Heidi

Summary: When orphaned Heidi goes to live with her grandfather, no one can imagine the bitter, solitary old man caring for a child. But, to everyone's surprise, the two grow to love each other - and Heidi blossoms in her new home
First published: 1880

Iris's Ukulele

New Zealand author
Iris wants to be the best rapper and ukulele player in the whole of the entire universe. Preferably with her best friend ever, and fellow Master of the Musical Universe, Sidney, at her side.

They're writing a rap musical together - about werewolves and vampires.

Mega stardom awaits, Iris is sure of it. All they have to do is win the talent show at the mall.

But just when she thinks their path to fame is assured life becomes increasingly complicated.

A Wizard of Earthsea

The first book of Earthsea is a tale of wizards, dragons and terrifying shadows. The island of Gont is a land famous for wizards. Of these, some say the greatest - and surely the greatest voyager - is the man called Sparrowhawk. As a reckless, awkward boy, he discovered the great power that was in him - with terrifying consequences. Tempted by pride to try spells beyond his means, Sparrowhawk lets loose an evil shadow-beast in his land. Only he can destroy it, and the quest leads him to the farthest corner of Earthsea.

Let's Make Pancakes

Inside back cover has glossary
"Have you ever made pancakes? It's not hard to do if you follow the recipe carefully. Before you start, you need to wash your hands. What ingredients will you use? What tools will you need to get ready?" (from inside cover)

The Trumpet of the Swan

Meet Louis - the most extraordinary swan ever!

Louis the Trumpeter Swan is born without a voice. So, with the help of his good friend Sam, he learns to read and write! But this does not solve the problem of how to woo the lovely Serena. It is Louis's father who comes up with a brilliant solution - something which leads Louis to exciting adventures, fame and fortune.

Anne of Green Gables

Aladdin paperback edition
First published in 1908
Summary: When Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables, she surprises everyone: first of all, she's a girl, even though Marilla Cuthbert and her brother Matthew specifically asked for an orphan boy to help around the farm. And second of all, she's not just any girl: she has bright red hair, a wild imagination, and can talk a mile a minute. But she also has a sweet disposition and quick wit, and Anne soon finds her place in Avonlea, making a friend in her neighbor Diana Barry and attending the local school, where she spurns the advances of the popular and handsome Gilbert Blythe when he commits the ultimate sin of making fun of her hair. Anne has a temper as fiery as her hair and a knack for finding trouble, and she also has a big heart and a positive attitude that affects everyone she meets

The Last of Maui's Dolphins

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Summary: Hiriwa, a new calf, is warned by the pod of Maui's dolphins about the dangers of going near the dark shapes (fishing boats). Hiriwa heeds their warning until one day the bottom-set gillnet from a fishing trawler catches his friends. He does all he can to save them. (Publisher)

Munkle Arvur and the Bod

Summary: Munkle Arvur lives in a beautiful canyon with a crystal-clear creek and a variety of wildlife, until the Bod comes and dumps his rubbish in the canyon. Gradually the canyon fills up. It is up to Munkle Arvur to find a way to rescue the canyon - by recycling the waste! A story on the importance of being kind to the environment. (Publisher)
New Zealand author

Grandma McGarvey and the Treasure Hunt

Summary: Grandma McGarvey mows her lawn and discovers something hidden in the ground. A story in rhyme. Suggested level: junior

Pukeko in a Tangelo Tree : written by Jennifer Whiting -- photography by Jennifer Whiting -- January 2013

I received a camera from my sons for a Christmas present in 2013. I took these photographs and after viewing these I had an idea and wrote this story. I had so many ideas for writing this story, from the birds point of view, from a camera angle and from my point of view. I would love some feedback on the story, that would be great. Hope you enjoy!

If you have any comment please don't hesitate! It would be fun to find out what others think of this funny scenario.

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PUKEKO IN A TANGELO TREE

By Jennifer Whiting. ~~~ January 2013

One Christmas, a girl named Jenny got a camera as a 

Christmas present.  Jenny wondered what pictures she

would take with her new camera. She thought she should

practice taking pictures around her own backyard first before

venturing out.

Jenny sat on the back step of her house and was looking

through the display of her camera when all of a sudden a

Pukeko came wandering into her backyard. She wondered
 
what the Pukeko was about to get up to.

The Pukeko hopped up and over the hedge where he was 

hiding and was thinking of a way to get to the Tangelo Tree.

The Pukeko was thirsty and water just wouldn't do, the felt
like something sweet and citrusy. 


