Story books and children’s literature like Hairy Maclary are fabulous ways for children to engage with various language skills and literacy conventions, including things such as rhyming patterns and alliteration. Additionally, learning through storybooks stimulates a child's imagination and creativity. Storybooks offer the perfect opportunity for exciting and engaging learning experiences. More brilliant Hairy Maclary resources Life and career [ edit ] Sculpture of Hairy Maclary and other characters from the books in Tauranga, New Zealand on the waterfront.

Hercules Morse is an Old English Mastiff and, 'As big as a horse' just about says it all. Hercules is mostly a sleepy gentle giant. He is loyal to his friends and kind and gentle. Recognising and being able to describe different characters are key to children’s mental development. These Hairy Maclary Character Description Worksheets are a great resource for inspiring young minds to read for understanding and write creatively. New Year honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2001 . Retrieved 3 August 2019. Interviews with NZ Children's Authors: Lynley Dodd". Christchurch City Libraries . Retrieved 30 April 2014. Although the books are designed to entertain young children, they are not intended as "early readers", as are, for example, the " Cat in the Hat" books by Doctor Seuss which have a very basic & largely phonic vocabulary. The Hairy Maclary books, despite their simple stories, introduce the listening child to some long but very expressive words which are not part of the average pre-schooler vocabulary, but must be understood by the child in the context in which they occur. For example, the noise a stranded cat & excited dogs who discover it is described as a "cacophony".Dame Lynley Stuart Dodd DNZM (born 5 July 1941 [1]) is a New Zealand children's book author and illustrator. She is best known for her Hairy Maclary and Friends series, and its follow-ups, [2] [3] all of which feature animals with rhyming names and have sold over five million copies worldwide. [4] In 1999, Dodd received the Margaret Mahy Award.

Sculpture of Hairy Maclary and other characters from the books in Tauranga, New Zealand on the waterfrontGibbs, Carly (30 September 2017). "Big read: Lynley Dodd's success with storytelling"– via www.nzherald.co.nz. Hairy Maclarey is a beloved story among children, and utilising it in the classroom is a great way to get pupils engaged in their learning. Here at Twinkl, we have a brilliant range of Hairy Maclary-themed resources that you can use to introduce some familiar characters and stories into your lessons: Hairy Maclary named as the bestselling book of the decade in New Zealand". Stuff. 15 November 2019 . Retrieved 16 September 2019.