The Adventures of Hutu and Kawa

(Hardback)

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Description

The Adventures of Hutu and Kawa, a bestselling classic children's book from the 1950s by New Zealand artist Avis Acres, is reissued by popular demand in a gorgeous hardback gift edition. Follow the Pohutukawa babies as they set out on canoe adventure and make many forest friends along the way in this gem of a story from 1955. In an old pohutukawa tree between the forest and the sea live two tiny Pohutukawa Babies, Hutu and Kawa. With the help of Grandpa Kiwi, Hutu and Kawa build a canoe and set off up the river to explore the forest. On their way they make many new friends - and encounter the fearsome Bush Hawk. During the 1950s children enjoyed the adventures of the Pohutukawa Babies in the New Zealand Herald each week, and Avis Acres' books, with beautiful watercolour illustrations showcasing native flora and wildlife, became bestsellers. The Adventures of Hutu and Kawa is the first tale in the classic series. This hardback edition captures all the charm of the original tale and brings these delightful characters to a new generation of children.

Author Bio

Avis Acres (1910-1994) was a New Zealand artist, writer and illustrator who produced a number of popular children's picture books during the 1950s, as well as a comic strip, 'The Tale of Hutu and Kawa', which appeared weekly in the New Zealand Herald. Her lifelong interest in nature and our fragile environment was reflected in her stories, which were well ahead of their time. In the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Jill Holt writes, 'Despite their fantasy, the Hutu and Kawa books conveyed an understanding of ecology and a strong conservationist ethos. In Hutu and Kawa find an Island, Acres described the terrible impact of the possum on native trees and birds. In the same book she incorporated traditional Maori knowledge on making the sail for a canoe. To ensure that the details in her books were accurate, she undertook research in museums and libraries, and in the field.' Avis Acres' artwork continues to be appreciated for its nostalgic charm and the beauty of its natural detail.