Tinui: The Last Post

Author(s): Michelle O'Connell

Children's books

Writer and illustrator Michelle O'Connell's new book is a touching account of Anzac Day commemorations at the small town of Tinui.; Said by many to be the first place to have commemorated the day on which the world remembers the men and women who died in the First World War, Tinui holds a special place in the heart of many for the stories around the fate of those from the Wairarapa coastal village;. As with her previous books - 'Leaving for the Front - A Boy's Story' and 'The Crossing - Michael's Story' - Michelle has illustrated and written a picture book connecting us to an important part of our past.; The illustrations and writing transport us to the place and emotions of the Anzac Day ceremony 100 years on, providing insightful and useful lessons for children on the sacrifice of their forebears. A comprehensive 'Notes for the Teacher' section includes useful teaching points for primary aged children.


Product Information

For more information, contact: Michael R. Smith Publisher and Director BMS Books an imprint of Business Media Services Ltd Tel: 07-349 4107 Mob: 027209 6861 ms@bms.co.nz www.bms.co.nz

Michelle O'Connell is a writer and illustrator. 'Tinui - The Last Post' (2017) is her third published book. Her first published book was 'Leaving for The Front - A Boy's Story' (March 2015). This was followed a year later by 'The Crossing - Michael's Story' March 2016. Michelle grew up in Masterton. She lived in Wellington and Melbourne, but returned to her hometown to bring up her family. Michelle wrote poetry and stories when she was a child and continued to write throughout her life. She was introduced to short story writing at college. Her college English teachers gave support and encouragement for her poetry and short story writing. Michelle was lucky to grow up in a house where books were valued and the library was regularly visited. She reads everything from junior fiction to adult biographies, classical novels and contemporary literature. As a mother, she is well immersed in children's books. With her passion for literature, Michelle studied English at college and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Psychology at Victoria University. She initially focused her career on the health and disability sectors. She returned to study Graduate Diploma in primary teaching as a second career. Teaching children to write and trying to inspire them with books has kept her passion for writing alive. Michelle cannot remember there being a time in her life when she did not draw. She was drawn towards detailed illustrations in the books she read and recognised the power of the narrative told just through illustrations. She dreamed of being an illustrator one day but kept that dream aside as she pursued study, travel and her career. Michelle is a self-taught painter and local artist who exhibits her work in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand. As an artist, she paints in oils on large canvasses. Her artist style and illustrative styles differ and are unique to her. As an illustrator, she works in graphite, watercolour paints and watercolour pencils on paper. She has written and illustrated a second children's book. Through drawing and story writing Michelle taught herself to illustrate her work. It was a journey of experimentation to discover her own style. She illustrated and wrote her first book, 'Leaving for the Front', over a year to complete and was written for her son's fifth birthday. 'The Crossing' followed a similar route, being from the point of view of her oldest son, Michael. 'Tinui - the Last Post' is once more from the point of view of a young participant in events - this time the 12-year-old bugler at the Anzac Day commemoration service in the small Wairarapa township of Tinui. Each book has seen a further development in her writing and illustrating. She was particularly touched by the emotion of the Anzac Day commemoration at Tinui, and this has been experessed in the illustration and the story. Michelle writes and draws because she has to. She cannot imagine her life without, books, writing or art. She writes for her children with the aim to pass on that passion and keep it alive in them.

General Fields

  • : 9781542752824
  • : BMS Books
  • : BMS Books
  • : 0.191
  • : March 2017
  • : 236mm X 160mm X 4mm
  • : New Zealand
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Michelle O'Connell
  • : 60
  • : Paperback
  • : Full colour