Cattle Dogs AKA Billy Goats - a new picture book

NZ Writer and Illustrator

Chris Gurney, illustrated by Myles Lawford

The Three Cattle Dogs Gruff

Kiwi Corkers – Great New Zealand Yarns series

Scholastic  2015   $12.00pb  24pp

ISBN 978 1 7754 3340 8

Themes:         Cattle Dogs/ Marakihau/ Mythical Maori sea monsters/ NZ farm life/ Retelling of The Three Billy Goats Gruff/ Size/ Stories in rhyme/ Taniwha

After a hard morning’ s work the three cattle dogs (Scruff, Wuff and Tuff) are ready for lunch but first they must cross the wooden bridge under which is lurking the fierce and belligerent Maori monster, Marakihau who is hungry, very hungry. Following the traditions of the Three Billy Goats Gruff upon which the story is based, the dogs outwit him with clever words and the taniwha returns to the sea. This is fun to share with a group and the rhythm makes it easy to read aloud.

Preschool up/ Age 3 up

Images of Marakihau - acknowledgements to dragonaotearoa