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Wheat in the Ear by Alien
I considered recording this New Zealand classic as an audiobook, and set about simplifying the text for a contemporary listening audience–and also, to help myself concentrate on it. But I gave up the idea. I’m not sufficiently in love with it. However, it’s still interesting to read some 1800s Aotearoa melodrama. Below you’ll find the […]
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My Cat Likes To Hide In Boxes by Lynley Dodd Analysis
Written by Eve Sutton, My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes is the very first picture book illustrated by New Zealand’s Dame Lynley Dodd.
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Encounter by Noel Hilliard Short Story Analysis
“Encounter” is a 1971 short story by New Zealand author Noel Hilliard (1929-1996). Find it in New Zealand’s famous 20th century literary magazine Landfall, which is now available online. LANDFALL, VOLUME TWENTY-FIVE, NO. 3, 1971 p. 270 NOEL HILLIARD’S WRITING STYLE As you read “Encounter”, consider if you agree with the following assessment of Hilliard’s […]
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Why were New Zealand women first in the world to achieve suffrage?
If you know anything about New Zealand history at all, you probably learned that New Zealand women were the first in the world to achieve the right to vote in 1893.
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Urban Legend Study: Vicks Vaporub For Everything
Certain products attract urban legends: Vicks Vaporub, WD-40, “miracle polish”… We love products which ostensibly achieve multiple tasks.
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The Lagoon and Other Stories by Janet Frame
If you’ve seen Jane Campion’s biopic about New Zealand’s most accomplished author, Janet Frame, you’ll already know that “The Lagoon and Other Stories” saved the author’s life.
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Hairy Maclary’s Bone by Lynley Dodd
I look at the structure of Hairy Maclary’s Bone by Lynley Dodd (1984), which reminds me a little of Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins (1967).
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Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd Analysis
Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy is a cumulative rhyming picture book written and illustrated by New Zealand storyteller Lynley Dodd.
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Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack by Lynley Dodd Analysis
Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack (1999) is a picture book written and illustrated by New Zealand storyteller Lynley Dodd. A duckling saves Hairy’s life. Although many of the Hairy Maclary stories are written with the carnivalesque picture book structure, this one is not. Hairy is not on a fun adventure this time; it is summer, and he wants to sleep.…
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Schnitzel von Krumm Forget-Me-Not by Lynley Dodd Picture Book Analysis
Schnitzel Von Krumm Forget Me Not is the tenth book in Lynley Dodd’s Hairy Maclary series, and was published in 1998. Many of Lynley Dodd’s picture books are told with a carnivalesque structure. Schnitzel von Krumm, Forget-me-not is different. This one is told using classic structure and, in my opinion, is one of the most […]
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Slinky Malinki, Open The Door by Lynley Dodd
Slinky Malinki (1993) is a rhyming carnivalesque picture book written and illustrated New Zealander Lynley Dodd. This book is an excellent case study in how writers and illustrators might encourage young readers to turn the page. LETTERBOXING AS PAGE TURNER Slinky Malinkiand Stickybeak Sydwere a troublesome pair;do you know what they did?Alone in the houseone […]
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Hairy Maclary, Sit by Lynley Dodd Analysis
Hairy Maclary, Sit! (1997) is a carnivalesque rhyming picture book written and illustrated by New Zealand storyteller Lynley Dodd. The story follows on from the immensely popular Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy (1983).
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Schnitzel von Krumm’s Basketwork by Lynley Dodd Picture Book Analysis
Schnitzel von Krumm’s Basketwork is a children’s picture book by New Zealand author-illustrator Lynley Dodd, first published in 1994. The star and only character of this one is… Schnitzel von Krumm… already familiar from the uber-successful Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy. Schnitzel von Krumm of course puts the reader in mind of crumbed schnitzel, a […]
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The Power of the Dog: How Did Phil Die? and Other Questions
The Power of the Dog is a 2021 film directed by Jane Campion, based on the same-named 1967 novel by Thomas Savage. Like a lyrical short story, this film is designed for a repeat viewing.
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The Halfmen of O by Maurice Gee
The World of O is a trilogy of fantasy novels by New Zealand author Maurice Gee published 1982-1985. The Halfmen of O (1982) is the first of the series. We might call this series The New Zealand Chronicles of Narnia with a bit of sci-fi thrown in. There are also tropes recognisable from The Wonderful […]