An extraordinary landmark gift book of funny stories and amazing illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator David Elliot and celebrated author Fiona Farrell.

Come inside and meet the Drizzles who make the rain. A couple of monsters who like dressing up. A little house that has an adventure. Some pirate rats and gulls who fight over a delicious pie. Some trees who have a party. And a clever little pig who saves her brothers and sisters from a mean wolf!

With its delightful text and imaginative storytelling, Once Upon a Harbour is an exciting and inventive read that breaks all the moulds. Its gorgeous illustrations are works of art: richly detailed, exuberant and playful. Readers will be drawn to explore them, again and again.

Aimed at all ages, this book will amuse adults as much as it intrigues children. A perfect book to share and read aloud.

Fiona and David have created a masterpiece to be celebrated. Once Upon a Harbour is destined to become a classic, to be treasured for years to come.

Perfect for:
Read aloud fun with young children
Exploring the detailed illustrations
Bedtime story reading
Gifting

Details

ISBN13: 9781991142276
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 96
Edition:
Publication Date: 15 Sep 2026
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand
Publication City, Country: New Zealand
Dimensions (cm): 22.5(H)x22.5(L)580
Weight (gm): 580

Author Biography

Fiona Farrell is one of New Zealand's leading writers, publishing award-winning work in multiple genres. Her first novel, The Skinny Louie Book, won the New Zealand Book Award in 1992 and later novels have been shortlisted and also nominated for the Dublin International IMPAC Award. Her short fiction has appeared alongside William Boyd and Alice Munro, her poems have been widely anthologised and her plays continue to be performed around New Zealand, Australia and the UK. She enjoys collaboration and has written libretti for several notable composers. This is her first time collaborating with an illustrator and she has enjoyed every minute! After living for nearly 30 years in a beautiful remote bay on Banks Peninsula, she now lives on a hill overlooking the harbour in Otepoti Dunedin. She loves talking to her granddaughters, sunrises, and walking on the beach.

David Elliot is an internationally recognised illustrator and author. He has been awarded four white Ravens from the international Youth Library in Germany, won the Margaret Mahy Book of the year twice and was the inaugural winner of the Arts Foundation Mallinson Rendall Illustrators Award. David has illustrated books for well-known fantasy writers, Brian Jacques in the UK (Redwall series), T.A. Barron in the USA (Great Tree of Avalon) and John Flanagan in Australia (Brotherband). His picture book Henry's Map (about a fastidious, map-making pig) has been picked up by National Geographic Learning, while Kirkus Magazine voted Bumblebee Grumblebee among the six Best Board Books in the USA. Back in New Zealand, David has illustrated books by some of the country's finest writers for children including, Margaret Mahy, Joy Cowley, Jack Lazenby and Janet Frame. David has always had a particular love for the sea and its creatures and spends much of his time wandering the wild southern beaches close to his home in Port Chalmers. With its cast of unruly characters acting out Fiona's wonderful poems around its shores, Once Upon a Harbour fits perfectly into David's fascination with books as places and places as books.

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