Maia and What Matters

Thanks so much to Greet, of Book Island, who spoke to the Wrappers about publishing and the differences between children's literature in NZ and Europe. We learned that New Zealand picture books are more jolly and positive on the whole compared to European picture books which are more likely to deal with darker topics such as loss and death.

We discussed the picture book Maia and What Matters. It is a beautifully illustrated picture book from Belgium that deals with the illness of one grandparent and the death of another. At present at Paraparaumu Library we have two copies in the parent collection. Following discussion with the Wrappers we have decided to move one copy to the sophisticated picture books.  The Wrappers felt that the grandfather's death was dealt with in a sensitive and touching way, and that reading the book would be a good way for older children to be introduced to the subject of death. 

Do read it and you will find out what matters too.