Meet the locals

Book Review

Gill, M.  (2011).  New Zealand hall of fame: 50 remarkable Kiwis (B. Potter, Illus.).  Auckland, New  Zealand: New Holland.

               The first thing you see when you open this book is Sir Edmund Hillary’s face looking out from a five dollar bill –  your attention is captured, and you can’t help but be drawn in.  Maria Gill has penned a book which shows New Zealand children that in this country ‘we do pretty darn well when it comes to medals, famous deeds, sporting achievements and just being WORLD FAMOUS.’1   Fifty remarkable New Zealanders are represented in this interesting, engaging, and visually stimulating book.  Each person is presented on a two page spread with a colourful and creative mixture of caricatures and photographs, while the author’s ‘tireless research builds a picture of their lives.’2  Basic facts, such as birthplace, birth date, and name, are depicted as a New Zealand passport, trophy boards list achievements, and a timeline presents the major events in each person’s life.  Embellishments such as postage stamps, bank notes, and photograph filmstrips add to the visual appeal.

The individuals have been chosen with the interests of children in mind3 and the ‘informative and accessible’ text will appeal to children.4  The use of text boxes to highlight quotes and passages of text will assist children of different reading abilities to access the information.  There is plenty to interest children who find it difficult to read long passages of unbroken text, while avid readers will find plenty to sink their teeth into.  A list of websites and online documentaries is included, as well as a bibliography, to help children to extend their learning.  The book is organised in colour coded sections for different types of achievements, and a table of contents and extensive index are included.  Although there is no glossary, definitions of difficult words are included in-text.  This is an example of a ‘bright, eye-catching contemporary non-fiction’ book that does live ‘up to its appearance.'5

Many children, particularly boys, read non-fiction for pleasure.6  Boys also respond well to texts with positive male role-models7  and to books that feature sports.8  With its many male role models, such as Sir Ray Avery who began life on the streets and became an inventor and humanitarian, and sporting greats, such as former All Black Sir Colin Meads, New Zealand hall of fame is likely to be very appealing to boys, and will therefore go towards filling gaps in this area.

Maria Gill has a background in teaching as well as a diploma in journalism.  She has written several trade and educational books for children.  Her books have been shortlisted for a number of children’s book awards, and her books have twice been in the Storylines Notable Books List.  New Zealand hall of fame is a Storylines Notable Book and a finalist in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards.

Notes

1. Gill, 2011, p. 4

2. Beattie, 2011
3. Gill, 2010
4. Whalley, 2011, p. 8
5. The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, 2011, p. 8
6. Open Polytechnic, 2011, p. 16
7. Husband, 2012, p. 24
8. Palmer, 2008

References

Beattie, G. (2011, May 26). New Zealand hall of fame: 50 remarkable Kiwis [Web log post]. Message posted to http://beattiesbookblog.blogspot.co.nz/‌2011/‌05/‌new-zealand-hall-of-fame-50-remarkable.html

Gill, M. (2010). Books: New Zealand hall of fame: 50 remarkable Kiwis: Journal note. In Maria Gill: Children’s author - freelance writer. Retrieved May 4, 2012, from http://www.mariagill.co.nz/‌newzealandhalloffame.php

Husband, T. (2012). Why can’t Jamal read? Phi Delta Kappan, 93(5), 23-27.

Palmer, T. (2008). Reading the game: Using sport to encourage boys and men to read more. APLIS, 21(2), 78-83.

The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. (2011). Module 3. In 72276 Literature and information resources for children and young people. Lower Hutt, New Zealand: Author.

Whalley, A. (2011). New Zealand hall of fame: 50 remarkable Kiwis [Review of the book New Zealand hall of fame: 50 remarkable Kiwis]. Magpies: Talking About Books for Children, 26(2), 8.