Story about pros and cons

Takahē Trouble
by Sally Sutton      
pictures by Jenny Cooper

Celebrating another New Zealand story by well-known children’s author, Sally Sutton – and inspired by true events of escape, rescue and returning home.
    Sally’s writing is to the point and graphic. It asks questions as well as posing potential problems to do with this pair’s daring escape. Should they/shouldn’t they?
    The takahē are named Walter and Manaaki, and they have quite opposite personalities. While Manaaki wants all of the world’s adventures at once, Walter is reserved and hesitant and points out the dangers lurking out there in the big wide world. So this is a story about pros and cons; great learning perspective for youngsters.
    At the rear of the book there’s a whole lot of interesting facts about the takahē, and where this pair now live, on Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf.
    The cover art immediately captures the reader’s attention and sets the scene for a new adventure. It’s Jenny Cooper’s quality art that brings this story to life so aptly. Her pictures are so vivid and the expressions and emotions shown on the birds' as well as the humans’ faces are really great.
    My grandson loves books, and he’s excited that this one is our next read.

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Review by Susan Tarr

Title: Takahē Trouble
Author: Sally Sutton, pictures Jenny Coopefr
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 9781775437109
RRP: $19.99
Available: bookshops