Snail follows fantail
Snails are offered a chance in the spotlight in a new book by Pukerua Bay author Gay Hay.
Watch Out, Snail! is a collaboration between Hay and Titahi Bay illustrator Margaret Tolland.
It follows their first book, Fantail’s Quilt, published in 2011.
Tolland said the aim of the books was to provide reading material that entertained and educated children about New Zealand wildlife.
‘‘It’s important for kids to know about the environment,’’ she said.
‘‘We wanted it to be a really educational experience.’’
The former art teacher is an education co-ordinator for Pataka Museum.
She met Hay while teaching an art class, and was later approached by her to illustrate Fantail’s Quilt, which received widespread acclaim.
Tolland created 15 illustrations for Watch out, Snail!, which was completed over six months.
‘‘I’m an artist, so I absolutely love it,’’ she said. ‘‘It was an amazing opportunity. Completely different from my work here [ at Pataka].’’
Both books include educational material to inform children about the animals and include an English to Maori glossary.
They are also available in te reo Maori from pagebreak.co.nz.
A third book was in the works, Tolland said, focussing on the Wellington green gecko.
Kapi-Mana News
Watch out, Snail!