Little Truff Saves the Kererū

Little Truff Saves the Kererū
(New Zealand native pigeon)

little-truff-saves-the-kereru
This moving, modern animal adventure story is told with humour and suspense for ALL animal lovers between 8 years to 108.

Little Truff, the cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is spending the summer holidays with her family at Piha, New Zealand’s famous surfing beach.

Along with her Siamese friend, Chloe, highly intelligent but mischievous, Truff is asked to investigate why kererū, the New Zealand native pigeons, are disappearing without trace. A drastic drop in numbers could lead to their extinction in the area, meaning the forest’s giant trees couldn’t regenerate — and an eco-tragedy would result.

Experience the sun, sea, sand and surf of Piha’s beaches, take a spooky mid-night stroll through the scrub-filled lowland, and climb the rugged volcanic slopes of the high, bush-clad Waitākere Ranges with the daring duo as they search for answers.

Will they find out why the birds are vanishing? And put a stop to it?

Little Truff Saves the Kererū is about the importance of conservation to retain sustain fragile eco-systems and the world-wide repercussions when they are lost. An adventure story, it is the third in a series about animal issues.

Recommended by the NZ Book Council: read review

Read a Sneak Preview

Reader’s Comments:

This is a delightful book, warm and inspiring, set in a rugged landscape on Auckland’s west coast.
– Sir Bob Harvey

This is a story that grips you as it unfolds and has important ecological messages.
– Sandra Coney QSO, Chair, Waitakere Ranges Local Board, Auckland Council

There is lots of useful natural science information incorporated into this story for young people, set in familiar Piha locations.
– Piha Coastcare Trust

I loved it. It’s excellent… You had me hooked from start to finish.
– Nik Hurring, Project Kereru

The conservation message in this book is clear. NZ Bird Rescue supports this message, and hope children who read this book will form a generation of New Zealanders caring and conserving our beautiful native birds.
– The New Zealand Bird Rescue Charitable Trust

Buy the Book

164 pages,
ISBN 978-0-9941035-3-6

Hardcopies of Little Truff Saves the Kererū are available to purchase:

New Zealand:

From Whitcoulls, PaperPlus and all good bookshops: price NZ$24.95.

Special rates for New Zealand Schools and Libraries.

Wheelers: www.wheelers.co.nz
South Pacific Book Distributors: www.spbooks.co.nz
Ann Russell Books price NZ$26.50 including packing and postage. Buy now!

Overseas:

Overseas readers may purchase the book from booksellers listed here or the author.
The postage and packaging charge from New Zealand will vary depending on the number of copies purchased and the destination. Buy now!

Available as an E-book for digital readers:

Background to the Book

Pigeon on pururi tree

A kererū sitting on the fruiting branchlets of a nīkau palm outside my window was the inspiration for this story.
Piha, the famous New Zealand surfing village backed by the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, provided an ideal, natural setting.
Because there are few stories about conservation, ecology and sustainability available, I decided to write this book using memorable characters and events to capture the imagination, entertain and give a better understanding of this issue.

The following organisations have assisted me in preparing the book:

Fun and Games based on Little Truff Saves the Kererū

Little Truff Saves the Kererū Fun and Games has a word puzzle, wordfind, other interesting activities and colouring sheets for readers. Parents and teachers may find the reading extensions
useful to enhance children’s appreciation of the book, both at home and in the classroom. More here.