Whanganui children's book launched

John Maihi, Lesley Stead and Kate Joblin at Lesley's book launch, Saturday, December 7. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

Music, champagne and strawberries were on the menu at the launch of Lesley Stead's babies' book Beautiful Whanganui recently.

With Terry Sarten on guitar providing music and Rochelle Handley and Carla Donson doing the bubbles and strawberries, it was a convivial affair when more than 50 people gathered at Paige's Book Gallery early on Saturday morning.

With so many people the shop proved too small for the brief ceremony so everyone moved outside to the footpath where kaumatua John Maihi blessed the book after councillor Kate Joblin had pronounced it "launched".
"On behalf of the beautiful author who has created a wonderful place in Whanganui, we, collectively, and I speak for all of us, hereby launch this beautiful book," said Kate.

With John Maihi present, Lesley wanted to recognise Maoritanga and, further, wants to have the book translated into te reo in the next printing.

John blessed the book, the crowd responded with a waiata and John followed with a karakia and a few words about the book and its author.

Back in the shop, Lesley had a few words to say.
"Many people know I have been working on this [book] for a long time.
"It is what I call my pilot because I have got more books in the pipeline, but the Whanganui one was my testing ground," she said.
"I tried to put images in there that pertained pretty much to Whanganui and nowhere else.
"This book is about babies and babies love faces, so I wanted it to be iconically Whanganui but also wanted to introduce faces on every page I could. My little six 6-month-old granddaughter Constance has been kissing the ducks [there are quite a few ducks in the book] and she's also been kissing the motorbike!
"I want to thank everyone who has given me immense help along the way. This is just the beginning."