Children's books reviewed

Reviewed by MARGIE THOMSON

Jack Lasenby: Harry Wakatipu Comes The Mong

Excellently silly tall tale about a 12-year-old who escapes his tyrannical mother and the wiles of Gladys Tremble and goes bush, living the life of a real joker in the Grim Inscrutable Ureweras. He finds work as a deer culler and in lieu of a mate is given a worse than useless old packhorse called Harry Wakatipu, who can talk, eat condensed milk by the crate-load and generally look after Number One, but does nothing to help our hero in his tough new lifestyle. In fact, Harry Wakatipu loves nothing better than to "come the mong", which means to do the dirty on a mate - and so the trouble begins, and, hilariously, goes on and on. It's a cracker tale, apparently inspired by the real-life adventures of the author back in the 1950s when, in the Vast Untrodden Ureweras, he lived the life of a real bloke with that keenest of keen men, Barry Crump. This is the third in the Harry Wakatipu series, and it is totally enjoyable.

Puffin $15.95

* * *


David Hill: Kiwi Bites: No Big Deal
illustrated by Terry Fitzgibbon
Puffin $14.95

Elizabeth Pulford: Kiwi Bites: The Christmas Hiccup Play

illustrated by Liam Gerrard
Puffin $14.95

These two little books are the first in a new series designed for those young readers building the confidence to read real chapter books, but still needing plenty of white space and occasional illustrations. They meet their goal, being genuinely good stories - especially No Big Deal, which is a tense, fast-paced adventure story about a group of kids who get trapped in a cave - yet straightforward, easy and pleasurable.

* * *

Alan Bagnall: The Immigrants
illustrated by Sarah Wilkins


Shortlisted for the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards, this lovely picture book is set in the 19th century and is the story of Maria who must leave Sydney, stowing away on board a sailing ship bound for New Zealand, to search for her father on the goldfields. She is helped by a sailor, Ihaia. It is a snapshot of the journey itself, and also of shipboard life in the age of sail, and we learn little about the life stories that precede or follow it, which is a bit strange, but also rather charming. The beautiful, richly toned illustrations are a powerful element, establishing the era and the mood of the story.

Mallinson Rendel $24.95

* * *


Andrew Crowe: Which New Zealand Insect?

Andrew Crowe has done more than just about anybody to educate New Zealanders young and old about our native flora and fauna. This one has just been shortlisted in the New Zealand Post Children's Book Award, and is an extraordinary achievement, detailing in words and illustration, all the insect life of these islands, from butterflies and moths, to beetles, flies, bees, wasps, ants, freshwater insects, bugs, weta, grasshoppers and so on. Fascinating, and insists on a keen appreciation of the incredible variety and beauty in these tiny creatures.

Penguin $39.95

* * *


Mandy Hager: Tom's Story
illustrated by Ruth Paul

A new edition of this story about how a little boy named Tom comes to terms with the death of his father. Valuable not only for those who have lost a loved one, but for children who may need to understand another's loss, and also for adults struggling to know how to help a grieving child. Published in association with the Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington.

Mallinson Rendel $14.95

* * *


Joy Cowley: Mrs Wishy-Washy's Farm
illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller

Made for reading aloud to the very young, this is a rhyming tale of three animals - cow, pig and duck - who hate being washed so much that they run away from Mrs Wishy-Washy's farm. But life in the city is frightening and dangerous, and they're only too glad to be rescued. From then on, having a bath doesn't seem so bad. Very enjoyable. Margie Thomson

Puffin $14.95