About the author
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Snapper Books was established by Rick Hoskin in 2021, its prime purpose being to promote children's stories.
Rick Hoskin is a retired physiotherapist, brought up in Auckland who became blind at 17. He spent six years in London training and working in physiotherapy. Some 35 years ago he arrived back in New Zealand to work his private practice in Glenfield on Auckland's North Shore.
For the last decade, Rick has been involved with the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind as Chair of the Board. This has been greatly fulfilling for Rick, giving back in one way or another for the excellent support and services that he has received throughout the years.
At school, Rick's strengths were in maths and science, it is only in the last 20 years that Rick's interest in writing has grown. The stories have been developed from bed-time tales which were told to his children. Being blind, Rick couldn't read them many traditional stories found in print, so he developed narratives that encompassed his children's early lives, enmeshed with many of his own childhood memories.
The girls' enthusiasm for the stories led Rick to jot down the storyline, and now, more than two decades later with grandchildren growing up, he has been prompted to put pen to paper and publish with the help of illustrator Sara Ransley.
Being blind, Rick couldn't read his girls many of the traditional stories found in print, so he developed narratives that encompassed his children's early lives, enmeshed with many of his own childhood memories.
The Snapper Collection:
The Ziggy Series
There are three adventures in the Ziggy series written by Rick and illustrated by Sara Ransley.
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Ziggy and Big Ginger
When Ziggy sees Big Ginger watching her bird friends, she knows he's going to creep into the garden and try to catch them. What will she do to stop him?
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Ziggy and that Funny Old Rat
One morning when Ziggy goes in to the garden to play with her animal friends, she can't find Keni. Where will Taika, Manawa, Tia and Ziggy find him? What had he been up to and how do they save him?
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Ziggy and Little Joe
When Ziggy is playing in the stream in the park next door, she gets a fright when a puppy's head pops through the leaves and licks her ear. Ziggy decides to call him Little Joe, takes him home, and then gets quite a surprise from her Mum. Find out what is in store for Little Joe!
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Ziggy rescues Tara
While playing on the beach, Ziggy finds Tara, a critically endangered Black
Billed Gull. Tara is badly injured. Ziggy wants to save Tara, and gently
befriends her. Find out what Ziggy does to help Tara back to good health.
The final book in the present Ziggy series, once again Sara Ransley has
artfully brought Ziggy, the beach and Tara to life.
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The Ziggy series are "read-to" books
written to entertain 2 to 7 - year - old children.
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