Book Review: Seeking an Aurora, by Elizabeth Pulford, illustrated by Anne Bannock

Available in selected bookshops nationwide. 

Seeking an Aurora is one of those books which at first glance, seems just a light read with pictures. And for a child it probably is, with the beautiful pictures holding the interest more than the story.

In fact, reading it to the child in my life, we found that examining and discussing the pictures was a story in itself. We talked about the way the cold air made our breath puff out like little clouds, and the way frost on the ground crunched beneath our feet as we walked on it. We wondered how the artist had produced such vivid colours from what looked like crayons or pastels and we thought we might try to make some art work ourselves.  The depictions of the Aurora woke in us a fervent desire to witness one ourselves and we discussed how we could set about achieving this desire.  We really really liked the book on lots of different levels.

The main one for me was enjoying the company of my grandchild as we talked together about the book and the thoughts it brought up. For a child, reading it with an interested adult is the ideal, but I can imagine them reading it over by themselves afterwards, thinking their own thoughts, and enjoying the memories.  A lovely wee book.

Reviewed by Lesley Vlietstra

Seeking an Aurora
by Elizabeth Pulford and Anne Bannock
published by OneTree House
ISBN 9780995106444

Book Review: Rasmas, by Elizabeth Pulford and Jenny Cooper

Available in bookshops nationwide.

I picked this book up for its illustrations. I was terrified of goats as a kid, because I was pushed over by one at a holiday park age 3. Perhaps if I saw them through Jenny Cooper’s eyes, I would have felt friendlier towards them!

Danny and his Dad have gone to live at the farm with Gran, after the (swiftly and delicately handled) death of Danny’s mother. Rasmas is a kid too, without a mum, and after awhile, Rasmas and Danny became the best of friends. But then Dad meets somebody new, and a move to the city to live with Rona means no more Rasmas.

This is a gentle story about a young boy learning to cope with loss through the help of an animal. It’s delightfully illustrated, and my sons envied farm life while reading it with me. It is great to see this type of story told with a less regular animal – I’m immune to the charms of puppy stories these days. A cheeky goat though, was just perfect.

This book is a lovely read-aloud for young children who might be a bit worried about a loss in their lives. It shows the power of imagination to heal the heart’s wounds, and the power of love to do the same.

Reviewed by Sarah Forster

Rasmas
by Elizabeth Pulford and Jenny Cooper
Published by Scholastic NZ
ISBN 9781775433101

Book Review: Thatchthorpe, by Elizabeth Pulford

Available now in bookshops nationwide.

Thatchthorpe concludes Elizabeth Pulford’s Bloodtree Chronicles, with a final return to the Silvering Kingdom, and a final story for Abigail to set to rights. Like its predecessors, it is a fast paced and intriguing read, filled with action and quirky situations. The Bloodtree Chronicles are a sophisticated chapter book trilogy, containing in one level a fairly light, fun fantasy adventure with well-imagined heroes and villains, but there is a second level: A level of narrative (sometimes known as “breaking the 4th wall”), in which Abigail’s mysterious aunts discuss and manipulate the story, with some tongue-in-cheek references to story structure, flawlessly integrated into the main plot.

Abigail is ready to return to the Silvering Kingdom for one final time; after saving the tree and freeing the dragon, Thyme, there is still one quest left to complete: put the rightful ruler on the throne and dethrone the evil Rackenard once and for all. This time, however, things aren’t going to be easy, as Abigail very quickly winds up on the wrong path and in the most unfortunate of circumstances. However, she is ever-capable of finding allies in unlikely places, and her strong heart and stubborn courage will serve her well. With old friends and new foes, Thatchthorpe is a fitting conclusion, and one that should be devoured with satisfaction by young voracious readers.

These stories do, however, work best in sequence, so I suggest that you begin with Sanspell.

Reviewed by Angela Oliver

Bloodtree Chronicles #3: Thatchthorpe
by Elizabeth Pulford
Published by Scholastic NZ
ISBN 9781775432876

Add these authors into your popularity stakes this Christmas

While approximately half of all international book sales are made up by sales of books for Children and Young Adults, less than 1/3 of NZ book sales are in the Children and Young Adult category. Why is this? The talent is certainly here – perhaps it is a matter of name recognition?

Looking at the bestsellers charts for international Children’s & YA, parents and kids buy based on author name. Right now, Andy Griffiths is hovering at the top of the charts for his Treehouse series. David Walliams also sticks on the chart like glue: I didn’t even realise he’d written seven books until his visit to the Auckland Writers’ Festival made that clear. In the domestic market, names like Lynley Dodd, and Kiwi story author Bob Darroch stick around, with backlist sales being incredibly strong.

