Gay Hay

Gay Hay (born 1948)[1] is a New Zealand children's book author, based in Pukerua Bay,[2] best known for her books Fantail's Quilt (2011) and Watch Out, Snail! (2013), both illustrated by Margaret Tolland. [3]

Gay Hay
Born1948
NationalityNew Zealand
OccupationAuthor
Years active2008–present
Known forwriting
Notable work
Watch Out, Snail! (2013)
Fantail's Quilt (2011) both illustrated by Margaret Tolland

Career

Hay worked as a primary school teacher and librarian[1][4] before writing picture books for children and teachers published with Page Break. [5]

Recognition

In 2012, Fantail's Quilt was a finalist in the LIANZA Children's Book Awards: Russell Clark Award.[6][7]
In 2014, Watch Out, Snail! was a finalist in New Zealand Post Book Awards, Children & Young Adults: Picture Books.[6][8][9]

Reception

Reviewers said of Fantail's Quilt, "A simple story with a strong message about predation [it] will have preschoolers anxious about the fate of the fantail babies right to the last page. Pukerua Bay writer Gay Hay and Porirua artist Margaret Tolland capture the spirit of the elusive birds and their shady bush setting."[2] "[An] effective angle on environmental concerns ... written in poetic prose ... [i]t encourages us to reflect on the environmental implications and the dangers introduced species pose to our birdlife."[10]

About Watch Out, Snail!, reviewers wrote, "Short, sharp text heightens the sense of tension and drama ... It is great to see an information book for young readers about a little-known animal with such an engaging storyline and attractive illustrations."[11] "Snail wends through the forest, eluding one predator after another, as recounted in spare but effective text: “Hedgehog shuffles”; “Rat sneaks up”; “Possum fossicks.” ... The active, alliterative [sic] text reads aloud well".[12] "The language in the book is very descriptive with phrases such as “shimmering trail”, “gnarly roots” and “marauding teeth”."[13]

One reviewer described Go, Green Gecko! as similar to We're Going on a Bear Hunt: "The art supports minimal, loosely rhythmic text that uses many different verbal phrases to describe both the lizard’s movements in its environment and its methods of gathering food and drink for its mostly insectivorous diet. Every page includes, in bold print, “Watching out for danger,” followed by how that is done—as in “looking here and there” or “looking up and down” ... offering opportunities for participation."[14] Another reviewer said, "This book is captivating and the simple telling of one tiny creature’s natural world is enlightening. There is a lot to see and consider on every page as the lively text and enticing illustrations enmesh readers with the world of the green gecko."[15] However, the scientific facts included at the end omitted information about tail regeneration.[14]

Works
  • 2011 – Fantail's Quilt [2][6][10]
  • 2013 – Watch Out, Snail! [6][8][11][16][12][13]
  • 2015 – Go, Green Gecko! [14][15][17]
  • 2016 – Will There Be Puffins?
  • 2008 – Discovery Time: Developing Key Competencies Through Activity-Based, Child-Directed Learning[4]

References
  1. "Profiles: Gay Hay". Storylines. Storylines Childrens Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  2. Packer, Ann (3 December 2011). "The 50 best children's books of 2011". The New Zealand Listener.
  3. "Gay Hay". storylines.org.nz. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  4. Lewis, John (20 June 2009). "Teaching programme authors visit". Otago Daily Times. Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  5. "Page Break". pagebreak.co.nz. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  6. Dando, Kris (15 April 2014). "Royal link for children's authors". Dominion Post. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  7. "Children's book awards". Storylines: The Inside Story: 67. 1 January 2012. ISSN 1175-0170.
  8. Cecily (3 September 2014). "Award-winning 2014 New Zealand picture books". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  9. "NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults". Storylines: The Inside Story: 47. 1 January 2015. ISSN 1175-0170.
  10. Perinpanayagam, Anushka (11 October 2018). "Does your Bird of the Year have a book?". The Sapling. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  11. Babbage, Lynne (18 July 2017). "Reviews: Early Childhood Books: Watch Out, Snail!". Reading Time. The Children’s Book Council of Australia.
  12. "Watch Out, Snail!". Kirkus Reviews. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  13. Prosper-Young, Isabella (15 August 2017). "Review: Watch Out, Snail!". The Gold Coast Bulletin. p. 20.
  14. "Go, Green Gecko!". Kirkus Reviews. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  15. Mors, Jennifer (14 July 2017). "Reviews: Early Childhood Books: Go, Green Gecko!". Reading Time. The Children’s Book Council of Australia. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  16. Packer, Ann (25 November 2013). "The 50 best children's books of 2013". The New Zealand Listener. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  17. Sofge, Robin (1 February 2018). "Books. Go, Green Gecko!". School Library Journal. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
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