Awatea's Treasure (#1) | Fraser Smith

Awatea is staying in the country with his grandparents and uncles – next door to Mrs Carol’s house, said to be haunted. Awatea’s uncles challenge him to spend a night there, but can he do it? Meantime, they go to stay at the beach, where he meets the Rumbles and their talking parrot, Carrot. Awatea and Carrot go exploring, and Carrot takes Awatea to a hidden treehouse, reveals a secret and treasure and teases Awatea’s uncles. When Awatea returns home, he realises an uncle has set up Mrs Carol’s house to make it seem haunted. So Awatea turns the tables and plays a spooky trick of his own.

Fraser Smith is principal of Oturu School in Kaitaia, New Zealand, a Green-Gold Enviroschool where the curriculum is delivered in a hands-on, practical way, supported by the community. The school has beehives, chickens, fruit trees, vegetable gardens and a registered kitchen. Fraser is a keen fisherman and sailor who knows how to live from the resources of the sea and the bush. He also writes stories and songs and plays and sings in a band.