Auckland author Lauren Middleton has conjured up a comical adventure story about someone stealing sheep from the sleepy North Island town of Dargaville and the efforts to track down the culprit.
Her debut children’s book, entitled Pippa and the Sheep Snatchers, is illustrated by Robyn Glendinning.
It’s published by Bateman Books and is publicly available from June 3.
The book tells the story of the dastardly Gumboot Gary, who’s struggling to pay his bills, so he and his farm boy Digger Dan hatch a plan to snatch sheep to sell.
When nine-year-old Pippa’s best friend, a sheep called Lulabelle, is taken, she embarks on a wild and wacky adventure to rescue her.
With the help from ex-professional-weightlifter turned police officer Mike Te Hira, the rescue mission includes hilarious shenanigans such as a slapstick tickle fight, a naughty possum called Paul, who doesn’t realise he’s someone’s pet, and even a sheep beauty contest.
Middleton says the name ‘Gumboot Gary’ came to her randomly during a walk one day and she decided the character enjoyed throwing gumboots.
Then she came up with a poem about a villain based on the name.
“I wanted to write something very Kiwi and humorous,” Middleton says.
“I had a lot of fun writing the first chapter, and I thought Gumboot Gary and Dirty Dan (as he was known then) made really fun baddies.’”
She says parents will love reading the book too, especially parts like the list of sheep-stealing suspects and their crimes.
This rollicking, hilarious book will become a firm favourite with kids.
It also has an educational side in that it includes a theme about conservation.
A subplot of the book revolves around Dargaville local Claire Perry, who’s trying to rid the town of its possums.
And it’s explained in the book why possums are so harmful to New Zealand.
Middleton is a writer, actor, animal-lover and avid traveller, who’s explored 30 countries, most recently Japan and Canada.
The book’s illustrator, Robyn Glendinning, was born in Scotland and moved to New Zealand in 2019.
She graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and design, specialising in illustration. This is also her first book.
Pippa and the Sheep Snatchers has a recommended retail price of $22 .99 and is available in bookstores from June 3.
