My Bum's on THE RUN! – fit, fast and funny new book in the Bum series publishes internationally

My Bum's on THE RUN!                       

Dawn McMillan
Illustrated by Ross Kinnaird

 New book in the laugh-out-loud ‘Bum Series’ of picture  

 books by NZ author and illustrator in international release 

Everyone would like to run faster, right? But some things just hold us back — like a bum that won’t keep pace

In this newest book in the global bestselling New Bum series the hero of I Need a New Bum! , I’ve Broken my Bum!  and My Bum is SO NOISY!  finds a range of crack-up solutions to his slow-bum problem, in a new adventure for 2023. 

The options go from attaching a kite and balloons or eating cabbage and peas for some wind power. But then he and his cousin figure out they need bum-strengthening exercises — some squats, kicks, steps and lunges.

 

And while he’s working out, a whole lot of other folk join him. After some training he’s off — on a cross-country race near home.

Think our red pants boy is set up to win? There’ll be a twist at the end of this tale once his dog gets involved.

 

Fittingly for a book that features running in different locales around the world, My Bum's on THE RUN!  will publish in March 2023 simultaneously in New Zealand and Australia (Oratia), the US and Canada (Dover) and the UK and Ireland (Scholastic UK). 

Get ready for the fastest bum book yet!

The authors

Dawn McMillan is the much-loved author of numerous children’s books including the five previous books in the New Bum! series, Doctor Grundy’s Undies and the latest in her nature series, There’s a Moa in the Moonlight. She lives in Waiomu, north of Thames.

Ross Kinnaird is an illustrator and designer whose books have been published around the world, many of them in collaboration with Dawn. He lives close to the water on Auckland’s North Shore.

Publication Date: 2 March 2023 |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004241-6 |  RRP $19.99

Paperback, 230 x 215 mm portrait, 32 pages, colour 

Dedicated web page now live for Oratia's growing list of Teacher Resources

A new page on the Oratia Books website is now live with the growing list of free Teacher Resources. 

On https://www.oratia.co.nz/teacher-resources/ teachers can locate and download free resource sheets that include classroom activities and links to The New Zealand Curriculum. 

Developed by teachers and authors, these aim to give ideas and save time when using our books in class.

The page features resources for five of the six books in The NZ Series, with new notes and lesson ideas for Rush to Riches: Kauri and Gold, and First Encounters: New Zealand 1642–1840 developed by Clementine Fraser, Head of History at Avondale College, Auckland.

Resources are also available for a range of children's books, including the Sharing Our Stories books The River in our Backyard, The Taniwha in our Backyard and The Tunnel in our Backyard (all now back in print). 

Further resources are under development for the new Moana Oceania Series (Pasifika books) and other NZ Series titles. 

We hope that teachers find these resources useful. 

Thanks to Daisuke Hirata of Box Media and Alessandra Zecchini, Oratia's media director, for their fine mahi on the new page.

Bilingual books on Cook Islands–Kūki 'Airani and Sāmoa launch the new Moana Oceania Series

MOANA OCEANIA SERIES

COOK ISLANDS – KŪKI 'AIRANI

Jean Te Kura Mason

SĀMOA

Dahlia Malaeulu

Translated by Tapaau Auvaa

 

Cook Islands – Kūki ‘Airani : Jean Tekura Mason

Sāmoa : Dahlia Malaeulu

First two books in bilingual series by Pasifika authors and 

editors introducing the culture and landscapes of Polynesia 

Oratia Books is proud to announce a new series to bring bilingual reading about the South Pacific to children in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. 

Devised and delivered by Carolyn Lagahetau, Oratia’s Niuean-Kiwi editorial director, the Moana Oceania Series aims to address the lack of good reading materials about the South Pacific not only in English but also in local languages.

The non-fiction books that kick off the series provide an introduction to two Polynesian island nations, aimed at for readers aged 8 and over but accessible by all ages, and produced by Pasifika creatives.

Rarotonga-based author Jean Tekura Mason wrote both the English and Cook Islands Māori text of Cook Islands – Kūki ‘Airani to outline key aspects of life, culture and history in her country. 

 

This colourful paperback sets out the seven pillars of life in the Cook Islands, with concise text on key aspects of the nation including education, language, history, environment, art, sport and culture.

One focus of this and Sāmoa is how Pasifika peoples maintain and adapt their culture living in Aotearoa. 

 

Sāmoa author Dahlia Malaeulu provides a comprehensive overview of life for Samoans in the islands and in New Zealand, with her English text translated into Gagana Samoa by Tapaau Auvaa (the book includes a section on language basics).

An important feature is its explanation of Fa’asāmoa, the fundamental values of Samoan life, including connection to ‘āiga (family), nu’u (village), land and religion. 

 

Illustrated with full colour photographs and illustrations throughout,  and numerous boxes of information to make the text easy to access,  these first entries in the Moana Oceania Series bring the South Pacific closer to all of us.

The books are on sale from 15 February at good booksellers around New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Sāmoa.

 

The authors

Jean Tekura Mason (Ngāti Nurau, Ngāti Teakatauira) has been the curator and manager at the Cook Islands Library & Museum Society since 2005, and was formerly an officer of the Cook Islands Parliament. She is particularly interested in the arts, folklore and Māori etymology of the Cook Islands. Also a noted poet, Jean lives in Rarotonga.

Dahlia Malaeulu is a passionate educator and strong advocate for Pasifika children’s literature. She is an award-winning author and publisher of  Mila’s Books, which creates quality stories that reflect Pasifika children’s lives. Dahlia recently won the Creative NZ Pasifika Arts Emerging Artists award. She lives with her family in Wainuiomata, Wellington.

Publication: 15 February 2023  |  RRP $29.99

ISBN: (Cook Islands) 978-1-99-004221-8  (Sāmoa) 978-1-99-004222-5

 Paperback, 230 x 170 mm portrait, 48 pages, colour

 

The New Bum series annual lunch

Defying road closures and never-ending rain, the team behind the New Bum series got together for our annual lunch at the Pah Homestead in Auckland today. Great company, good food and lots of laughs as we celebrated the latest addition to the series, My Bum’s on THE RUN!, which publishes on 2 March.