From the inside front flap: "It wasn't all gloom and soup kitchens in the Depression, as Peggy Dunstan testifies in this charming, light-hearted chronicle. Her gently humorous reminiscences of a childhood in Christchurch and Wellington in the 1920s and 1930s will enchant the young-at-heart of all ages. Peggy Dunstan has a deft touch, a feeling for the detail that captures the essence of a time, a place, an episode. The pork butchers' picnic at Motukarara more than fifty years ago is vividly evoked, as is Myrtle Spink's disastrous encounter with the golden syrup. George Jeffs and the dire deeds of his Black Hand Gang, and a whole host of other lively characters and events. This is a book filled with summertime and laughter. Enhanced by Jean Oates's sensitive pencil drawings it will delight a wide range of readers."
This is not strictly a children's book, but I have included it here as it would make a great family read-aloud. Peggy Dunstan also wrote poetry books for children which I will also include on this page.
Peggy's father was a policeman and his family had to move to where he was stationed. The first few chapters recall her very early childhood in Christchurch, and then the rest of the book tells of her growing up in Wellington until they moved to Wanganui in her early teens.
It's a wonderful book full of humour, family life, friendship antics, and history. I grew up in Wellington so many of the places in the book are familiar to me. It was a lot of fun to read.
I recommend it as a read-aloud so a parent can edit it as they read to their children. There is mention of adults drinking alcohol, and smoking, the father using blasphemy in one chapter (he is upset with the dishonesty at the Wellington Trade Fair), and Peggy getting kissed near the end of the book.
In the chapter, "Parents Day", Peggy opens up about her poetry. She remarks that she isn't good at ballet or drawing, but she does enjoy writing poetry. Her poetry catches the eye of her teacher, Miss Byers and she invites Mr. Tombes from Whitcombe and Tombs Publishing to read her poems. There begins an important friendship for Peggy and a step into the world of poetry and writing.
Peggy wrote a second memoir published in 1983 called, "The Other Side of Summer".
When I was at the National Library earlier this year, I checked out a few of her poetry books for children. I tried to source them online and in secondhand bookstores but didn't have any luck. I enjoyed having a browse through...
Behind the Stars: Poems for Children
This wonderful full-colour, picture book has been illustrated by Giulietta Stomann. The poems are written for children aged under eight and many have a New Zealand and Australian theme. The poems are light, and humorous and use good everyday language. Here are some examples:
I also had a look at another poetry book by the same author called, "Sunflowers and Sandcastles" and it was very much the same as the one above.