The Kauri Family

This is a true ‘Kiwi’ picture book, featuring many of our treasured wildlife, including the Kereru, Weta and Tuna (Eel). Clues give young readers a chance to guess what creature is hiding, “It’s got spikes on its back. It’s a million years old. It’s got a third eye....” - A Tuatara! I love that it will get young readers thinking and interacting with the story as it goes along.

Craig Fletcher has captured lots of little details in the illustrations, rendered in coloured pencil they have a softness to them.

There are a couple of special features to the Kauri Family, you can download or stream the Kauri family song (no CD to lose) and be warned you might spend the rest of the day humming the catchy tune. The second feature is a look and find, the front and end papers have illustrations of birds, insects and a fish, young readers can spot these creatures on the pages as they read, a perfect follow up activity after reading that can be completed by children who are not yet able to read the text.

The Kauri Family is also available in a Te Reo Maori edition, Te Whanau Kauri.

I think this book makes for a fabulous read aloud, and families with young children will enjoy reading this ‘Kiwi’ story together, especially around Matariki, showing how all these creatures are connected together under the stars of Matariki.

Title: The Kauri Family

Authors: Suzy Cato and Arthur Baysting

Illustrator: Craig Fletcher

Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 978-1-77543-611-9

RRP:

Format: Paperback

Date of Publication: 2020

Ages: 5+

Do you have any advisory warnings for this book? No

Reviewer: Louana McCormack, Librarian, Opaheke School, Auckland

How are you recommending this book? Recommended

What’s the book’s opening sentence? What’s that there, can you see?

You can buy this book here