With this in mind, here are a whole load of still-living, possibly-overlooked amazing NZ authors that you should bring into your child’s reading world as early as you can.

Picture Book Authors

Donovan Bixley
Donovan is New Zealand’s king of expressive illustration. His sheep in Little Bo Peep and More (Upstart Press) are hilarious, and his illustrations of kid’s classics Wheels on the Bus and Old MacDonald’s Farm (Hachette NZ) are brilliantly original. With several original stories under his belt now – the award-winning Monkey Boy (Scholastic NZ, 2014), for one – I can’t wait to see more.

Fifi Colston
Home costume creation must-have Ghoulish Get-ups (Scholastic NZ) is just the latest in a great range of books that multi-talented creative Fifi Colston has to offer. Her award-winning Wearable Wonders (Scholastic NZ)  is essential for any young creative soul, and she has illustrated more books than I can count, in a career spanning 30 years. The Red Poppy, written by David Hill (Scholastic NZ), was just gorgeous, and Itiiti’s Gift, with Melanie Drewery (Puffin), is another classic.

Juliette MacIver
With her latest picture book, Yak and Gnu (Walker Books), being her 12th picture book in 5 years, Juliette MacIver and her flawless rhyming verse have become one of the perennials of the NZ book world. Her first book, Marmaduke Duck and the Marmalade Jam (Scholastic NZ), is the boys’ favourite; my personal favourite from her backlist is Toucan Can (Gecko Press). Most of her books are illustrated by the equally wonderful Sarah Davis.

Catherine Foreman
Catherine Foreman has a way with words for the younger kids in your family. Her 2015 book, The Roly-Poly Baby (Scholastic NZ), is a lovely short tale for your adventurous baby. Her 2013 series ‘Machines & Me’ still comes out most nights in our family – Trains in particular. Take note, writers of NZ – we need more good books about trains!

Ruth Paul
Ruth’s latest is the third in a group of dinosaur books, What’s the Time, Dinosaur? (Scholastic NZ) Not only are Ruth’s illustrations delightful, she can even rhyme! Our family favourites are Stomp! (board book just released), Two Little Pirates , and The King’s Bubbles (all Scholastic NZ).

Sally Sutton
All aboard the Zoo Train (Walker Books)! Sally is another fantastic picture book writer that isn’t anywhere near as well-known as she ought to be. Every child needs a copy of Roadworks (Walker Books). Be ready to hide it when it becomes a must-read Every Single Night. There are two follow-ups too – Demolition, and Construction.

Junior Fiction & Non-fiction

Kyle Mewburn
Kyle Mewburn has collaborated with Donovan Bixley for both of his recent junior fiction series’, Dinosaur Rescue (8 books, Scholastic NZ), and Dragon Knight. Begun early in 2015, this series is already 4 books strong. Both of these series are full of silly laughs for lovers of Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, with a bit of Horrible Histories for good measure. He also has a 24-title-strong picture book list too: Duck’s Stuck (Scholastic NZ) and No Room for a Mouse (Scholastic Aus) are family favourites.

Des Hunt
Cool Nukes author Des Hunt specialises in action-packed, environmentally-conscious writing. He has written about glaciers (Shadows in the Ice), mining (Frog Whistle Mine) and treasure-hunting (Cry of the Taniwha). There is something in his 22-book strong backlist for every adventure-loving 8-12-year-old.

Elizabeth Pulford
‘Bloodtree Chronicles’ author Elizabeth Pulford is an incredibly diverse writer, writing for every age range. Her Scholastic fairy series Lily was published worldwide, and her most recent picture book Finding Monkey Moon (Candlewick Press) is being feted all over the globe. Junior Fiction series ‘Bloodtree Chronicles’, beginning with Sanspell, is perfect for the magic-loving kids in your life.
Philippa Werry
Author of non-fiction titles Anzac Day and Waitangi Day (New Holland), Philippa is another multi-talented author, writing ably across age ranges. Her most recent books have focused on war, and the New Zealand experience of war, but an old favourite of mine is junior fiction title The Great Chocolate Cake Bake-Off.

WW1 series, Scholastic NZ
Scholastic has a current book series commemorating New Zealanders’ wartime adventures. This began last year, with 1914: Riding into War, by Susan Brocker (another great underrated writer), then 1915: Wounds of War, by Diana Menefy (you guessed it, another). It will go for another three years, and is good reading for kids who enjoy Michael Morpurgo and other war-focussed writers.

