Tide’s Out, Tai Timu. Frances Plumpton.
Written by Frances Plumpton, illustrated by Stephanie Thatcher, translated by Darryn Joseph
Publication date: 16 November 2022
PUBLISHED BY MARY EGAN PUBLISHING. RRP $20.00
Can you find 1 sprig of seaweed, 2 crab hidey-holes and 3 damp driftwood pieces?
Māu e kimi kia kotahi te whatinga karengo mātaitai,
Kia rua ngā rua-huna pāpakaā, kia toru ngā tītītai mākūkū?
Released in November 2022, Tide’s Out Tai Timu is the writing debut from a name very familiar to the children’s book community. While Frances Plumpton is well known as a literary agent, librarian and long-time champion of the industry, Tide’s Out Tai Timu, is the first time she’s been on the other side of the publishing equation.
Tide’s Out Tai Timu is based on a photographic book made for Frances’ grandchildren and enjoyed by visiting children over the years. The book is set at Huia on the Manukau Harbour, a location Frances and her family have spent summers at for more than 50 years.
“Huia is frequented by families enjoying the Huia Domain and adjacent safe tidal beach which contrasts to the challenging boating conditions of the outer Manukau Harbour and bar, and I had wondered about sharing the book to benefit the local Huia Museum,” Frances says.
“I took the text along to a writers’ retreat pre-pandemic and in a critique group, there was a suggestion that it would work very well with illustrations, rather than photographs.”
Illustrator Stephanie Thatcher lives in Huia, looking out over Foster Bay, and has used watercolours to illustrate the familiar scenes. There are many treasures to encourage children’s curiosity and a guide at the back to spark further discovery.
Formatted as a counting book, Tide’s Out is also an exploration of the beach at low tide, with text in English and te reo Māori. It straddles the line between picture book and non-fiction, perfectly capturing the joy of meandering along the foreshore with young children.
“I am only too aware that my te reo is very limited, and as this book is an exploration of the natural world around us, it seemed appropriate to incorporate it. I contacted Dr Darryn Joseph, a noted expert on writing and translating picture books, for advice. He was very enthusiastic about working on Tide’s Out Tai Timu as he has always enjoyed beach combing with his children.”
Tide’s Out will help children reinforce their counting skills whilst introducing them to the fascinating seashore life on New Zealand beaches.
“Tide’s Out Tai Timu is not just an adventure of discovery down a beach, but a clear, water-coloured counting book in both English and te reo, with even more beach life portrayed in the back that can be used in a search activity on the next beach trip. ”
About the author
Frances Plumpton has spent endless summers wandering Huia beach on the Manukau Harbour with her children and grandchildren. Frances has had a long career as a children’s librarian, and is well known as an ardent advocate for New Zealand children’s literature. She is a founder member of Storylines Trust Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa and now manages Frances Plumpton Literary Agency. Frances, husband Gary and family, have spent summers at Huia on the Manukau Harbour for more than fifty years.
About the illustrator
Stephanie Thatcher lives in Huia looking out over Foster Bay and has used watercolours to illustrate the familiar scenes. Her three sons spend much of their time exploring the beach and surrounding bush. She is the author and illustrator of more than ten picture books, many celebrating New Zealand wildlife.
About the translator
Dr Darryn Joseph is a senior lecturer in Māori Language at Massey University, Palmerston North. He has always enjoyed beachcombing with his family. Darryn is a Trustee of Storylines Trust Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa.
Frances Plumpton.