Maria Artho’s debut picture book, “Jin’s Great Escape”, tells the heartwarming true story of a feisty little otter who escaped from Auckland Zoo. Jin’s daring adventure made headlines worldwide and captured the hearts of a nation. (Goat Island Publishing, 2016)
Her latest picture book, “Lost in the Wild – A Dogs’ Tale”, is inspired by real events and follows two lost little dogs as they encounter the “baddies” — introduced species of the New Zealand bush. These invaders have sparked a biodiversity crisis, threatening many native animals with extinction. With illustrations by the talented artist Sharon C Fergusson underway, this story promises to be a valuable resource for schools and libraries alike.
Maria is also recognised for creating and formerly owning the popular memory card games NZ IN A BOX®, which feature the titles “Te reo Māori”, “Animals of NZ”, and “Explore NZ”. It has been a long time between books because of this labour of love venture.
Nestled in the scenic Matakana hills, Maria finds inspiration in both her beautiful surroundings and her life experiences. She shares this nature-oriented life with her Swiss-born husband, a metal sculptor, and together they have nine adventurous grandchildren who keep their world lively.
Jin’s Great Escape
The true story of a feisty little otter who escaped from Auckland Zoo.
For several weeks, New Zealand was gripped by otter fever as Jin was spotted in the suburbs, on beaches, and on islands in the Hauraki Gulf.
The mischievous little otter made world news and captured the hearts of a nation. Jin’s Great Escape is her tale.
ISBN 9780473360283
Picture book • 32 pages
230mm x 260mm
RRP $20