Review: four recent picture books

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Kay Benseman shares insights on picture books featuring library books, giants, new babies and crabs.

But Then… The Almost True Story of an Overdue Book, by Swapna Haddow, illustrated by Daron Parton

This ‘almost true story’ is hilarious and delightful. Author Swapna Haddow introduces us to an annoyed librarian quizzing a young reader and their cheeky Grandad about a very overdue library book. This Grandad has a penchant for telling tall tales and adventure sports and But Then… become one long explanation for where the missing library book has been for the last 293 days. The library book was apparently a ‘must read’ for all manner of seabirds and ocean dwelling mammals who took it on an outrageous adventure before it was returned to the librarian covered in seaweed.

As a Māmā, conscientious library borrower and ex-librarian, I’ll admit that this premise was disconcerting. The very thought of a library book anywhere near a large body of water is my idea of a nightmare but then, I am not the target audience! My youngest, who now relishes reading independently, found the story funny and highly entertaining. She demanded to reread it to me over and over with much laughter, indifferent to me cringing with discomfort! It was lovely hearing her enjoying the ridiculous humour of the book.

Daron Parton’s illustrations are vibrant, dynamic and textural, sweeping us up into the drama of Grandad’s far-fetched excuses. My ocean-loving tamariki enjoyed naming each of the species they saw featured. The repetition of the line ‘but, then …’ had them joining in on each page, too. I enjoyed the cover detail of a ‘library stamp’ proclaiming the librarian’s mantra of “Read it. Love it. Return it.”

Both Swapna and Daron are originally from the United Kingdom and now call Aotearoa home. You may know Swapna from her other picture book and chapter book titles—The Sapling interviewed her a couple of years ago here. Scholastic has extension ideas available for But Then… and Swapna has lots of activities online, too.

I expect that this book will become a firm favourite in many school and public library collections and be requested for Storytime sessions across the motu. Perhaps read aloud with a special emphasis on the librarian’s plea at the close of the book for anyone wanting to borrow books to issue them on their own library card!

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There’s a Crab in my Castle, by Dawn McMillan, illustrated by Nikki Slade Robinson

This is the fourth book in Dawn McMillan’s recent series that features native creatures of Aotearoa (There’s a Moa in the Moonlight and others). You might recognise this author from her I Need a New Bum fame and while There’s a Crab in my Castle isn’t a euphemism and doesn’t explore similar themes at all, it does have a comparable sense of raucous fun.

The story is set on a golden beach where a tamaiti builds a palatial home for a crab and its loyal servants. It then leaps from the sandcastle featured in the title to a nearby rockpool party attended by a number of other sea creatures. The story closes with Nan calling the moko home and the child returning to the beach the following day to build a new sandcastle for the crab king.

There’s a Crab in my Castle isn’t a euphemism…

The book is bilingual te reo Māori and te reo Ingarihi and this is typeset with both languages given the same treatment of font, size and weight on the page. This communicates an equity of value and importance that is pertinent considering the regressive politics from the government this year. While there aren’t any support notes or glossary for te reo Māori in the book, there are bilingual names and information for each of the sea creatures at the back and this will be extended in an upcoming teacher resource by Oratia found here.

The Māori text has been very skillfully translated by Stephanie Hūriana Fong (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Te Hikutū) who has kept to the original rhyming pattern, too. However, I found the English rhyme a little clunky in places when I read it aloud.

We see children playing, a dog being walked and adults kayaking on a beach that looks to be surrounded by bushy pōhutukawa in bloom. Nikki Slade Robinson’s illustrations fill each page with bright watercolours of the sea creatures which balance realistic biological detail with funny characteristics. There are plenty of different kaimoana to spot and name in both languages, and there’s loads for young readers to learn about the occupants of the rocky shore in Aotearoa. If this book sparks an interest in the moana, Kiwi Conservation Club also has loads of cool activities to do.

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The Squeakling: The Tale of Spike, Max and the Tiny Intruder, by Kristin Kelly, illustrated by Ronja Schipper

The Squeakling tells the tale of how two beloved pet kurī, Spike and Max, adjust to the introduction of a newborn baby to their home, aka a ‘tiny intruder’ or ‘squeakling’. They feel overlooked and respond by trying to reclaim their family’s attention and affection and then, when that doesn’t work, they react by trying to outdo the baby’s ability to make noise, mess and smells. After some months, the dogs have exhausted every annoying and hōhā stunt they can think of and, dejected, they decide to run away. Thankfully the wee baby is now a vocal and observant toddler who alerts their whānau to the missing pets and they’re returned to the loving embrace of their now bigger family for pats and snuggles.

For anyone who has loved a pet before their babies arrived…

Kristin Kelly was awarded the 2023 Storylines Joy Cowley Award to publish this story, which is based on her own family experiences. For anyone who has loved a pet before their babies arrived, this book will be well-received! I remember the chaotic season I spent caring for our tiny pēpi while keeping an energetic puppy entertained at home and Ronjya Schapper’s artwork communicates the busy, haphazard feeling of those days! This book might be helpful for young tamariki who are adjusting to a new sibling or welcoming new family members or pets into their home.

I think that The Squeakling will appeal to children who have enjoyed the raucous and runaway pets in Catherine Chidgey’s Jiffy stories and the antics of Slinky Malinky et al in Lynley Dodds’ books.

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Beau and the Stone Giant, by Hydie Balle-Hands, illustrated by Audee Halim

Beau and the Stone Giant is Hydie Balle-Hands’ second picture book and is self-published with the support of Creative NZ funding. Hydie is giving proceeds from the book sales to the I Am Hope Foundation and acknowledges their support in her own mental wellbeing journey. She’s found writing a helpful creative outlet.

The story features a trio of swashbuckling dogs in the New Zealand bush based on the author’s own pets; Beau a Cavachon, Bobby a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Frankie, a Lagotto Romagnolo. The European origins of these dog breeds may explain the mystical presence of princes, squirrels, fire-breathing dragons and stone giants amidst the pōhutukawa trees, harakeke and tuatara. Audee Halim has illustrated the book and based some of the imagery on the landmarks around East Auckland.

Tamariki who loved the drama of the second Frozen movie, might be keen on this story of a stone giant needing rescue. The pups are very endearing and fearless in their heroic journey. The tale works hard to communicate messages of hope, perseverance, teamwork, courage and the healing possibility of love.

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