Kuwi the Kiwi Treasury

'Kuwi the Kiwi Treasury' is a collection of 5 Kuwi the Kiwi picture books, celebrating 10 years of Kuwi the Kiwi – 'Kuwi’s First Egg'; 'Kuwi’s Huhu Hunt'; 'Kuwi’s Very Shiny Bum'; 'Kuwi’s Rowdy Crowd'; and 'Kuwi’s Fluey Huwi'. It begins with a brief biography of author/illustrator, Kat Quin, including pictures of her early work and the story and creative process behind 'Kuwi the Kiwi'. This will be of interest to parents and teachers who are fans of Kat’s work.

The illustrations are the star of this book. They’re bright and colourful with extra details you notice with every read. I loved the kiwi-fied book titles (e.g. Horton Hears a Huhu; Diary of a Wimpy Kiwi) and artworks (e.g. a kiwi Mona Lisa; a wētā Girl with a Pearl Earring). Kat has a gift for capturing expression in the creatures she creatures, bringing the page to life with their facial expressions and movement.

Short sentences make these stories accessible to kids of all ages. While these stories could be read aloud to a class, this book shines when shared with a small child or two on your knee, poring over the pictures and talking about all the things you see as you read the book together. There is a Te reo Māori – English glossary at the end of the book, helpfully organised by story, to assist with any unfamiliar words.