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How Wishbone Got His Name
Brief Description
A family set off on holiday in their house bus and on the way they rescue a kitten that is choking in the gutter. They park by a local river and the kitten sets off to explore. He meets a strange creature that he learns is...
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Format: Paperback / softback
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See moreBased on the true story of Frankie the cat, who got lost one night in Tauranga. His family let Frankie out of their house bus for some fresh air. Something very interesting distracted him and he ran off into the night. Enjoy the legend of the Ohinemuri River through the adventures of this curious kitten.
- Appeals to children’s sense of adventure, exploration and fascination with mysterious water creatures, or taniwhas.
- Provides many points for discussion and further learning, including how rivers and people get their names and what those names mean, the significance of taniwha, and the different ways people live and travel.
- Features local history and Māori purakau, encouraging children to explore New Zealand’s stories, traditions and cultural heritage.
- A heartwarming story of kindness towards animals. A reminder that first impressions can be misleading, as Wishbone discovers a taniwha who is a gentle, kind creature.
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Description
A family set off on holiday in their house bus and on the way they rescue a kitten that is choking in the gutter. They park by a local river and the kitten sets off to explore. He meets a strange creature that he learns is a taniwha. The creature befriends the kitten and tells him the story of the river, which is based on the local purakau of the Ohinemuri River, explaining how the river got its name.
In the end, the kitten reflects on the story and on his recent journey and comes to the conclusion that his name should be Wishbone.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780473793708
Publisher: Robyn Tucker
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 15 July 2026
Country: New Zealand
Imprint: Robyn Tucker
Contributors:
- Illustrated by Robyn Marilyn Tucker
Audience: Children
DIMENSIONS
Width: 210.0mm
Height: 260.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 32
About the Author
Robyn Tucker grew up and was educated in Auckland, where she developed a love of art and music from an early age. She attended Auckland Technical Institute in 1971, gaining a Graphic Arts Certificate before working as an artist for Home and Building and Apparel magazines.
After moving to Waihi, Robyn continued painting, songwriting and performing throughout the Bay of Plenty. She later trained as both a primary and early childhood teacher, incorporating storytelling and illustration into her work with children.
Robyn began writing children’s picture books around 2004, culminating in the publication of her first book, Who Saved the Hens, in 2023. Due to popular demand, she wrote the prequel, How Wishbone Got His Name, in 2025.
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