Thursday, 30 January 2014

Picture Book


NZ Writer & Illustrator
Maria Gill, illustrated by Bruce Potter
The Last of Maui’s Dolphins
New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd 2014  $19.99pb  32pp
ISBN 978 1 8696 6410 7
Themes:  Endangered species/ North Island Maui’s Dolphins/ Set nets 


High above, on the surface of the water, the dark shapes of the fishing boats hover, spelling disaster and death for a pod of dolphins and other marine life in the area. Told in the form of a story aimed at younger children, a young dolphin, Hiriwa, is called into a rescue situation when many of his friends become caught in a set net from a fishing trawler. The book opens up many spin offs into this truly hot topic.  It could also be used by older readers who will find the concepts and the excellent list of websites to explore helpful. To open the book and find Bruce Potter’s illustrations is to enter a watery undersea world of such believable images you need to blink to clear the salt from your eyes. Maria Gill, a true conservationist, has written over 30 children’s books for the book trade and the education markets and is a regular visitor to schools and libraries to talk to children and young adults.    

Year 1 up/ Age 5 up


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