Older Books
Part 2
He is swallowed by a cow, a fish and a giant. He flies on the back of a raven and a butterfly and gets a lift on a dandelion. Tom is adopted by the King’s Court and enjoys a fine life until the day he meets a giant spider.This story is a reworking of the classic fairy tale first published in England in the 17th century.
This rhyming counting book tells the story of Noahs ark as it might have happened in New Zealand. A Rangatira calls a moa, two moreporks, three kiwi along with other NZ animals and birds onto his waka, out of the wind and rain.
Part 1 of a trilogy of Maori myths and legends, Taming the Sun contains four stories, including two well-known legends (Maui And The Sun and Maui And The Big Fish) and two less well-known legends (Rona And The Moon and Kahu The Taniwha).
Aimed at children with reading ages 3-7 years, these myths are simply and yet elegantly written. Gavin's characteristic sense of humour is evident in all of the stories; and while each story is exciting and often a little bit scary, they are resolved beautifully. Gavin allows the essence of the original myths to remain while also re-telling them for a new generation of children.
The illustrations are stunning - the different colour palette for each story and the strong mix of techniques create bold and beautiful images that integrate with the words in a powerful and meaningful way.
Taming the Sun is an imaginative, fresh and much-needed addition to the picture book genre, which takes traditional myths to a new level. Created by one of New Zealand's most talented and passionate children's book writers and illustrators.
The Little Tractor becomes old and no longer useful. He is consigned to a shed and his farm is ‘eaten up’ by the town.From a car sales yard he is sold to a series of owners, none of whom are suitable until one day a young man with ‘sticky-up hair’ and grass seed on his clothes comes by. And for the little tractor a new life begins, back in the country and back on a farm.
Simple plot enlivened by Gavin Bishop classy illustrations.
- Raymond Huber, Dunedin teacher, 24 April 2004
Gavin Bishop’s pictures conjure up the USA in the fifties or sixties; a big prairie barn; round bodied cars. They’re bolder in line, simpler and less detailed than most of his work but retain the sophistication of style which is his signature.
- Reading Time Vol 48 No 2 2003
- Winner of the Russell Clark Medal
- LIANZA AWARDS 2010
- CLFNZ Notable Book 2010
Further witty and heart-warming stories about the ups and downs of a friendship between Snake and Lizard who live in the Arizona Desert.
