Granny McFlitter: A Country Yarn
  • Published: 5 March 2019
  • ISBN: 9780143773238
  • Imprint: Picture Puffin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $21.00

Granny McFlitter: A Country Yarn

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Granny McFlitter, the champion . . . bull fighter?

Granny McFlitter, our favourite champion knitter, is back! And this time, it's to save the A&P Show. Can Granny outwit - or should we say outknit - a rampaging bull?

“Ole!” Granny cried, as the cape flapped around.
The bull steamed and snorted and pawed at the ground.

Granny McFlitter’s knitting needles have been in a blur, whipping up an entry for the local A&P Show’s ‘Best Vegetable Knitter’ competition.

But all of a sudden, the A&P Show turns to chaos when a bull breaks out of his pen. Before you could say “Mighty mad macho moo”, he's trampling pavlovas and sponge cakes.

Everyone dives for cover – but not Granny McFlitter. She has a plan to capture the bull with – you guessed it – her knitting needles!


An award-winning, fabulously funny, rhyming read-aloud story from the acclaimed author-and-illustrator team of Heather Haylock and Lael Chisholm.
  • Published: 5 March 2019
  • ISBN: 9780143773238
  • Imprint: Picture Puffin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $21.00
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About the authors

Heather Haylock

As a child, Heather Haylock could often be found reading a book while sitting on her horse, or perched way up high in a tree. Nowadays Heather loves the challenge of knitting words into stories of her own.

She is the author of Granny McFlitter the Champion Knitter (2018), which won a Storylines Notable Book Award 2019 and was shortlisted for the Best Picture Book category of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Its sequels, Granny McFlitter: A Country Yarn (2019) and Granny McFlitter: The Knit Before Christmas (2022) were awarded Storylines Notable Picture Book Awards. Granny McFlitter's Eggcellent Easter (2023) is the crafty character's latest adventure.

Thanks to all her research for the Granny McFlitter stories, Heather is also now able to knit yarn into jumpers and other clever shapes. If you want to find her, try looking up. She may be reading, writing or knitting way up high in a tree.

portrait photo of Heather Haylock

Lael Chisholm

Lael Chisholm lives in Palmerston North, New Zealand, and has loved drawing ever since she was old enough to hold a pencil. After winning the Storylines Gavin Bishop Award in 2017 at the age of 19, Lael has been illustrating picture books in her free time, and has since worked on several award-winning books, most notably the Granny McFlitter series with author Heather Haylock.

portrait photo of Lael Chisholm

Praise for Granny McFlitter: A Country Yarn

Granny McFlitter is more than just a sweet old lady who knits, she's the unlikely hero that saves the day in this rousing read! With its rich language and exciting exclamations A Country Yarn definitely has enough chaos, humour and action to keep little ones intrigued with anticipation. Like the first of Granny’s adventures, A Country Yarn has a fabulous jaunty rhythm and rhyme which turns the story into a performance. A wonderful book to read aloud, young children will really respond to the cadence and alliteration created by Heather Haylock. Lael Chisholm's illustrations saturate each page of this country tale. Much like the story they are bold and vibrant and children will be drawn in by the colours, curves and curls. The detail on Granny's knitted creations is gorgeous and some of the cakes look good enough to eat! Outrageous, action packed and beautifully illustrated, Granny McFlitter: A Country Yarn is a wonderful book that I loved reading aloud to my preschool class. The story excited them ('oh no! the bull!' one of the children exclaimed as his anticipation bubbled out), and the rhythmic language captivated them.

Alana Bird, The Sapling

[A] gorgeous little tale of a plucky grandma and her heroic knitting adventures...Bound to be a hit with 3-6 year old children. Grandparents will have fun reading to their mokopuna and will perhaps introduce a new generation of knitters.

Maria Gill, Kids Books NZ

A rhyming read-aloud book for beginning readers set in a uniquely Kiwi situation.

Ann Kilduff, Rotorua Daily Post

Another story about our favourite Granny. This book has a great rhythm for reading aloud. The children enjoyed listening for the rhyming words and joining in with the repeated phrase - But did Granny stop knitting?Oh no, she did not! She kept right on knitting… LIKE IT OR NOT! They were amazed at what Granny McFlitter was able to knit and enjoyed exploring the pictures.

Leanne Nathan, Associate Principal Clendon Park School, School Library Review, New Zealand Book Council

See how Granny saves the day in a fun and clever way! Perfect as a read-aloud to your young family members – we’re onto another winner with Granny McFlitter!

Kapiti News

Lael Chisholm's merry illustrations are full of movement and mayhem, while Heather Haylock's rollicking rhyming text is well-crafted and great fun to read aloud.

Emma Wood, Otago Daily Times

Awards & recognition

Storylines Notable Picture Book Award

Awarded  •  2020  •  A Storylines Notable Picture Book

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