BRAT: Autumn 2001 Issue
BRAT is published as part of the Book Council's quarterly magazine Booknotes.
It includes profiles of authors on the Writers in Schools programme, and a round up of recently published New Zealand books for children and young people.
To receive the latest issues of BRAT hot off the press, join the Book Council.
Books for Readers And Teachers
Helen Beaglehole
Writing’s a peculiar business. Good writing, I think, only comes out of material that fascinates you, and grips you, and moves you, and whose characters live in your head, adding new perspectives to all sorts of things in your own life—yet you’re seeking to communicate this to a wider public whom for the most part you know only in terms of broad generalisations and from whom you rarely hear.
So school visits give you an opportunity to get some audience feedback. But perhaps more importantly, if I can leave students (and I write for all ages) knowing that writing (structuring experience) is tremendous fun and allows the writer and the reader to explore all sorts of experiences in all sorts of unexpected ways, then that’s when they’re really successful.
Fiona Farrell
At Fairlie, it is the girl from South Africa. She hangs about among the library shelves till every one in her class has rushed off for break. Then she comes over and talks about her writing, for the very first time. At Akaroa, it is the six year- old in the front row who suddenly connects me with a poem he has read in the School Journal. He recites it back to me, word-perfect. In both cases, someone has realised that writing is real, done by real people, who live here, in New Zealand. People just like them. It’s a powerful moment.
Philip Temple
I wrote my first story—typed out—at primary school and had my first book published nearly 40 years ago. Since then there has been about one a year—for children of all ages, including adults. No matter how short, how long, how simple or how complicated, they are all stories. Of true adventure and exploration; of the lives of rare New Zealand birds; of the world of mountains and keas; of childhood and, most recently, the story of the family that had most influence on the early British settlement of New Zealand, the Wakefields.
Stories make sense only when they are shared, when the listener hears the song and the storyteller gets to hear about it. A few of the many delights for me have been when my ‘Story of the Kakapo’ (illustrated by Chris Gaskin) was voted best picture book of the year by the children of Karori Normal School; when a 9 year-old boy told me he read ‘Beak of the Moon’ (all 380 pages of it) at one go; and when a primary teacher asked me if the story of keas, Strongbeak, Huff-Tuft and Skreek in that book was true. Of course. All stories are true aren’t they? Just depends on who’s listening and how."
New Publications
The books listed are readily available now for your schools, libraries and homes from all good booksellers throughout New Zealand.
Picture Books
Can You Keep a Secret? by Pamela Allen, Viking, $15.95, hb.
‘Can you keep a secret? The King has lost his crown.’ Through the pages we search for it. Under the green elephant? Behind the yellow lion? We learn other directional words (e.g. inside, between) besides the colours. And we are given a mild joke at the end. 2–4.
Inside Mary Elizabeth’s House, by Pamela Allen, Viking, $30.00, hb.
Mary Elizabeth tries to tell the boys down the street that there is a monster in her house. They don’t believe her. Each day she adds a gory detail about the monster’s appearance and bad habits. Still the boys refuse to believe her. Until finally, on Thursday night they call at Mary Elizabeth’s house for dinner… 2–4.
Mandy and Marmalade’s Kitten Catastrophe, by Angela Pointon, ASAP Publishing (PO Box 56-256, Dominion Road, Auckland), $12.95. pb.
Marmalade the cat gives birth to not the usual four or five kittens, but…fifty. The house is completely overrun with the naughty little things. The busy, coloured-pencil and ink illustrations will amuse very young children. 2–5.
Taniwha, by Robyn Kahukiwa, Penguin, $12.95, pb.
Welcome reprint of this NZ classic, first published in 1986. Through the eyes of a modern child, the book provides a visually imaginative introduction to some of the major Maori ancestral figures and their symbols—Tangaroa (greenstone), Ranginui (a white feather), Papatuanuku (earth)—and Maori design. 4–7.
Buzzy Bee’s Birthday, by Jonathon Gunson, illustrated by Gunson and Marten Coombe, Reed, $12.95, hb.