Ned Barraud & Gillian Candler
Ned and Gillian have paired up on four books about New Zealand nature so far, and each of them have been extraordinarily good. In the Bush is the latest from this pair, but there is also On the Beach, In the Garden, and Under the Ocean. All are published by Potton& Burton. So, no matter where you are going this summer, there is a book in this range for you. Another kiwi author who writes and illustrates in the same area is Andrew Crowe.

Maria Gill
Most recently, Maria is known for her ‘Hall of Fame’ books – New Zealand Hall of Fame and New Zealand’s Sports Hall of Fame; but she has also got a huge backlist of nature publishing under her belt. If it explodes (Rangitoto, Eruption), has feathers (Call of the Kokako, Bird’s Eye View) or indeed fins (Save our Seas), she is bound to have written about it. Get your eco-ranger onto her books now!

Young Adult Fiction
David Hill
My Brother’s War and The Deadly Sky (Penguin NZ) are just the most recent in a very long list of books for young adults that the wonderful David Hill has produced. He has recently branched into picture book writing, with Red Poppy and First to the Top (Penguin, 2015). In his YA list, his sensitive portrayal of awkward teendom, and his wit, is what sets him apart from others.

Anna Mackenzie
Author of the recent release Evie’s War, Anna Mackenzie has been an essential part of the YA scene in New Zealand for many years. The Sea-Wreck Stranger was the first in a series exploring the fate of a stranger in a close-knit community. Cattra’s Legacy and Donnel’s Promise took us back into history, and reminded me a bit of Tamora Pierce’s books, with their fierce heroine.

Brian Falkner
Recon Team Angel (Walker Books) is the most recent series from Falkner, and it is a must-read for lovers of the ‘Cherub’ series. He began his writing career with junior fiction, incorporating the Warriors (The Flea Thing) and Coca Cola (The Real Thing); then moved into future-tech YA, with Brain Jack and The Tomorrow Code. He is a master of fast-paced action-packed adventure fiction.

Finally, a few you ought to know by now: Kate De Goldi, Elizabeth Knox, Fleur Beale, Mandy Hager, Bernard Beckett, and Ella Hunt. Introduce your teens to them, and they’ll read all of their books. They are brilliant. See my post from a couple of years ago for more about teen fiction writers in NZ.

by Sarah Forster

Book Review: Finding Monkey Moon, by Elizabeth Pulford, illustrated by Kate Wilkinson

Available now in bookstores nationwide.

When I was 12 years old my younger sister lost her beloved teddy in the ‘Ladies’ at Kirkaldie & Stains, in the big city. This was the bear that went everywhere, shared every meal, every thought and every song. She was devastated. So much so, that she wouldn’t sleep all night. Eventually we all piled into the family Morris Minor and head back to the store to search for it. We eventually tracked it down in the accounts department, where some well-meaning soul had rescued it, and the two were once again reunited.

That story came to mind as I read this tale to my own children, and I was very quickly reminded of the beautiful, intimate and unique relationships that children often have with their own individual ‘friends’. These soft toys come in to their lives by many different paths – birthdays, Christmas presents, rewards, souvenirs from overseas, inherited treasures. No matter how they come by them, a child will often place their entire life – imagined and real – into that toy, so to lose it is all the more crushing.

That’s the underlying premise in this small tale by Elizabeth Pulford and Kate Wilkinson. Pulford writes with empathy for the child, and not the adult. We’re often very quick to replace the toy; tell the child to move on, deal with the loss – and in return, perhaps they may not invest as much into their next toy. Of course not all kids are as intense and for them the story has a different edge. This one is about responsibility; about picking up before you leave the park, being aware of your possessions when you’re out.

In Finding Monkey Moon, on a cold wintery night Michael realises he’s left his favourite toy out in the world. Through limited words, simple language and delicate coloured pencils a quiet, familiar story unfolds, as four-year-old Michael and his father retrace his earlier steps to rescue his ‘friend’.

The book has another subtle theme going for it, too. The main characters – Michael and his Dad don’t argue or grumble. They simply just pull on their coats, grab their torches and head out to find Monkey Moon. They search under the kennel, in the bushes, at the playground, in the dark. As they call out, Michael reflects on what it’s like to be forgotten, alone in the snow, abandoned. It motivates him. It’s a rescue in the old fashioned way, within Michael’s imagination, with Dad taking a solid leadership role while teaching responsibility by stealth.

Reviewed by Tim Gruar

Finding Monkey Moon
by Elizabeth Pulford, illustrated by Kate Wilkinson
Published by Walker Books
ISBN 9781921720734