The Pipi Swing

The Pipi Swing

by Sarona Aiono-Iosefa

Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing

ISBN: 9781869484408/1869484401

Set in New Zealand, this story tells of a 12-year-old girl and her special relationship with her grandparents. As a way of coming to terms with her father’s death several years back, her Gran and Gramps tell her they are going to take her out dancing, to learn the “pipi swing”. Although reluctant at first, the girl discovers that the “pipi swing” is her grandparents’ term for digging for pipi to eat. She also discovers that this is a way they remember her father, having done the same thing many times with him as a child. This book was nominated because it is a sophisticated picture book which could be used with older children. The illustrations are appealing and it is thought children would enjoy seeing “brown faces” like theirs in a book. It was also nominated because it discusses topics that many Pacific Island children will relate to.

A New Zealand Curriculum-linked  activity for this picture book  can be found here.