Aroha’s Way

Author/illustrator, Craig Phillips has created a very useful resource in Aroha’s Way. A book with a very kiwi flavour, especially in the lovely illustrations of Aroha amongst kowhai, harakeke, and native birds, it could be used across year levels to initiate discussion about how anxiety feels and ways to alleviate it. The story is told in gentle rhyme with one to four lines on each page.

The book cleverly addresses anxiety using story and then ends with a double page spread, which breaks down the story in four sections and talks about how Aroha felt, what she did about those feelings and how her actions helped. There is a note for teachers and/or parents at the end of each section, explaining in more detail the reasoning around the suggested actions. On the final page of the book is a list of useful contacts, organisations and telephone numbers if further assistance is needed.

A good book to have on library, classroom and home shelves alike.

Title: Aroha’s Way

Author & Illustrator: Craig Phillips

Publisher: Wildling Books

ISBN: 978-0-473-47080-7

RRP: $19.99

Format: Paperback

Date of Publication: June 2019

Ages: 5+

Reviewer’s name, job title, school name & region: Vickie Humphries, Librarian, Mount Cook School, Wellington

How are you recommending this book? Recommended

What’s the book’s opening sentence? I know a child called Aroha: Warm of heart, broad of smile, Dark of hair, wild as wind, From the great Southern Isle.

You can buy this book here