Riccarton Bush inspiration for second children's book

JENNY MUNDY has done it again.

Inspired by her two grandchildren, the retired primary school teacher has produced a second book - I Love the Bush - to encourage children to experience the peace and quiet of the New Zealand bush.

Mrs Mundy's first book, Orana Wildlife Park, followed her regular visits to the park with grandchildren Gabriel, 9, and Sophie, 8, when they are home from Korea where their parents teach at an international school.

Inspiration for her latest effort came after she took the pair through Riccarton Bush.

"What is usually a 15 to 20 minute walk took the children an hour and a half as they stopped and pointed to many things which they found exciting and unusual," she said.

Mrs Mundy said the children "looked in awe and wonder" at the 30-metre tall kahikatea trees, which she refers to in her book as the "Grandfather and Grandmother of the bush".

Mrs Mundy, who lives in Papanui, said the children had great fun jumping on the huge mossy buttresses which looked like giant's feet, prompting the line: "His twisted old feet are crusted and worn, with bunions and calluses and big lumpy corns."

When she realised what a great book could be made, she revisited the reserve several times guided by the ranger, and used his knowledge and other research to weave a humorous and rhythmic story.

Mrs Mundy's book is illustrated with her own photographs and others taken by professional bird photographers.

She hopes the book may help instil in children a life-time love of the bush.

"There are so many wonderful areas of native bush where they can escape for a while from the noisy rushing world," she said.

I Love the Bush is published by Caxton Press. Printing was delayed following extensive earthquake damage to the Victoria St premises.