Available in bookshops nationwide.
This lift-the-flap treasure hunt book is sure to appeal to children, as it is incredibly interactive.
The story starts with a message in a bottle washed up on a beach. This leads Girl and Bird on an alphabet treasure hunt around New Zealand. There is a trail of clues that lead them from place to place, from city to shore, north to south and east to west.
Some of the locations will be familiar but for those that aren’t, there is a glossary at the back with facts about each location.
The book starts with A for Auckland and Girl jumps on Bird’s back to fly to the next location. The pages open to feature lift-up flaps on a background that is jam-packed with illustrations, ranging from a tuatara to a steam train.
While the book is filled with detailed illustrations, I found the colour on some pages to be a little muted. Perhaps a little more colour next time!
For those too young to pick up on the place name clues, the book could be used to help them recognise and name other items. Subsequent readings will increase older children’s recall of the place names and I imagine they would soon be able to name many of the places the book takes them to.
A great adventure for parents and children to take together.
Reviewed by Faye Lougher
A is for Aotearoa
by Diane Newcombe and Melissa Anderson Scott
Published by Puffin
ISBN 9780143507307
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