Children’s music educator releases picture book

Long-standing children’s music educator releases first picture book for under sevens

Nelson-based children’s music educator Roger Lusby has released his first picture book for children aged seven and under.

Mr Slitheram Litheram Lop is a story about a little caterpillar who even when faced with the special challenge of having to use a wooden leg, still manages to turn into a beautiful golden butterfly.

The book features wonderful illustrations by established Upper Moutere- based book illustrator Polly Rabbits.

“The story came to me in a rather unusual fashion about 25 years ago,” says Roger. “I was on holiday in Tekapo with my wife and two young children when apparently during the night, after being involved with a children’s music day, I got up out of bed and was gone for some time. When I woke the next morning my wife asked what I’d been doing. To my surprise when I went out to the kitchen there on the table was the story, handwritten on some paper. Although I did recall dreaming about it, I had no memory of having written it.

“It’s taken a while for me to respond to friends encouragement to publish it, but as my children and grandchildren enjoyed it, I hope others will too.”

Roger Lusby is an award-winning songwriter for children, a poet, performer, environmentalist, folk singer, early childhood creative music tutor, vintage car enthusiast and sound recording engineer.

He writes and records children’s songs from his home in Appleby near Nelson and has trained primary school teachers to teach music to children at the New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education in Christchurch for 20 years. Roger also teaches children to play the ukulele and plays his own music at festivals and folk clubs around New Zealand.

Roger’s children and step-children have also caught the singer-songwriter bug (if you’ll excuse the pun) and one of them, Amiria Grenell, has written and recorded songs for children in addition to her award-winning songs for grown ups. Amiria features as the vocalist on most of Rogers CDs .for children.

Roger has written an accompanying song for the new book and recorded it with Amiria and two of his grandchildren. The song can be downloaded for free by everyone who has purchased the book. More details are at www.singoutkiwi.co.nz

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