Welcome!

There’s something special about the feel of a picture book in your hands. The cover beckons you to read it, and little fingers want to explore it. With a child on your lap and maybe one or more cuddled up beside you, touching, turning, talking, you’re all wonderfully caught up in the story together. You can’t be busy with something else when you’re reading. Those treasured, loving moments of undivided attention with children, the closeness and togetherness, can’t be beat! 

Happy Storytime!  

Rachel x

So Loved Series

Rachel Weston is the creative visionary behind the So Loved serires. An award-winning author in New Zealand and Australasia. Her best-selling titles include non-fiction books, Kiwi Bees Have Tiny Knees: Native Bees of Aotearoa New Zealand, Bumblebees Have Smelly Feet, and picture books, Bumblebee., Messy-o-saurus & Boo Goes Tutti Frutti.   

With three, now grown, children, Rachel delights in writing stories for other people’s children and grandchildren. At the heart of her writing is the joy of Storytime. At the heart of her So Loved series is the desire for every child to know that they are loved - so loved. She hopes this series helps parents, grandparents and family easily share love and belonging with their Little Treasures.

Illustrator

Jane Smith works from her home studio in Mapua with her husband Neil, a photographer and their two dogs; Archie and Jet. It’s easy to see that Jane’s favourite things to draw are animals, they burst off the page with such character and personality. After an agency career in London as a graphic designer, illustrator and project manager, Jane and her family moved to New Zealand and now she works exclusively illustrating children’s books and painting animal portraits. Jane is the illustrator for the New Zealand award-winning ‘Tails of Tangleby Gardens’ children’s cookbook collection.