Author goes back to school

KIWI CRITTERS: Donna Blaber introduces Waipu Primary School students to her new series of books.

Waipu Primary School children recently came face-to-face with two picture books in the brand new Kiwi Critters series.

Donna Blaber, a former Waipu resident, is one of New Zealand’s foremost travel writers but being mum to twin daughters has not only adopted the role of reading many well-loved fairy tales and fables to her girls but has turned her hand to writing with the recent release of her Kiwi Critters series. Aimed at 2-7 year-olds the colourfully illustrated Piri’s Picnic and Keri’s Party tell delightful tales of our best loved birds the Kiwi and Pukeko. 

The two main characters are Keri the Kiwi and Piri the Pukeko. Piri is a young pukeko, a blue swamp hen with long gangly orange legs. He has lots of friends and his favourite food is pineapple lumps and brussel sprouts. When he's older word has it that he wants to be in a circus and walk on stilts with the clowns. He spends all his spare time practicing.

Meanwhile his friend Keri is a young kiwi with a big heart. She is very clever. She likes to eat chocolate and broccoli (as well as worms of course), and loves playing hide and seek. When she grows up she wants to be an astronomer and discover a new planet. Together these characters get up to all kinds of mischief and have a rollicking good time.

Junior school children were enthralled by the adventures of characters they had not met before, while the senior school was also introduced to some of Donna’s travel writing including her latest ebook release Visions of the North Island.

She is currently working on Bruce Goes Home and Sausage Sizzle, the third and fourth books in the Kiwi Critters series. The books are 100% created and printed in New Zealand, using vegetable based inks and low environmental impact print processing methods so you can rest assured that you’re supporting New Zealand creators, and being kind to the environment at the same time! 

These are great Christmas pressies, are stocked locally at Mangawhai Books and Gifts, Waipu Lotto & Post Shop, and Waipu Museum at a RRP of just $4.99. They are also available online at www.lmg.co.nz. Buy now and you’ll still be in time for overseas postings.

Donna looks forward to connecting with her readers on facebook. Find her at www.facebook.com/DonnaBlaberAuthor.