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Avis Acres (1910-1994) was a New Zealand artist, writer and illustrator who produced a number of popular children's picture books during the 1950s, as well as a comic strip, 'The Tale of Hutu and Kawa', which appeared weekly in the New Zealand Herald. Her lifelong interest in nature and our fragile environment was reflected in her stories, which were well ahead of their time. In the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Jill Holt writes, 'Despite their fantasy, the Hutu and Kawa books conveyed an understanding of ecology and a strong conservationist ethos. In Hutu and Kawa find an Island, Acres described the terrible impact of the possum on native trees and birds. In the same book she incorporated traditional Maori knowledge on making the sail for a canoe. To ensure that the details in her books were accurate, she undertook research in museums and libraries, and in the field.' Avis Acres' artwork continues to be appreciated for its nostalgic charm and the beauty of its natural detail.
