The day is hot and Tama longs to wade into the cool waters of the lake along with his big sisters.

But Tui, Hinewai and Maia taunt Tama with tales of a Taniwha! They lay flat on their inflatables as they laugh at Tama dipping his toes into the edge of the water.

Grandma dives in too, and calls to Tama to join her, but Tama still isn’t sure.

Finally he ventures in, deeper and deeper, keen to escape the heat of the day. His sisters call again from out on the water until one of them suddenly squeals. Something grabbed her foot! Another shrieks with terror and his last sister joins them. They splash back to the bank as fast as they can.

But Tama decides the water is too good to leave, and he dives deep, ignoring them once more…. to find their taniwha, shimmering underwater. Not scary. Not hungry. Just a whole lot of fun.

A summer story of New Zealand family fun at a lakeside. Tama and the Taniwha has a surprise in store for the reader, just like character Tama.

Older siblings teasing their younger ones is timeless in families worldwide, and splashing on a hot summer day also recognisable in many places. But only NZ has the mighty Taniwha lurking in its depths. Or does it?

Winner of the 2023 Storylines Joy Cowley Award, this is sure to become a Summer Kiwi Classic.

Author – Melanie Koster

Illustrator – Monica Koster

Picture Book

(2023, Scholastic NZ, New Zealand. Aotearoa, Family, Fun, Holiday, Grandparents, Siblings, Teasing, Surprise, Taniwha, Swimming, Award Winner, Joy Cowley Award, Imagination, Secret)