Geoff Chapple, the founder of Te Araroa/The Long Trail, launched the
exciting new children's picture book by Duck Creek Press to a large and lively
crowd at the Mt Eden Village Centre on Saturday. Lillibutt's Te Araroa Adventure is written by former Secretary for
Education Maris O'Rourke and beautifully illustrated by artist and filmmaker
Claudia Pond Eyley.
In launching the book Geoff said he had always hoped Te Araroa would
become an integral part of Kiwi culture and this book exemplified that dream
was becoming a reality. He also said that as soon as you read this delightful
story of struggle and perseverance you know the person who wrote it has
actually done the walk!
Maris tested drafts of the book with children from the Parnell
District School and several were at the launch, including two of the children,
Edward Nelson and Sylvia Orr, who feature in the book helping Lillibutt on her
way south from Cape Reinga to Auckland. Claudia found the models for Lillibutt
the Kunekune pig at the Auckland Zoo where Alma and Neena, Lillibutt's cuzzies
in the book, go for walks each day with their keepers.
This book is the second in the Lillibutt series following on from the
successful Lillibutt's Big Adventure
where she walks the Camino de Santiago, the famous pilgrimage in Spain, just as
the author did.
Both books are available from bookshops.
Photos show:
Right -Geoff Chapple, Sylvia Orr from Parnell District
School, and Maris O’Rourke.
Below - Claudia Pond Eyley talking with guests.
No comments:
Post a Comment