On the hunt for his next feed, Kiwi is chasing down some huhu grubs. But clever poo-hoo grubs can outsmart a clever kiwi any day. Poor Kiwi is determined to prove he is a crafty creeper, and sets off to hunt for his next feed.
Aimed at the five to eight-year-old age group, the illustrated chapter book is a unique story for those early independent readers.
Evoking the likes of Baa Baa Smart Sheep and Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus, it utilises two-sided dialogue, little narration, and simple illustrations.
Different fonts and colours define each character's dialogue, helping those independent readers who haven't encountered a story in this format before.
While it's perfect for those newly independent readers, it's also fun for adults to read aloud. The deadpan humour, along with potty humour that all kids love, is perfectly pitched to young ones. It's a fun book to read aloud, purely to see the reactions of the listeners.
Tulloch's simple illustrations pair nicely with this short but humourous tale.
The Wanaka-based illustrator has lent his talent to more than 25 other books, many of which are written by other authors - including Craig Smith's popular Square Eyes. Tulloch uses pictures as much as words to tell the story, so this comic book style suits him well.
Later this year Tulloch will release a follow-up to the Kiwi story, bringing to life an array of Aussie animals in Keep An Eye On This Koala.
The story of wee Kiwi's escapades is funny, cheeky, and absolutely bound to make little readers laugh out loud.
Reviewer: Rebekah Fraser
Scholastic, RRP $10.99