Some Gavin Bishop Classics
Bidibidi Gavin Bishop
Bidibidi Gavin
Bishop
Oxford University Press (1982)
Scholastic (2014)
Picture book, 36 pages
ISBN 978 1 77543 192 3
Gavin Bishop’s first published book is a classic of the
South Island high country, the adventures of a rebellious ewe. On a ‘hot and
windless day in the mountains’ Bidibidi the sheep finds she is dissatisfied
with life. She leaves the flock and heads up into the hills in search of the
rainbow.
As she moves through the Canterbury high country, Bidibidi meets typical
creatures (a kea, a trout, a sheep-dog) who help her in her quest. Eventually
she finds a bearded old man, a strangely symbolic figure, ‘dressed in
clothes the colour of the hills’. This is Rainbow Jackson, who lives in the
mountains and makes the rainbows with a hurdy-gurdy. Bidibidi is happy mto stay
with him. When he grows old, Bidibidi takes over his work, ‘I’ll make the
rainbows now,’ she says.
This is a lovely picture book, with lots of jokes and the symbolism of Rainbow
Jackson to think about. The various creatures depicted all have strongly
individual voices and this makes it a good story to read aloud. Already Gavin Bishop's appreciation of New Zealand architecture can be seen in his depiction of the run-down remains of a country hotel.
An identical Māori language edition was published by Scholastic in 2001. The Māori
language translation by Apirana Mahuika.
Note: Piripiri is a New Zealand native plant which grows in
a mat with clinging burr seeds. This Māori name was often anglicised as Biddybiddy
or Bidibidi. Biddy is a disused term for an old woman, so Bidibidi’s name is doubly
evocative.
In 2014 Scholastic re-issued Bidibidi in a sumptuous large format
paperback edition.
Although his Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant was published in 1981, Bidibidi
(1982) was actually the first book that Gavin Bishop wrote and illustrated. It
was appropriate that its re-issue came just as Gavin Bishop was named an
Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to children’s
literature in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List.
Awards:
Winner: Noma Concours Prize for Children’s Picture Books
(Japan) 1982
Finalist: NZ Post Children’s Book Awards: Picture Book of
the Year 1983
Trevor Agnew, 2014
The Three Billy Goats Gruff Gavin Bishop
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Gavin Bishop
Scholastic (2003)
Picture book, Paperback, 32 pages 
ISBN 1869435877
Gavin Bishop provides a faithful retelling of the original
Norwegian folktale of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, as set down by Peter
Christian Asbjornsen (1812-1855).
Gavin Bishop’s colour illustrations of the three goats are
superbly rendered, with his usual combination of imaginative flair and skill.
The goats are completely convincing, especially their eyes. He also creates
magnificent mountains and a convincingly realistic narrow bridge made from a
single tree trunk. His troll is thoroughly unpleasant, right down to his
tombstone teeth, and thoroughly deserves his downfall.
This is a splendid companion to Gavin Bishop’s interpretations of Chicken-Licken,
Mr Fox and The Three Little Pigs.
Trevor Agnew, 2003
A Apple Pie Gavin Bishop
A Apple Pie
Gavin Bishop
Oxford University Press 
Alphabet book (1987)
32 pages
0 19 558164 4 [English edition Hb]
7 50072 531 0 [Chinese edition Pb]
This is an alphabet book based on the traditional nursery
rhyme but with remarkable pictures which have given it classic status. There
are dancing ducks, exercising elephants, kissing kangaroos and racing rabbits. Gavin
Bishop’s skilfully detailed illustrations are a delight. The be-shawled crying
cow reaches for a box of tissues, while the octopus opening the pie stretches
over three pages.
For those who don’t recognise the animals, their names are concealed
upside-down in a corner of each page.
