Dawn McMillan

It is no secret that I love these books. The author does such a good job telling a funny and relatable story. The illustrations with the random farts keep the kids laughing. And while these books do not have a true cadence and some of the rhymes are a stretch, it all works and comes rolling of the tongue in a slick way. This butt is going to continue to read these books as long as the author continues to write them.

Author Dawn McMillan knows her audience: Young children think butts, farts and pooping are hilarious! While adults might roll their eyes, infantile humor really appeals to — well, the infantile set. So bully for McMillan for giving the primary-school public want it wants and loves. Also, Rose Kinnaird’s quirky illustrations prove the perfect fit for this quirky book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Dover Publications in exchange for an honest show more review. show less

This book was so silly and so much fun. I know there are a few of these books, and I have never wanted to read them before. However, in Ohio, a teacher or principle was fired for reading one of these books aloud to the school during assembly. So I had to read it. This book was so much fun. Is it potty humor, absolutely? But that is what makes it approachable. There is no reason these books should be banned. They should be celebrated for helping kids want to read!

Following the success of There's a Tui in our Teapot and There's a Weta on my Sweater, Dawn McMillan, Nikki Slade Robinson and Ngahere Roberts have teamed up again for a book focusing on some of New Zealand's extinct creatures. From the moa munching melons in the moonlight to the kawekaweau gobbling guava, we meet an assortment of creatures. Some of these, like the moa, are well-known, while others are less so but there is a handy collection of fact boxes in the back of the book that give show more more information about each.
McMillan's text bounces along nicely, while Slade Robinson's illustrations bring these creatures to life - especially the cheeky moa, who makes an appearance on most pages. Although the outdoor setting doesn't allow for as much visual humour as as Slade Robinson out into There's a Tui in our Teapot, the expressions on the moa's face almost make up for this. Congratulations to Oratia Books on another lovely, bilingual, New Zealand-centred book for our tamariki.
Recommended for young nature lovers and anyone who enjoyed the other books in this series. show less