Weka’s Waiata and Muddle and Mo’s Rainy Day by Nikki Slade Robinson.

Weka’s Waiata and Muddle and Mo’s Rainy Day by Nikki Slade Robinson. Pub. Duck Creek Press, Imprint David Ling publishing 2018.

Two picture books that show the versatility of one of New Zealand’s  best picture book writers and illustrators.

Weka’s Waiata introduces the Maori welcoming song or waiata through a story in which five weka chicks greet their grandparents or  Koro and Huia with a song that demonstrates the pronunciation of the vowels in Maori language.

Every school pupil in New Zealand knows a waiata and it is good to see picture books used to promote the Maori language.

It is little kiwi who has the idea to compose a waiata to which the chicks respond with some enthusiasm. The weka is not often written about and I would have liked to see the chicks look as much like weka as little kiwi does as a kiwi. The weka is a cool bird. Nonetheless the result is pleasing.

Muddle & Mo’s Rainy Day is just brilliantly simple and exposes how easily people dismiss a dull day when fun could be had.

Ducks love rainy days but goats are not so enthused. “come and jump in the puddles Mo” pleads Muddle but Mo is somewhat reluctant. Goats don’t like rain.

Muddle will not let it go and shows Mo the way.  He does with great relish.In the end its the best rainy day ever.

Muddle and Mo are simply drawn with Mo’s facial expressions a highlight.

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