Saving Wānanga: The true story of a kea rescue

This lovely book is a true story written and illustrated by New Zealanders.

It would be a perfect read aloud story for ages 5 to 55!

The soft watercolour illustrations have a calming effect, showing New Zealand’s native flora and fauna. The illustrator has also captured the very cheeky looks on the kea’s face.

Kea are an endangered species and the author has enlightened the reader as to one of the reasons why, such as lead poisoning. Some of the old huts around Arthur’s Pass had lead nails on their roofs and keas like to chew on anything!

Wānanga, the name of this native New Zealand parrot is very sick and Dr. Laura Young and her team try desperately to find him. Finally he is captured and quickly transported to a vet in Christchurch. There are some amusing anecdotes of their travels and Wānanga’s treatment and recovery. He’s such a cheeky bird!

It has a happy ending and an information page with kea facts. There is also a website, www.keadatabase.nz, where you can log any sightings of kea. An excellent book for any home or school library.