About five years ago, my 4WD buddy Deane looked up from his coffee and scone and said, “You know, you need to write a children’s book.”
It was such a good idea, I did it. ‘Truck’s First Trip’ is the result. It tells the story of a shiny four-wheel-drive fresh from the car yard that longs to become a real truck.
With her new friend Shorty, she sets off on her first off-road adventure, exploring deep into one of the South Island’s glacial river valleys.
It was when Sam Moore signed up as illustrator that the story really came together. I have always loved his People of New Zealand caricatures, and his trademark combination of humour with a bit of grit is just what I was after.
And detail. I told Sam I wanted vehicles people could identify, not cartoon cars. He nailed the brief. By the way, Shorty is my old 70 series Prado. Truck? You tell me.
‘Truck’s First Trip’ is my first children’s book. I have spent 30 years documenting the backcountry tracks of Aotearoa New Zealand and have always felt a bit sad for the four-wheel-drives I see that clearly never get to go off the tarseal.
I also remember the mix of cajoling and comforting needed as I introduced my children and their friends to dusty tracks, river crossings and campsite longdrops.
If ‘Truck’s First Trip’ makes things a little easier for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to introduce the children in their life to exploring off-road then happy trails!
I hope more of those shiny trucks get to go on a trip as well.
Mark Wilson
Illustrations: Sam Moore
