Ollie is a good football player, but his team mates often won’t pass him the ball when he is in the best position. They claim to not be able to understand Ollie on the pitch, and after training their coach asks Ollie to make his calls clearer.

Embarrassed, Ollie sits quietly wishing others would try harder at understanding him. He has a cleft palate, which does make his words a little different from others, but not so much he can’t be understood.

His awkward feelings fade as their coach introduces a new player. Ariā has coloured hair and bright clothing, and doesn’t seem bothered that her new team doesn’t readily accept her.

Ollie and Ariā spend some time together. She acknowledges his skill on the field and assures him that he was in the best position, and that his team mates need to listen better. She can understand him perfectly well. After seeing Ariā’s home and her skill with birds, he can see she really is a good listener.

The next day, Coach has a problem. With Ariā’s skills and Ollie’s new courage, they not only solve a mystery, but prove to everyone that they can understand Ollie. They just need to listen.

The illustration style captured my eye on the cover, and to my joy continued throughout the book. This is a special story about a boy with a cleft palate. His skills on a football field are ignored, as his team mates use his speech as a reason to exclude him.

A new player on the team soon helps restore Ollie’s confidence and receive proper acceptance. Together they solve a mystery, bonding the team, and bringing more understanding of others who might be a little different.

Ultimately a story about acceptance, understanding and empathy, The Hunt For The Whistle portrays a character with a cleft palate. After all, this is the most common craniofacial condition in the world.

At the rear of the book are many voices of children with a cleft palate – letting others know more about it. 

From – Cleft Palate New Zealand

Illustrator – Scott Pearson

Picture Book

Age – 5+

(2024, Huia Publishers, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ Illustrator, Cleft New Zealand, Cleft Palate, Football, Soccer, Acceptance, Understanding, Friendship, Team, Mystery)