David Hill (1) (1942–)

The overall message of this book is perseverance and teamwork. David Hill was able to allow readers to understand that Sir Edmund Hillary was successful from his perseverance and Sherpa friend, Tenzing Norgay.

In my opinion this biography is a simple yet extraordinary book. The author uses a simple plot to go through the life of Edmund Hillary, while the life of Edmund Hillary is anything from simple for he was one of the first men to make it to the top of Mt. Everest. The story was written in third person and was organized into the order of events. David Hill utilized ellipsis throughout his work to deliver suspense and surprise to the readers. I think that this picture book would interest students in 2nd grade to 4th grade. The illustrations are engaging and colorful.

My favorite part of this book is that there is a map of the camps on Mt. Everest. This visual allows readers to understand the actual height and locations of where the climbers were stopping for breaks. Another one of my favorite parts of the book is the timeline provided at the end of the book. This visual gives readers an overview of Sir Edmund Hillary’s life.… (mere)

In Scotland in 1886, a family boards a ship for New Zealand and a better life. The family settles, becomes friends with a local Maori family and as the generations pass the two families become intertwined. Each chapter introduces us to a new generation and we see their lives played out against the background of New Zealand history until we finish in 2018.
Written by accomplished children's author, David Hill, this book is a superbly well-written introduction to New Zealand history wrapt up in a compelling family saga. Events such as the Napier earthquake, World War I and II, Women's Suffrage, the Tangiwai disaster and the Springbok tour all feature in this book but never take over from the main story of the two families. Each character is distinct and memorable and although each chapter introduces a new character, the stories of the earlier characters are continued. A family tree at the beginning helps the reader keep track of all the relationships while a map of the area adds interest. This book is a great read for children 10 and up and would be an excellent read-aloud from a slightly earlier age.… (mere)

Take it Easy - An adventure story that is very relevant to us as New Zealanders as we just love the outdoors and tramping. It shows how things can change in a blink of an eye when tramping in our forests and rugged country. Rob, a teenager, who grew up with a tramping dad and a love of the forest & bush joins a somewhat mix and match tramping group for a five bush tramp. The tramp is being led by experienced tramper, Harvey, a long time tramping friend of Rob’s dad Ken. Ken does not join the tramp as he doesn’t seem to want to do much of anything lately, Ken is depressed and grieving the recent loss of his wife. Rob, is keen to get away from his ‘down in the dumps’ but is somewhat surprised at the members of the group he is about to go on a five day tramp with. They set off and after the first night things begin to go awry when their leader Harvey is pronounced dead. As a group they face danger and disaster that tests them to their very core. This story will be enjoyed by readers who like adventure, the outdoors, survival, hiking or tramping.… (mere)