it,’ they chant as they work the scissors, pens and glue.

Biscuits are baked, decorations are hung, cards are written and Christmas songs are practised as the sleeps count down. There is an extra surprise waiting for young Rāpeti when Christmas finally arrives. The result is a perfect family Christmas.

 Kimberly Andrews’ colour illustrations are a delight, creating a convincing world where animals live in houses and go to school. Her animals are always expressive; she can even make a hen look happy. The warmth of the emotions in the story is reflected in the characters and colours of these charming pictures.

 Trevor Agnew 

29 Sep 2025 [Review 3802]  

 

Duffy and the Bullies   Jeff Szusterman  Ant Sang

 

Duffy and the Bullies                     
Jeff Szusterman, 
Illustrator: Ant Sang
Oratia (2024)
Picture book, 
Illustrated story, Graphic novel
Paperback, 88 pages
ISBN: 978 2 99 004256 0
 

This graphic novel, written by Jeff Szusterman and illustrated in colour by Ant Sang, was developed from an original play for schools, ‘Duffy and the Cloak Bay Bully’ by Lauren Jackson. The central character is Duffy (a popular New Zealand mascot for reading) who enjoys books and rugby.

Readers will be intrigued to find that Duffy sometimes addresses them directly, spotting that they have changed pages or commenting on events in the story. He also reads a book (The Hallowe’en Hassler by I.C. Spooks about ghostly bullying) at Halloween) and extracts from it appear among the illustrations.

Jeff Szusterman’s story is, of course, told entirely in speech balloons, so he has made good use of young people’s slang, idioms and abbreviations.  

Duffy discovers that Marama is being bullied. A girl is tripping her, calling her names and stealing her lunch. Duffy interrupts his reading to ask about what to do, so advice about bullying is offered by some of the characters.

Duffy’s Dad rejects the code of silence, ‘It’s not narking when you tell someone who cares about you.’ Duffy’s mother adds a rider, ‘But Marama is going to have to be the one to talk about it, eh?’

At school, Duffy sees that Marama is being teased with an embarrassing phone video clip and bullied during their lunchtime touch rugby game. He persuades Coach Mike to include Marama in their 10-a-side social match where her kicking skills bring victory.

Duffy also tries a little book therapy.  Marama, aided by ideas from the book, stands up to Ashlee.  Ironically, when Marama lends the book to Ashlee, it leads to an epiphany for her. Ashlee is enjoying the horror tale when she realises, ‘OMG! I’m the Paul in this story. I’m the bully!’

Another thread in the story involves Ashlee’s cousin, H.G., who is being shamed by his father into using his size and rough tactics in rugby games.  The concluding section of the book is a rugby final, where various forms of bullying are identified and dealt with – among parents on the sidelines as well as players on the field.

Ant Sang’s colour illustrations are masterly. He manages to make every one of his large cast of characters instantly identifiable. Even his picture of a skeleton is appealing. A skilled comic illustrator, Ant Sang also uses close-ups and a range of perspectives to keep his pages visually exciting and dramatic. The most impressive page shows two rugby teams performing their haka.

The result is a slightly didactic but thoroughly enjoyable comic book, which will also be a good conversation starter.

 

Trevor Agnew 

10 July 2024  [Review 3678]