JUST FOR KIDS

Showtym Adventures: Chessy, The Welsh Pony By Kelly Wilson, Penguin Random House, $14.99

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The fourth book in the Showtym Adventure series is about the youngest Wilson sister Amanda.

At 7 years old Amanda has always ridden her beloved and safe pony Charlie Brown.

But when she swaps with her friend for a much more spirited pony she wonders if she has got what it takes to ride wild ponies.

While she is getting used to the new pony, the family muster some beautiful Welsh ponies that have run wild in the hills. Among them is Cheesy, a beautiful stallion that is just the right size for Amanda.

It’s Amanda who must prove that she has what it takes to ride her friend’s stroppy pony before she considers training Chessy.

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New Zealand’s Great Walks Paul and Shelley Hersey, Penguin Random House, $45

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New Zealand has nine multiday excursions officially labelled ‘Great Walks’ — Lake Waikaremoana, Tongariro, Whanganui River (actually more of a paddle), Abel Tasman, Heaphy, Routeburn, Milford, Kepler and Rakiura. Only the first three are in the North Island and the last is on Stewart Island.

This book, by Dunedin-based husband-andwife tramping enthusiasts, is all you need to bone up on and complete any of these diverse, spectacular and wellmaintained walks. Each one comes with maps, elevation profiles, highlights, track details, section-bysection descriptions, and planning advice — not to mention a tempting overview just to get you excited.

The book also offers practical general advice and helpful websites. What could possibly go wrong? Buy some new tramping boots just in case. —