The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi
  • Published: 31 March 2020
  • ISBN: 9780143773146
  • Imprint: Picture Puffin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $21.00

The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi

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Ruru and Kiwi invite you to their midnight forest feast, in this delightful twist on the tale of the Owl and the Pussycat, with enchanting illustrations by the winner of the Storylines Gavin Bishop Award 2019.

The delightful rhyming story of Ruru and Kiwi, who host a midnight forest party for their friends, with award-winning illustrations.
The Ruru and Kiwi went into the bush,
wrapped snug in night’s velvety black.
They took some runny manuka honey
tied up in a flax-woven sack.
Drawing on a cast of nocturnal New Zealand creatures, with award-winning illustrations by Amy Haarhoff, Clare Scott's story imagines Edward Lear's famous nonsense poem taking place in a moonlit forest in Aotearoa.
  • Published: 31 March 2020
  • ISBN: 9780143773146
  • Imprint: Picture Puffin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $21.00
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About the authors

Clare Scott

Perhaps Clare Scott was born with too many words. She was always in trouble at school for talking too much (yes, even when she was the teacher!), and loved writing anything and everything. Books are a huge part of her world so the word bank is constantly being refilled. Clare’s crazy imagination persistently prods her with new ideas. (This is not always a good thing, or good timing!) The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi is her first children’s picture book, although she’s had many stories published with Sunshine Books. She has recently swapped her home by the bush to life by the beach where she spends time watching the birds and waves, and searching for treasures, shells, clouds, sunsets, rainbows - and stories. Sometimes she even writes in the sand…

portrait photo of Clare Scott

Amy Haarhoff

Amy Haarhoff is an illustration student, studying for her Masters from Falmouth University. She was raised on her dad’s macabre storytelling, her mum’s art materials, and an endless supply of library books. While researching for a project in a bookshop in July 2018, she came across a picture book that changed her life: Cicada, by Shaun Tan. She walked out with a copy of the book and a determination to create stories of her own. In 2019, her exceptional sample pictures for The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi saw her win the 2019 Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for Illustration. In 2020 Amy's selection of completed illustrations for the book earned her a longlisting for the AOI World Illustration Awards. She lives in Palmerston North.

portrait photo of Amy Haarhoff

Praise for The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi

beautifully presented Kiwiana . . . Perfect for a bedtime story and to nurture the love of reading and stories with your little ones.

Sue's Reviews, Wairarapa Times-Age

As well as the story what makes this book special are the beautiful illustrations of the nocturnal creatures as they arrive one by one for the midnight feast in the bush...I think that children 3 years and up would really enjoy this book. They will soon want to join in the rhymes.

Lyn Potter, Grownups.co.nz

...it’s a really fun read that will bring a smile to your kids' faces.

Sarah Forster, The Sapling

The fun rhyming text alongside the magical illustrations ... will delight and begs for repeat readings. At the back of the book is a fact sheet about night-time creatures of the bush. For readers 2+.

Swings and Roundabouts

This is what happens when our native nocturnal creatures come out to play...The illustrations by Amy Haarhoff are beautiful and the gentle rhyme a soothing bedtime story. At the back is an illustrated list of the nighttime guests. A great bedtime story.

Ann Kilduff, Northern Advocate

The story is charming and the words are so descriptive, with the paragraphs flowing well and having a beat when read aloud. The illustrations are gorgeous, very lifelike and fitting the story completely. There’s a handy section at the back that identifies all the night creatures at the party and gives some information about them.

Jan Butterworth, A Kiwi's Book Reviews

Clare's choice of words, lyrical language and storytelling skills brought together with the Storylines Gavin Bishop Illustration Award winner Amy Haarhoff has resulted in a gorgeous picture book that 4-6 year old children will love. It'll make a great read aloud in classrooms and bedrooms. Teachers can use it to highlight excellent use of supercharged verbs and rhythmic language. Bound to be a favourite in the classroom and homes.

Kids Books NZ

A charming story, written in rhyme and recalling Edward Lear’s Owl and the Pussycat in subject and cadence, about Ruru and Kiwi, who host a midnight feast for their friends. The language is lovely and poetic – “wrapped snug in night’s velvety black” – and the superb illustrations perfectly reflect the story.

NZ Booklovers

Awards & recognition

NZ Booklovers Award

Finalist  •  2021  •  Best Children's Book Award

Discover more

Article
The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi Downloadable Poster

Check out our downloadable poster where you can meet some of the characters invited to Ruru and Kiwi's midnight feast.

Video
Sneak Peek: The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi by Clare Scott and Illustrated by Amy Haarhoff

The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi is a beautifully illustrated picture book which tells the enchanting story of what some of our nocturnal NZ creatures might get up to as they emerge each night. Take a look at the gorgeous illustrations and enchanting text with our sneak peek video.