HEY THERE CHRISTCHURCH AND OTHER KIDS – IT’S YOUR AUGUST STAR AUTHOR HERE AGAIN.
It’s nearly the end of the second week of term three already. In my class we’ve been doing lots of Maori art in traditional and non-traditional colours. Everyone is choosing their favourite pieces to display. They look awesome!
Last night I went to the Regional Science Fair in Fairlie. There were lots of great investigations and experiments to look at. Well done to all students involved and especially to the winners.
Thanks to the people who have been posting comments, including Mark and Ansja Whetu. Mark is one of New Zealand’s best known mountaineers and adventurers. I have been lucky to teach both of his and Ansja’s super-cool kids. Last summer Mark took my book to Antarctica to read when he was down there guiding a group of American scientists. He told me they all read and loved my book but they couldn’t believe it was written from someone in little old Twizel in little old New Zealand! He also told me that most of them had never heard of Iron Bottom Sound or Guadalcanal, which I think is really sad because thousands of Americans died there.
Do you think it’s important to know the history of your own country? I’d be interested in your thoughts.
I have decided to share some poems with you. Here’s the first one.
POEM ONE: This is a poem from The Ghosts of Iron Bottom Sound. I didn’t really write this poem. I copied most of it from a poem written for me by my Australian e-mail friend Mac Gregory.
The ghosts of Iron Bottom Sound
Are murmuring in the deep,
Underwater cameras have disturbed them
From their long, long sleep.
In case you are wondering: Mac’s poem was about a Kiwi Writer disturbing the ghosts, not underwater cameras – the Kiwi Writer was of course me!
Log on again soon for another poem. The next one will be from my not-yet-published second book The Lucky Ship.
Ka kite ano
From Sandy Nelson
Author of The Ghosts of Iron Bottom Sound
