Dreams of a Moa by Carly Waddleton

One night as I snuggled down into my bed,
A question kept swirling around in my head.

“Hey Dad, I just want to know,
WHERE DID ALL THE MOA GO?”

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sail the Pacific, ballet dance in Paris or stroll on the moon?

In Dreams of a Moa young readers will meet a moa with big dreams in this quirky tale full of laughter, energy and a few surprises. The story is firmly anchored in New Zealand, with the illustrations celebrating Aotearoa’s flora and fauna.

Debut Christchurch author Carly Waddleton says the idea for the book was triggered by her son’s curiosity about the moa, combined with her desire to encourage him to follow his passions.

“I wanted the book to be about everyone to give your dreams a try even if you have challenges – like the moa, a bird without wings. In the illustrations you will see that the main character actually has a prosthetic leg. I hope this subtle inclusion illustrates that anyone and everyone can go after what they dream of.”

This is something Carly feels passionate about. Heart issues used to hold her back, but she says her mum was in showing her she was just as capable as anyone else of giving her dreams a try.

“Publishing this book really epitomises that for me.”

And while the story is a fantastical and joyful romp around the world, Carly worked with a professor from the Canterbury Museum and University of Canterbury to produce a fact page at the back of the book sharing the just-as-extraordinary real-life details of the moa.

Written By: Carly Waddleton

Illustrated By: Megan Salole

Grandpa's supporting New Zealand Made