BatKiwi and the Big Wet product reviews

Mr Five was more than happy to help review "BatKiwi and the Big Wet" as he enjoys the way the friends work together to fix problems. His mother likes the series too as she loves to see her children learning about our native fauna in a fun way. The two settled down to read the book together, with older sister Miss Seven enjoying it as well although she is technically "too old" to be in the target audience!

The flood theme is topical at the moment. The children live in an area of the country which has been ravaged by bad weather and is only now starting to dry out. As a result, they could relate to the story content and Mr Five was concerned when the rain started to accumulate. The recent floods near his hometown are still fresh in his mind, and young though he may be, he is able to understand just how devastating the results can be.

Mr Five did think the two friends were clever as they found a solution. At the same time, he was also a little anxious given his own recent experiences, so his parents had to be careful not to emphasize the dangers too much. His own grandfather lives and works very close to the areas that were flooded recently, and the whole family had been concerned about him - especially when contact was interrupted. With time, Mr Five will be able to put the events in perspective and enjoy the story on his own as his reading skills increase.

The story teaches children the message that it is important to be brave about trying something new. The unknown can be scary, not just for little ones but also for their elders, yet it can also be a lifesaver. The Thing, initially an object to be feared, becomes an amazing tool as Bat and Kiwi work together to save the other forest residents.

The book layout impressed all of us. The vibrant illustrations make the damp forest come alive, while the different creatures are all recognisable even to a very young child. We liked the way the words occasionally appear in the water as if they are swirling along with the current, and were especially taken with the image of Kunekune the strong swimmer piggy paddling alongside the Thing. It was also a relief to see Bat and Kiwi perched on the upside down Thing at the end of the book as the flood waters receded and the forest dried out again.

One thing I'm thoroughly enjoying is the massive increase in New Zealand authored books that are actually set in New Zealand, with our native creatures and fauna. I have only flicked through the first book in this series, Batkiwi, but knew enough of the book that I didn't need to have read it fully to enjoy its sequel (although that is the beauty of picture books).

The book starts off with Kiwi and Bat racing through the forest, when they come across the iconic kiwi sand shell, lying in their way. They quickly forget about it, as it isn't causing them any issues but soon enough it plays an important part. Reminisce of recent floods affecting us humans, the rains come and keep on coming, without enough sun to dry things up in-between and soon enough the forest begins to flood. This is the perfect opportunity for Batkiwi to flex their hero ways and come to the rescue. Using the sandshell, they create a boat in which their friends can ride out the storm in, until the water recedes and all agree it is a handy item to hold on to.

I enjoyed the illustrations, the various creatures were easy to read in what emotions were going on and I particularly vibed with Kiwi's expression when "a big drop plopped on his head". From what I could see, all the creatures illustrated are New Zealand natives. Whilst my kids are not the demographic this book was aimed at, I read a LOT of picture books and feel this ticks the right boxes, it is fun, an easy to follow to plot and a good dose of excitement (perfect for those kids who like superheroes). I know just the right little person to hand this over too, they're going to have a blast with the superhero aspect of the book and the various animals that they can learn the names of.

This was a fun little book, easy to recommend and the New Zealand vibe always gets a tick from me.