Melanie Drewery

One school holiday morning, Nanny and her mokopuna get up early to listen a bellbird. They whistle a tune to it and the bellbird repeats it. On succeeding holidays, they are delighted to find the bellbird continues to whistle the tune they taught it. Until, one holiday, the bellbird isn't there - what could have happened to it? Eventually, their bellbird returns and brings a surprise with her.
With their engaging stories and sprinkling of Te Reo, Melanie Drewery's Nanny Mihi stories are often read to visiting classes in our library, so it is great to see a new title after a thirteen-year break. Once more, we see Nanny Mihi and her mokopuna enjoying a domestic adventure together and learning something in the process. Despite this title having the same illustrator as the previous books, the look is quite different. The people have a much softer look to them and the palette seems brighter. Tracy Duncan's interest in the local birdlife is evident in the skilful native bird illustrations. This title is a great addition to the series and I hope it may lead to the republishing of the earlier titles.… (meer)