Koro Wētā by Heather Haylock

Gumboots are the favourite footwear of a young girl ... and also a giant wētā. After a battle of wills meeting Koro Wētā, a happy compromise for co-existence is found.

This picture book is a whimsical way for young readers to gain insight about the fascinating wētā. Author Heather Haylock plays on the fear of the insects to create this playful and fun story.

Haylock includes lots of interesting unfamiliar words for the primary school reader, with repetitive onomatopoeia making it a great read aloud story. The book is bilingual, with Ngairo Eruera's Māori translations making it a wonderful resource for learners. At times the design of the book makes the text a little hard to follow, with text split into blocks across the page and a few lines near the bottom of pages easy to miss. However, it's always lovely to see proper bilingual books, with both English and Māori on the same page.

There's a lovely, subtle message about not only cooperation and compromise, but on sustainability and conservation. Insects are endlessly interesting, and Koro Wētā will inspire curious minds.

At the back of the book, further information about five species of wētā is included, making it the perfect jumping off point for a deeper dive. This book would be a great introduction in a classroom setting, with plenty of potential for a whole unit - from language to artwork to building a wētā hotel. 

Illustrator Sarah Trolle brings the story to life with colourful and bold artwork bursting from the page. There's so much expression within each character, including Koro.

This is a fun little story about a distinctly New Zealand issue, bound to delight and inspire younger readers.

Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell

Oratia Books