Waking up suddenly in her New Zealand coastal bush home when she senses that the Maori New Year has arrived, a little Kiwi runs around under the New Year stars, gathering her friends and neighbors for a celebration of food, renewal and togetherness. Illustrations. - (Baker & Taylor)
A little kiwi and other animals of New Zealand are excited to welcome the new year. - (Baker & Taylor)
- By August 1, four months before this titles publication date, advance reading copies and a press release will be submitted to more than 30 book review publications and parenting publications in the US.
- By October 1, final copies, including a press release, will be sent to the above organizations in addition to some regional consumer magazines.
- By November 1, printed copies with a press release will be shipped to smaller websites and online publications.
- Readers will relate to this story of the excitement one feels while waiting for the New Year.
- The simple story is set against a stunningly illustrated New Zealand coastal bush backdrop.
- Readers will be intrigued by the legend behind the cluster of stars known as the Seven Sisters.
The Maori New Year is a time for celebrating, food and family. A little Kiwi in the New Zealand coastal bush wakes up in the middle of her sleep because she can feel it coming. One by one, she runs to her friends to wake them up so that they can spend the Maori New Year together. - (
Bookmasters)
An exciting story about native New Zealand animals waiting for the Maori New Year that is fun and educational. - (Bookmasters)
Nikki Slade Robinson====================
Nikki Slade Robinson has been an illustrator and author for many years. She illustrates for a wide range of national and multinational businesses, producing greeting card artwork, cartoons, educational illustration and much more. Most of all she loves drawing for children and has illustrated over sixty children’s books.
- (
Bookmasters)
Kirkus Reviews
A kiwi reports exciting news. Little Kiwi awakens, shouts, "It's coming!" and hurries to share thrilling news. She rouses her sleepy animal pals, urging them to join her in pursuit. Each friend explains that Little Kiwi's sense that something momentous is imminent is misguided, but, failing to persuade Kiwi to return to her bed, each gets up and follows her. Their final destination is the beach, where they wait until…they witness the Pleiades, the star cluster that, Little Kiwi explains, means the MÄori New Year has arrived. Acknowledging the occasion, each friend indulges in the holiday's special customs: eating, enjoying family time, singing, and playing. This sweet New Zealand import nicely captures the anticipation preceding the celebration in that country, which occurs "around May or June" according to backmatter. Children will enjoy learning about the festival and comparing it to other New Year celebrations. They'll also appreciate the "sky is falling" vibe inherent in the animals' humorous chase. The flightless, nocturnal kiwi is native to New Zealand; her wide-eyed buddies' names are, like hers, MÄori, but readers not in the know will have to do a bit of outside research to discover that. The crisp, stylized illustrations are energetic, and the palette of browns, blue, yellows, grays, and white and black highlight the nighttime escapade. Characters' names, sound words, and other important words are emphasized in larger fonts. An engaging observance of a MÄori holiday. (star chart) (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus 2020 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.
