Maria Gill

Toroa, an albatross chick, grows bigger and stronger until finally it is time to leave the colony near Dunedin and travel the vast southern oceans. Along the way, he encounters many hazards, but seven years later, he returns to the colony where he hatched. There he finds a mate and a couple of years later another chick is born..
This narrative nonfiction book is an excellent introduction to the life story of these amazing birds. While the story itself contains a lot of information there are also fact boxes throughout the book for readers eager to know more along with a glossary and background to the story at the back. There are also links to websites for further information and to see footage from the albatross webcam. Maria Gill is well known for her excellent nonfiction books but in this book, she has demonstrated that she can also tell an engaging story. This book has the potential to reach a new, story-loving audience while still appealing to nonfiction readers. The illustrations are magnificent. Gavin Mouldey skilfully captures the varied moods of the ocean as well as showing Toroa himself from a multitude of angles. The double fold out is an excellent way to convey the amazing spread of Toroa's wings. This story has had a long road to publication since Maria waited to see if Toroa would return before sending the story to the publishers. It has been well worth the wait.… (meer)

Hiriwa is a young Maui's dolphin. He has been warned to stay away from the dangerous dark shapes (fishing boats), but one day a bottom-set gillnet from a fishing trawler catches his friends. He desperately tries to save his friends: Spotty the snapper, Squiggles the octopus and Puru the Blue penguin.

On the last page there is information about why Maui's dolphins are so endangered. A good book but the illustrations were a bit too 'computer generated' for me and the text a little long. The story as a whole just didn't seem to come together as well as it could have, but the potential is definitely there.… (meer)