Yes, that Buzzy Bee, the one that clicketty-clacks as you pull it along. (He’s fifty!) In the three stories in the book, he is joined by other licorice allsorts-coloured wooden toys (e.g. Richard Rabbit, Trikey Tom, Driver Don and Mary-Lou); they have a party, chase each other and go to the beach. Charming for toddlers who have the toys in their collection. 2-4.
Is it Time to Get up Yet? by Bob Darroch, Reed, $12.95, pb.
The kid’s in bed. He’s not allowed to get up yet. In fact, he’s probably just gone to bed. His mind races off in all directions. He creates worlds on his bed, around his room. He wants things and no-one brings them to him. It’s so unfair! It makes him very, very tired. Familiar territory to the 3–5s.
Traditional Maori Legends, by Warren Pohatu, Reed, $12.95, pb.
Fourteen Maori legends, very simply told and illustrated (a double spread for each story). Good for teachers to use to spearhead further exploration of the legends through writing, painting and sculpture, music and drama. 8–13.
Beaky’s First day at School and Beaky’s Birthday Surprise, by Scott Wilson, Reed, $12.95 each, pb.
Beaky is a typical Kiwi living at home with his parents. In one book, he finds a bad chap, Ratty, tries to bully him on his first day at school, but he’s saved by the lovely Baabaara (a lamb); in the other book, he dreams of getting the greatest present for his birthday. Both stories told in simple two-line rhymes; cartoon-style drawings. 4–5.
My Maori Alphabet Frieze, by Tracy Duncan, Reed, $14.95.
The fifteen initial sounds of the Maori alphabet, each represented visually by a native creature, some unusual and good to know (e.g. a – aihe = dolphin). An attractive display for bedroom or classroom. For all ages.
Baby’s World Cot Book, by Terry Fitzgibbon, Penguin, $12.95, fabric.
A concertina-folded, padded, fabric collection of black and white pictures of objects that have some significance to a baby. Chewable and washable. 0–2.
Pohutukawa, by Sandra Morris, Reed, $14.95, pb.
A ‘story’ told in the style of a snowball, accumulating images and lines as it rolls through the pages of the book. Through rhyming couplets and attractive pictures, we learn about the life cycle of the pohutukawa tree and about the creatures who feast on the nectar of its flowers. At the back of the book is further natural history information about the tree and its visitors. 6–9.
My Brown Bear Barney, by Dorothy Butler, illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller, Reed, $14.95, hb.
Three Brown Bear Barney stories in one book. Stories of gentle humour, affectionately illustrated, very English in style, not unlike Paddington. 3–6.
Come Back Ginger: A Tale of Old New Zealand, by Dorothy Butler, illustrated by Lyn Kriegler, Reed, $14.95, pb.
Based on an actual happening in Russell (then Kororareka) in 1845, when the European settlers were ordered to leave and travel by ship to Auckland because of Ngapuhi rage at what was happening to their way of life. A family’s cat, Ginger, is brought on board the ship, carrying in her mouth a most unusual bird, dead. The ship’s mate turns out to be a taxidermist who, during the course of the journey, stuffs the bird and gives it to the family in a glass case. This has been treasured for several generations and can be seen in the present-day Russell Museum. 9–11.
Timo and the Kingfish, and te reo Maori version, Timo te Kaihi Ika, by Mokena Potae Reedy, illustrated by Elton Gregory, Huia, $14.95, pb.
Illustrated in crayon and dye (in sombre but beautiful colours), this is a simple story about a boy, Timo, who sets out to prove he is as good a fisherman as his older brothers. In the course of trying to haul in a huge kingfish, Timo comes face to face with Tangaroa and learns that he has broken the custom of giving the first fish of his catch back to the sea. A finalist in this year’s NZ Post Children’s Book Awards. 6–8.
Two Unusual Publications
Hiwi the Kiwi and other songs, CD & book, sung by The Minstrel, illustrated by Arthur Best, produced by de Lacy-Collins Publishing, (P.O. Box 24, Paekakariki), $29.95.
Eight songs (lyrics, music & arrangements by Mark de Lacy) and eight bonus ‘karaoke’ tracks to sing along to, performed by The Minstrel and his cracking guitar with tons of verve. Subjects: kiwis, sport, weird and wacky food in the fridge, a copper with red dreads, co-operation, and a giraffe. Good fun for teachers and kids—or for families. 8–13.