The Pukeko’s legs barely disturbed the grass as it snuck its

way through into the opening of the backyard, past the

peach tree walking boastfully. Thinking nobody else was

around watching, the  Pukeko strutted up to some old
Tangelo skin, which it just didn't like. 

The bird discarded the Tangelo skin and kept on walking....

past the Apricot tree and then the Pukeko spotted the Tangelo tree. 

The bird scurried trying not to be seen, Jenny was surprised thinking of what this bird would do next.

Jenny kept taking pictures of the Pukeko and thought to 

herself “I wonder where the Pukeko is going?” 

The Pukeko saw Jenny so the bird sprinted to the Tangelo Tree, so Jenny stood still just in case the Pukeko turned to run back to its hiding place up over the hedge. 

Jenny thought “Whew! This bird is still going for the Tangelo tree.”  The Pukeko kept on walking and Jenny said to herself “I don’t think it can fly up into the Tangelo Tree?" but Jenny kept on taking pictures from her new camera of the Pukeko’s devious plan.

Jenny got up off the back step and began to slowly walk towards the 

Tangelo Tree to make sure she got some great camera shots

of the Pukeko. 

As Jenny got closer to the tree Jenny was wrong; the Pukeko

could fly up into the Tangelo Tree. She was amazed at this bird; she kept on taking pictures of the Pukeko wondering what next it would do.

The Pukeko was being a tricky little bird with Jenny, hiding in
the leaves of the Tangelo tree thinking Jenny couldn't see. Was he playing with Jenny or was the bird really not caring what Jenny thought as the plan was to find a Tangelo?

As Jenny got closer to the bird, the bird would move to the
 
other side of the tree, Jenny would move to get a better view,
 
to get the best picture and the bird again would move within

the tree. Jenny thought this was fantastic.

Jenny zoomed in and felt like the Pukeko, sneaking up on the

bird taking those great camera shots, when all of a sudden

the Pukeko turned around as though to pose for this camera shot.

Jenny couldn't believe what pictures she was taking with her camera; it felt like a story was about to be unfolded.

The Pukeko was a ‘cheeky chap’ Jenny thought; “this bird just standing in the tree waiting for me to come closer”.  

The bird took a moment to scour around to choose the right

tangelo and at the same time kept watch for any threats.

The Pukeko pranced between the dense branches of the

tangelo treelike a puppet on a string. Jenny had to hurry to

the other side of the backyard without scaring the bird. Jenny

got to the other side of the backyard just in time to capture

the Pukeko which was trying not to be seen and stood like a statue for a fraction of a moment, thinking nobody was looking.

The Pukeko viewed his treasure and walked through the
branches of the tree to where a juicy Tangelo dangled from one of the branches.

The Pukeko scooped down from the branch and Jenny thought “what is this bird going to do? Surely this bird isn’t going to get a Tangelo?” 

No way!

Then all of a sudden... the Pukeko scooped down and

pecked theTangelo off with its beak from the branch.

Jenny was in awe and couldn't believe she had captured these pictures on her new camera she got for her Christmas present.

The next thing the Pukeko did was grip the Tangelo tightly in

its beak and flew with the Tangelo out of the tree and placed

his treasure onto the ground.

Jenny was thrilled she captured these wonderful camera shots of the “cheeky chap” of a bird.

“When Jenny looked at this picture she took from her new camera; she thought there must be a trick in taking photographs of moving objects, Jenny realised she needed to focus the camera a little better to get a clearer picture.”

Once the bird got to the ground it dropped its treasure and 

the bird sounded a victorious “squawk”. The Pukeko started

pecking at the Tangelo, and the bird wasn’t bothered about who was around now, as the Pukeko had accomplished his devious plan.

Jenny thought this bird was a very clever bird indeed to try and survive this hot summer.

As the Pukeko picked up the winning prize (a Tangelo), it

scurried off with the Tangelo in its beak and made a break for the hedge.  

Jenny was thrilled to show the pictures off her new camera to

familyand friends of the “Cheecky Chap” of a Pukeko.

                                      THE END

Facts:

The Pukeko came into Jenny’s backyard and snipped off

quite a few Tangelos over this very hot and dry summer of

2013 several times. 

Since I found out the Pukeko was taking the fruit we left some fruit on the tree for it to take. 

Southern Hemisphere it is summer in December

Youtube Pictorial Video:   

The Pukeko in a Tangelo Tree  

by Jenny Whiting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYxdjz81iOA