Waata The Weta
Reviews

Faye Winter Jo Carson-Barr Love this book! The illustrations are beautiful. Can't wait to read it to the kiddies.

Kim Love Yes thanks Jo ?? We loved our first Waata the Weta adventure. Great packaging too. Kids were thrilled to find it in the mailbox!

Lisa Allen O’Malley Illustrator. Unwrapped the books. It looks great, you must be really pleased. Rory will really like this one because it is a real boy's story. Love the colour palette especially.

Joshua 9 years old. Amazing book and the best illustrations I have ever seen in my life. It is an amazing comic. My friends would like it.

"Wetas are scary -but not once you get to know them! This not just a book for little kids. A copy sits on our coffee table and we have been surprised at how quickly casual readers of all ages become engrossed. The subtle interweaving of storyline and wonderfully whimsical graphics enchants all as they search for unspoken detail. The Auckland sky tower shows up on one skyline. A friendly fly helps to keep Waata and his possessions, including his precious toy monkey together…..Jo Carson-Barr and son Simon do a superb job following a Brave Bloke who takes on the job of finding a new home as the winter woodpile diminishes." Juliet Leigh JP, BA, Dip of Tchg.

7yr old Jack. Te Atatu Night Market:.
Ten out of ten for the illustrations, ten stars and
a big thumbs up all round for the book….. really great.

Joanne Thompson
Trainer ECE Teacher
Christchurch, New Zealand
I recently received a copy of Waata the Weta Can he Find The Perfect Home. This is an amazing book that all ECE centres and teachers would enjoy reading to the children. It shows how Waata the Weta struggles and perseveres to find the perfect home. It is a great book that shows children that even if you struggle to do something then to keep trying as much as they can and eventually they will achieve their goal. I would highly recommend buying a copy of this book from Jo Carson-Barr or going to www.waata.co.nz

Avril McDonald
Author and Founder
Feel Brave Ltd
I read Waata the Weta to my children and we all loved the beautiful illustrations and cartoon style format.  There are so many pictures to look at and take in!  The book opened up some conversations about why Waata left home in the first place and whether he will stay in the home that he eventually decided too.   We are interested to see what happens in the next instalment…

 Waata the Weta is a fantastic book to read individually with a child or for children to read by themselves.  The strength lies in the discussion that takes place while reading and there is so much to talk about the story and to enjoy the symbols written like a Comic. The illustrations are outstanding and the book appeals to all age groups – children and adults. 
The following quotations from students: 
6 year old girl  -  “I really liked all of Waata’s adventures.  I especially like when the dog was chasing him.  I liked the hens chasing him too because the hen has his sun glasses on.  Maybe it wasn’t a good home because someone would see him.” 
6 year old boy - “I liked when Asher got the wood and Waata held up the Stop Sign.” 
Mother and son – “It was a great book to share and read together.  The illustrations were fantastic, and there was such a lot of details to talk about.  A great book to develop oral language and especially for country children as the adventures were one they could really relate to.”  Mother thought that he should have ended up by going home and thinking that home was the best place.  Son didn’t think it was a good home because something might happen to him. 
6 year old girl – “I liked the dog.  I think it is a good place for a home.  It’s nice and comfy.  I liked the part when he was sucked into the gutter and then fell out.” 
6 year old boy – “The motorbike and the lawn mower bit was the best.” 
11 year old boy – “I really enjoyed reading the book.  I especially liked the illustrations but at the end I thought Waata was exposed.  I think he should have chosen a tree or a log.” 
Raewyn Minty – Reading Recovery Teacher and Pauline Simpson Speech and Drama Teacher.