Wonky Donkey man to get Christchurch pre-schoolers singing

Best-selling writer/musician Craig Smith is set to deliver a series of action-packed concerts to Christchurch pre-schools.

Craig is the author of the best-selling children's books 'The Wonky Donkey' and 'Willbee the Bumblebee'. Later this month, Craig will present 15 sing-along concerts as part of a joint initiative between Christchurch Methodist Mission and Play It Strange Trust to raise the spirits of the city's young people.

Craig will perform at early childhood and community centres around the city. He says he has written a special song for the concerts, and both children and their parents will get a kick from them.

“I heard about what the Methodist Mission was doing to bring fun to lives of children after the earthquakes and I wanted to be part of it.

“When they asked me to do the concerts, I had an idea for a new song. It is called 'Size Doesn't Matter', and it has the positive message that it doesn’t matter whether you are big or small, short or tall.”

The theme of the song fits with Craig Smith's concerts. Along with fun-filled performances of his songs and stories, they feature the world's smallest harmonica.

Andrea Wilson Tukaki is the manager of the Methodist Mission's Aratapu early childhood education centre. Andrea says she is delighted that Craig Smith will be lighting up the lives of Christchurch children.

“Craig is the Justin Bieber or One Direction for pre-schoolers. There would be few children or parents in Christchurch who haven’t heard of Wonky Donkey and Willbee the Bumblebee.

“The concerts are part of the Mission's efforts to get fun back into children’s lives and give them a sense that things will get better after the doom and gloom of the earthquakes.

The Wonky Donkey tour will be launched at Aratupu Early Childhood Centre at 10am on Monday 21st of May and continue for the following weeks around a number of communities in Christchurch.

“Music is a great way to build resilience. You can't help but be happy when people are singing. The concerts won't cost anything to the children or their families, and because they will be held at their own schools, the children can enjoy them in an environment where they feel secure,” Andrea says.

Methodist Mission is funding Craig Smith's concerts as part of a series of activities it is sponsoring based on the idea that children who have a positive outlook about the future are more likely to cope with adversity and change.

In March Mayor Bob Parker and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett launched the Ukulele Orchestra Programme in schools, which the Mission is running in partnership with the Play it Strange Trust.

In April, Sumner School Year Four student student Jamie Evans won the 'Proud and Strong' lyric competition, which was also held in partnership with Play it Strange. As winner of the competition Jamie performed her song with music star Annah Mac.

Other events in the series are an end-of-year ukulele festival in conjuncgtion with Music Education Canterbury and the NZ Ukulele Trust; and a mobile recording studio where young people can experience the process of recording and producing their own songs.

ends

© Scoop Media