A Memory Book: Someone I love has died, by Tricia Irving and Bev Gatenby, Mallinson Rendel, $24.95, hb.
In this book, a child can draw, write about, stick in photos and memorabilia about someone close to him/her who has died. Introduced at the right time and in the right way, such a project could provide a great deal of solace. 8-13.
Junior fiction
Call of the Cruins, by Elizabeth Pulford, Scholastic, $13.95, pb.
Late nineteenth century, a pioneer family living above a rocky, southern bay, the father a whaler and sealer. But Emmie, the oldest daughter loves animals and bitterly regrets her father’s occupation. This soft-hearted story is about her secret efforts to save the life of an orphaned baby seal—known from Irish legend as a ‘cruin’, a creature with warm blood and a cry like a human. A finalist in this year’s NZ Post Children’s Book Awards. 9–12.
Intermediate fiction
Gone Bush with Uncle Quinn, by Charger Morrison, Reed, $12.95, pb.
The life of eleven-year-old Sean, who’s been a small sickly child, fussed over by his doting mother, takes a turn for the better when Uncle Quinn catches up with the family. Uncle Quinn is a character, a ‘man’s man’ who knows his way around the bush, knows how to track wild pigs and deer, is a master of survival techniques in the wild, and he’s a great teacher. What more could a mollycoddled boy want? The writer packs in almost enough information to qualify the book as a survival guide. Easy to read, short (only 86 pages) and just the ticket for the sort of boy who dreams of becoming truly staunch. The author, a genuine pighunter, writes as an adult looking back nostalgically to his initiation into bush lore. 11–15.
Trouble Patch, by Liz van der Laarse, Reed, $12.95, pb.
This exciting story, told in an authentic Northland rural voice, has the very contemporary theme of marriage split-up caused by too much dope-smoking, and the worry many kids in certain areas probably have about whether or not their ‘old man’ is into growing and dealing. This is the anxiety besetting 14-year-old Isaac. When he sets out to find out the truth, he is confronted by danger and a discovery that amazes him. You can feel the heat and the Hokianga laid-back way of life in the writing. 11–15.
Jenna’s Wave, by Steve Dickinson, Scholastic, $13.95, pb.
Yeah, I suppose you would feel a bit miffed if you’d been the star rugby player for the last couple of seasons at primary school and at high school when you go to join up, the rugby coach greets you with: ‘This school has a policy…that girls—no matter how good, how butch, how fat, how strong—don’t…play…rugby.’ Outraged, upset, but not one to mope, Jenna joins her brother and his mates and becomes a surfer—strong, daring and, eventually…addicted (as is the author). A well-written, inspirational story. One of the Sports Max series. 11–15.
Finn’s Quest: The Queen Seekers, by Eirlys Hunter, Scholastic, $15.95, pb.
As you play those computer games, I suppose it’s a bit like virtual reality; your imagination plunges you right in there with the characters, the quests, the theatrical moves–just as you respond to the world offered by a novel. In this book, Finn opens a new computer game and finds himself totally plunged into an alien world, seemingly mediaeval, in which he has to protect himself from a multitude of dangers. He is swept up by a daring girl called Gala and together they enter upon a quest to find the Queen and her crown and to vanquish the evil General Bandos. 11+.
A Whistle from the Blunder, by Diana Noonan, Longacre, $14.95, pb.
At first, Cadence has no idea why she keeps hearing the sound of the ghostly train whistle at exactly the same time every morning. But then she makes it her business to find out all she can about the disaster that had happened to the old steam train. A mystery story and an insight into family relationships and small-town life in present-day Southland. Strongly drawn, unusual characters. 11–14.
It’s a Try! by Vince Ford, Scholastic, $13.95, pb.
