Tuesday 10 November 2015

A Tale of an Allis Chalmers Model B tractor


NZ Writer and Illustrator

Sophie Siers, illustrated by Helen Kerridge

Allis the Little Tractor

Millwood-Heritage Productions  2015  $20.00 32pp

ISBN 978 0 4733 2959 4

Themes: Rural Life – NZ/ Old Age/ Perseverance/ Tractors

When she was young and her battery was fully charged, her tyres were full of air and she was given plenty of water and diesel to nourish her, there was nothing Allis couldn’t do around the farm and her owner was proud of her and kept her shiny clean. Now she has been replaced by a bigger, a stronger and a much younger tractor. But thank goodness for Toby who loves her and takes her on imaginary adventures. Then one day Toby brings his Uncle Jack to see her and suddenly Allis has a job again.

Lots of threads and ideas to follow in this truly rural story. I shared it with about six 4 years olds last week and they paid it the ultimate compliment. Read it again, they all said please read it again.   (At least I think they said please) . 



Allis is a real tractor, an Allis Chalmers model B and she still lives under a macrocarpa tree on the writer’s farm.

Preschool up/ Age 3 up



In all the excitement of the Kapiti Festival I forgot to record that the week before I had been to The Gecko Party. How could Gecko Press be 10 years old?  It was a wonderful evening with the official launch of two recent Gecko publications (launched by their writers (and for one – illustrator)- Barbara Else The Knot Impossible and Paul Beavis Hello World! (Scroll down a little way for reviews  - or use the search box).  Michael Moynihan (Booksellers NZ) asked us all to raise our glasses and drink the health of the publishing house success of the decade  - GECKO PRESS.

 Please note I have been taking many photos of these events but with a new camera I haven’t yet QUITE figured out how to transfer them on to the computer. Soon I hope.

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