Author(s): Peter Hills

Junior/Middle Fiction

“Every kid knows what it’s like to go out and collect the eggs for mum. Little boys know what it’s like to go out duck shooting with dad. They’re books kids relate to because it’s about real things that kids do, not imaginary ghosts or dragons.”

Mums and dads were used in the book to give kids stories about their heroes and Hills said there is no better hero for a kid than their parents.

Wellington based illustrator Gary Gibson created the artwork for the books and was given free rein by Hills to decide on the style.

He used his own experiences of holidays at the farm to create the characters.

“I think they’re good [the books], the stories and subject matter, especially for boys who are learning to read. They are the quintessential stories of boys and girls on the farm,” said Gibson.