Another in the Sports Max series. Rugby, again—and Fame and the Tall Poppy syndrome. Sports sponsorship is touched on also, but with neutrality. The main drama of the story is that the central character, Hamish Fahey, is chosen to go and be a ballboy for an All Black game. When, at a critical juncture of the game, he spontaneously yells out to Emosi Fa’alogo, ‘Throw it to Buck!’ and Buck goes on to score a try and the All Blacks win the game, Hamish becomes famous overnight. Along with Fa’alogo, he is interviewed by Holmes (very well done in the book) and goes to eat hamburgers with the All Blacks. All of which causes a sensation back at school, stirring up a number of emotions. Some passages are incomprehensible to non-rugby fans like myself. For rugby players, 10–13.
Afterwards, by David Hill, Mallinson Rendel, $14.95, pb.
When Logan’s father is suddenly killed in a car crash, his mother Jilly goes to pieces. She just has to believe that she can communicate with him again, tell him she loved him, ask him to forgive her for nagging him all the time. These feelings of loss lead her to start grasping at straws—e.g. ‘channelling’, messages in the Tarot cards, and so on. Hm. Apparently, this sort of thing is fairly common. Is it harmless wishful thinking or exploitative manipulation? Hill tries to examine this issue in his novel. 12–14.
Senior fiction
24 Hours, by Margaret Mahy, HarperCollins, $16.95, pb.
One day you’re at school, at everyone’s command; next day it’s the summer holidays and you’re free, on your own and open to Experience. And when you dare to step outside your usual, safe circle, you can be drawn into a criss-crossing web of happenings and revelations which rattle your brain and senses into totally new awareness. So Ellis discovers when he runs into the wild free spirit that is Jackie Cattle and spends 24 hours in the company of Jackie and his mates, the sisters Ursa, Leona and Fox, who live in an old motel called The Land of Smiles. They are ‘disreputable’, responsible, moral, alert, sanguine, humorous and witty and they make Ellis question himself inside out. I read this as a fascinating film script—a kind of Woody Allen/Fellini mix against some of the contrasting mores of Christchurch.
A finalist in this year’s NZ Post Children’s Book Awards. 14+.
The Wave Rider, by Graeme Lay, Penguin, $15.95, pb.
Small-town NZ by a surf beach. Seventh-former Justine can’t wait to get away to varsity and turn her back on the ‘dorky’ local yokels. Then a tall, handsome American surfer comes to town and life changes for Justine. But as her grandmother seems to be warning her, history has a habit of repeating itself. An insightful story about the obsession some people have for surfing, its challenges and mythology. 13–17.
Talking to Blue, by Ken Catran, Lothian, $17.95, pb.
A brilliantly written, very creepy thriller and a finalist in this year’s NZ Post Children’s Book Awards. Catran is a prolific TV scriptwriter and it shows in his dialogue, sense of pace and drama. About Mike Connors, a highly neurotic, orphaned rich kid, still at school but entrepreneurial, arrogant, alert. He spills out his thoughts and observations in a present-tense, staccato manner. He is on the track of ‘Blue’, the nickname given to the serial killer who is terrorising the neighbourhood. His victims have one thing in common—they all display an object coloured blue. It gradually becomes clear (to the reader, but not to anyone else) that Mike is, in fact, Blue. 14+.
Playing to Win, by Fleur Beale, Scholastic, $13.95, pb
New school. Feeling a bit isolated from the ‘in’ people of the class (who’ve known each other forever). Mad on rugby, but not into boozy, after-match parties (knowing that alcoholism runs rife through the genes). Wildly attracted to star girl Alice who appears to be indifferent to him (she loathes rugby nuts). Working hard to keep Class A jock and bully, Todd Salter, at bay. These are the problems that thoroughly good kid, Denny Logan, has to come to grips with. As well, he is cheerfully occupied in helping to look after his little twin sisters (real honeys) to help his working mother and fit in his part-time job. It’s so good to read about a teenage boy who sets himself to be thoroughly responsible, rational and independent in thought and action. I found this book a charming and humorous page-turner. 13–17.
The Hermit of Cemetery Island, by George Johnston, Reed, $24.95, pb.
Sub-titled: ‘Crump: the untold stories’. I’ve heard it declared by someone in the know that a great many of Barry Crump’s original repertoire of yarns had been told to him by his hunting mate, George Johnston, now retired in Whakatane. This is Johnston’s second collection—all wild stories of legendary characters by a legendary character. Secondary students +.
