DELIGHTFUL N.Z. BOOK FOR CHILDREN

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 181, 15 July 1955, Page 1

DELIGHTFUL N.Z. BOOK FOR CHILDREN

iaaupo Writer-Artist's Work ' B&he Adventures o t Hutu and BjyV' by Avis Acres (A. H. and A. RfReed, Wellington, 4/6 and 7/6). Blls book, written and illustrated by Hpt'Avis Acres, of Taupo, is one of Bfe best presented of New Zealanc. Bfjfrks for young children, and it is Wnbtful if the bird and plant life of Ke eountry have ever been more |l|tiifully depicted. Rvery eountry has its special storB' for children, fantasies which im iift human qualities to creatures of Kfotest and the outdoors generally, Hd^maiiy of the characters created l|||ciever writers and artists have gpen a definite place in the literaImtof- the countries where they have fffear&i.

ku creating Hutu and Kawa, kew||l|pe representations of the vivid glpoms of the New Zealand pohutuBrou'or Ohristmas tree, Mrs Acres Kopened a new era in children's Hjfrature of . the New Zealand scene. B| several years Hutu and Kawa Bgpjappeared regularly in the New igilnd Herald, to the delight of a llple circle of young readers, but now Rps new series of adventures, the Blit in book form, they have been l||n colour in keeping with the N^jhtness associated with the pohuRgpfra and the New Zealand bush in Ktaer. Kthenticity in the portrayal of Rlls and animals has not, in many Kes in the past, been a common Kicteristic of books for children. they may have been entertainfS:b their young readers they have, H.too often, lacked faithfulness to praire. In Mrs Acres book the naKe birds, trees and plants of New Hpfnd are portrayed in a manner SpfMll win the approval of adult HSpologist and botanist equally rafthat of the children for whom |»fetterpress has been written. Mrs Bfehas shown that nothing of llSi and interest need be lost in Bfeideavour to maintain integrity jipA presentation of our bird life Kliibra.

Mere has been nothing quite like Bpook before, at least as far as a Rpty New Zealand setting is conEgpl, and the publishers have Ipni their faith in the future of the jj^pikawa babies by ordering a fc larger edition of the book than Bfeiial. It is pleasing to note that IfTOipo, Mrs Acres' home town, Hpellers report good saies since Rfi came to hand last week. Rpongst congratulatory messages Bpy received by Mrs Acres is one p; Mrs Hilda Ross, Minister of Kai Welfare, and one from the Ifcof the Auckland Museum referjK'to the satisfactory colour etfects ifeed by artist, and printers, in Sipying the birds, feo publishers already have under Ipration a second book by Mrs Igfcdealing with further advenHHf Hutu and Kawa. And it E3f.*r' IfpJere be mentioned that the fifth Hf-".sixth in the series of "Little Bpre Books," written and illustratpjfyMrs Acres, and published by A. ■M A. W. Reed, have now appearBferiiese charming little readers, with the larger book here reKm entitle their author-artist to ■pjminent place amongst those who Be/ written and drawn for children. IpSiy be predicted with confidence «|in Hutu and Kawa Avis Acres Bpflreated characters that will Hle their mark in the children's Kgrattire of the present generation of folk. — R.H.W.