A Dog’s Life and Other Animal Stories

Its a Dogs Life
Its a Dogs Life

It's a Dog's LifeArmed with his camera, Craig Pollock travelled around New Zealand to take pictures of dogs and to tell their stories. He enjoyed it so much that at the end of A Dog’s Life he felt moved to “thank the dogs for the endless fun and entertainment they gave him on his journey.”

All sorts of dogs caught his attention. He arranged them in 10 different categories: Adventure, City, Farming, Lap, Working, Expedition, Culture, Companion, and Country and Champion dogs. There were 60 in all.

Should you be travelling around New Zealand you might well spot some of these dogs. In Wainuiomata you could meet Hurricane Thorn, a British bulldog with a passion for Rugby. Every weekend he watches a game dressed up in his own Hurricane’s jersey. Afterwards he takes off to chase a ball around the field.

In Oamaru, a town with many beautifully preserved Victorian buildings, Steampunk has become all the rage. Here you can find Oscar, an eight-year-old German short-haired pointer who loves exploring the Steampunk yard and workshop filled with weird and wonderful machines.

At Larnoch castle in Dunedin look out for Toby who has risen from lowly beginnings (he was adopted from Dunedin Rescue Dogs) to become the Castle Dog. Since arriving there his demeanour has become more regal as befits his new station in life.

Some of the dogs featured in A Dog’s Life deserve our respect for the splendid work they do. Zulu the detector Dog is a talented Labrador who in her first two years in the job has already found more than 10 kilograms of drugs and over a million dollars in undeclared cash.

Sparky a cairn terrier works at the Christchurch Library. He takes part in the ‘Reading to Dogs’ programme. This is a ‘fur-tastic’ programme for growing readers. Children who lack confidence in their reading ability often feel more relaxed when they read stories to a four legged friend. And Sparky never minds if they make mistakes when they read to him.

A Dog’s Life would be a good book to leave on a coffee table to keep dog loving grandchildren ( and their grandparents) amused. But beware, after reading these heart-warming stories they may start lobbying for a dog of their own if they don’t already have one.

Title: A Dog’s Life Author: Craig Bullock RRP $39.99 Imprint: Random House NZ

We're going on a Moa HuntWe’re Going on a Moa Hunt
In We’re Going on a Moa Hunt three intrepid kiwi kids set off to catch the mythical moa chanting as they go:

“We’re going on a Moa Hunt. We’re not scared. We’re going to catch a BIG one. We’re NOT scared.

They start off from a farm and with a swish-swish, rustle-rustle, swish-swish they cross a wide paddock. Then off they go through a series of New Zealand landscapes: a sandy beach, wetlands, a rocky river, a native forest, a glow worm cave and a steep mountain.

 

But they fail to notice the moa hiding in each of the landscapes. It is furtively keeping an eye on the little hunters all the way through their journey.

When they finally encounter the moa their courage totally evaporates. Terrified, they run back home as fast as their legs can carry them and hide under a bed.

Like all good books for preschoolers there is a happy ending. If the three little hunters could just be persuaded to go and look out of the window they would discover that the moa didn’t have any evil intentions and was actually on a goodwill mission.

We’re Going on a Moa Hunt has been cleverly constructed to be both amusing and educational. At the back of the book are the names of all the creatures that appear in the story to help children to identify and name them in a playful way. Some have both their Maori and English names like the kotuku/white heron, kereru/New Zealand wood pigeon and korimako/bellbird.

We’re Going on Moa Hunt is a clever retelling of the classic adventure song ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” It is a great interactive Picture Book for Preschoolers. As well as being fun to read out loud the beautiful illustrations of the New Zealand landscapes and the creatures that inhabit them will enhance their appreciation of our country.

Title: We’re Going on a Moa Hunt Illustrator: illustrator Patrick McDonald RRP: $19.99 Imprint: Puffin

cats coverWhy do Cats have Tails?
Why do Cats Have Tails a granddaughter asks her Grandpa. He teases her with a whole lot of nonsensical answers (all which she is far too clever to believe) such as “So they can swing through the trees,” or” To help them to fly.”

I wondered if the Grandfather was based on David Ling (the publisher of Duck Street Press) who wrote the story. His answer:
“Am I the Grandfather? Yes and no. Stephanie illustrated him to look like a typical Grandfather. It doesn’t look like me. I have a full head of hair, no moustache and certainly don’t wear shorts, socks and slippers! But of course the story is based on my teasing my granddaughters when they ask surprising questions and photos of them were used as reference for the illustrations of the two girls.

Actually none of the Grandfathers I know wear a stripy long sleeved shirt tucked into baggy shorts with knee length socks and slippers like the Grandpa in this book either.

But don’t let this “untypical” portrait of a Grandfather dissuade you from reading this delightful story to your grandchildren. Award winning picture book illustrator Stephanie Thatcher has captured the playful and loving relationship between the two little girls, their Grandfather and their adorable cats in some very expressive pencil and watercolour illustrations.

Title: Why do Cats have tails? Story by David Ling, illustrations by Stephanie Thatcher. Published by Duck Street Press. RRP Hardback: $29.99. Paperback $19.99