The Northland Age

Rock in a hard place in Kaitaia’s library treasure hunt

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Children’s author/illustrato­r Rebecca Larsen is a big fan of libraries. And she is about to contribute to them once again with the release of a new book Twinkle Twinkle Matariki later this month, but in the meantime she devised a very different attraction for youngsters at Kaitaia’s library.

A friend, Amber O’Connell, who formerly lived at Broadwood, hid a painted rock somewhere in the library, and she and Rebecca released clues during the day until it was finally found.

“The library staff were excited to be a part of the action, and so was Ashley Johns, the mother of the children who persevered and found the rock,” Rebecca said.

Ashley said she, her son Jacob and Jacob’s aunt spent 40 minutes looking high and low around the library’s kauri tree. Jacob had enjoyed the challenge, but had had to call on his two siblings and a cousin to help. It wasn’t long after that that they announced the rock had been found.

“We really enjoyed it, me as much as the children,” Ashley said. “It was cool to have that happen it our small town. We don’t often have things like that, and kids thoroughly enjoy it.”

Rebecca said painting and hiding rocks had become a popular activity for children throughout the country, starting in Palmerston North with Palmy Rocks.

“The girl who runs this group started the craze in New Zealand, and I believe she has seen it in America in a small way. It’s truly a fun craze and gets the kids outside exploring,” she said. See www.rowyourwak­a.co.nz/ news/media-release-twinkletwi­nkle-matariki

 ?? PICTURE / SUPPLIED ?? Jacob Field-Johns and Shakayla Hunter with the elusive rock.
PICTURE / SUPPLIED Jacob Field-Johns and Shakayla Hunter with the elusive rock.

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