Voyage with Jason, by Ken Catran, Lothian, $17.95, pb.
A finalist in this year’s NZ Post Children’s Book Awards, this is the account of a humble ship-builder’s apprentice, Pylos, who goes on the fabulous ship, Argos, with Jason and his Argonauts on the voyage to steal the golden ram’s fleece given by Hermes to the gods, which is guarded by an ever-wakeful monster. The adventures of the heroic Argonauts is one of the oldest of the Greek sagas. By identifying with the feelings of an ordinary boy as he witnesses the unfolding drama, a young contempory reader can absorb a sense of ancient times, place and mores. 13+.
Scarface and the Angel, by William Taylor, Longacre, $14.95, pb.
Thoroughly objectionable boy meets thoroughly good old lady in the library. They strike up a friendship of sorts, though the boy, being full of anger and mean-spiritedness because he is scarred and feels ugly, puts up all sorts of barriers. At first. 14+.
The Tribe, by Paula Boock, Random House, $14.95, pb.
Paula Boock was commissioned to write this novel, based on the television series of the same name which screened on TV3 last year. The focus of the novel is Martin who describes the events leading up to the virus, which ends up wiping out the entire adult population. There was the rivalry between he and his brother (particularly for the affection of Trudi), there’s the devious political cover-up, and there’s the trauma of losing his parents. Who can recover from such things and remain the same? That is why Martin transforms himself into ‘Zoot’, destined to become the leader of The Tribe, the Locos, Big Brother to the world, their slogan: Power and Chaos! Excellent writing, as always, from award-winning author Boock. 14+.
Non-fiction
Jean Batten, by Peter and Ruth Millett, illustrated by Raewyn Whaley, Reed, $12.95, pb.
This is one of the first in a new series by Reed based on taking a famous New Zealander and presenting an account of a particular event, but in a fictionalised way, through the eyes of a child who, we are asked to believe, was there at the time. In this case, Jean Batten is on her way to setting a new world record by becoming the first person to fly solo from England to New Zealand. 7–9.
Cricket Rules: The Essentials of the Game, by Richard Hadlee, Reed, $29.95, pb.
An essential addition to the secondary school library, written by one of the sport’s masters. Twenty- one chapters ranging from A Brief History of the Game, Cricketing Terms, through all aspects of play, administration, expressions used by commentators, to the final chapter, Cricket Trivia, which is a quiz containing 100 questions (and answers). Ideal for intermediate and secondary school libraries.
New Zealand Way series: The Vineyard, Pet Day, The Big Game, Reed, $12.95 each, pb.
The Vineyard, by Sandra Carrod, photographs by Eugénie Ombler. Apparently, wine has been around for about six thousand years and techniques for making it were brought here by European settlers in the 1800s. This book tells very clearly how you start a vineyard, all the jobs you have to do in maintaining the vines, harvesting the grapes and making the wine.
Pet Day, by Sandra Carrod, photographs by Eugénie Ombler. Before the actual event, we get to know a few of the children and their pets who go to a country school in Central Otago. Then we see all the fun of the school’s Pet Day, including some eccentric races, and we go to the local A & P show where there are more fun and games.
The Big Game, by Gillian Whitley, photographs by Richard Slight. Rugby. With the focus on boys. The place: Northcote, Auckland. The Rules, Skill, Sportsmanship, Positions, Roles, Nutrition, Warm-up Tips, Safety, the Saturday Game.
All three books are lively, useful resources for 7–10.
Niue, by Charles Cooper, Reed, $14.95, pb.
One of Reed’s Pacific Way series. Charles Cooper’s text and photographs admirably capture the physicality of the beautiful island of Niue and the way of life of its citizens. Also included in the book is one of Niue’s major legends and an account of its known history. Valuable for readers over a wide range of ability. A finalist in this year’s NZ Post Children’s Book Awards. 9–14.
A Life in Loose Strides, by Colin Hogg, Hodder Moa Beckett, $34.95, pb.
The story of Barry Crump’s life, as told to the author in interviews with a diverse set of people who’ve figured prominently in Crump’s life. An account that will fill any fan of Crump’s writings with mixed feelings. Secondary level +.
