Introducing Peri – the Earlybird
Earlybird, a beautifully illustrated children's book, tells the moving story of Peri Pukeko, a baby bird who hatched early as he gets ready to go home and learns to fly.
It is written by Julie Burgess-Manning, illustrated by Jenny Cooper, and created from Dr. Patricia Champion’s themes and storyline. Earlybird has been created by The Champion Foundation and published by Kotuku Press. Made possible by the Champion Foundation, Earlybird represents another step to independence for the Centre through a social enterprise model, as we share our knowledge with the world and look to generate income from trading.
Earlybird is gifted free to any family with a child or children born prematurely who go through one of New Zealand’s six Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).
Dr. Patricia Champion, founder of the Champion Centre, and assistant editor of Earlybird, says the book was written to give children born early, and their families, a story about their own precious beginning.
“As a children’s story about premature birth, it is unique internationally. Parents of premature babies frequently told me that they did not have a good, or a special story to share with their growing children about their early birth. So we decided to create a beautiful picture book that would help parents support children born as ‘earlybirds’ to make sense of their early experience,” Dr. Champion says.
“It’s also a great resource for older siblings to help understand why their baby brother or sister isn’t quite ready to come home. The book provides a pathway for families to talk to children about their own experiences, and captures the realm of emotions through the baby’s journey as they become ready to go home.”
In creating the book, the Champion Foundation and Julie Burgess-Manning worked closely with a group of parents who shared their experiences of having a premature baby to inform its themes. The team consulted a range of child development experts from New Zealand, Britain and the United States, including neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis, child psychiatrist Dr Denise Guy, Professor Lynne Murray, Child Development Specialist from the UK, and Professor Linda Gilkerson from the US, to ensure it communicated the right messages.
Earlybird has been praised by experts, including neonatal paediatrician Dr. Simon Rowley, who called it “a must-read for all children, especially those who have a premature brother or sister”.
EARLYBIRD BOOK AND LIMITED EDITION PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE TO PREVIEW/PURCHASE.
It is written by Julie Burgess-Manning, illustrated by Jenny Cooper, and created from Dr. Patricia Champion’s themes and storyline. Earlybird has been created by The Champion Foundation and published by Kotuku Press. Made possible by the Champion Foundation, Earlybird represents another step to independence for the Centre through a social enterprise model, as we share our knowledge with the world and look to generate income from trading.
Earlybird is gifted free to any family with a child or children born prematurely who go through one of New Zealand’s six Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).
Dr. Patricia Champion, founder of the Champion Centre, and assistant editor of Earlybird, says the book was written to give children born early, and their families, a story about their own precious beginning.
“As a children’s story about premature birth, it is unique internationally. Parents of premature babies frequently told me that they did not have a good, or a special story to share with their growing children about their early birth. So we decided to create a beautiful picture book that would help parents support children born as ‘earlybirds’ to make sense of their early experience,” Dr. Champion says.
“It’s also a great resource for older siblings to help understand why their baby brother or sister isn’t quite ready to come home. The book provides a pathway for families to talk to children about their own experiences, and captures the realm of emotions through the baby’s journey as they become ready to go home.”
In creating the book, the Champion Foundation and Julie Burgess-Manning worked closely with a group of parents who shared their experiences of having a premature baby to inform its themes. The team consulted a range of child development experts from New Zealand, Britain and the United States, including neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis, child psychiatrist Dr Denise Guy, Professor Lynne Murray, Child Development Specialist from the UK, and Professor Linda Gilkerson from the US, to ensure it communicated the right messages.
Earlybird has been praised by experts, including neonatal paediatrician Dr. Simon Rowley, who called it “a must-read for all children, especially those who have a premature brother or sister”.
EARLYBIRD BOOK AND LIMITED EDITION PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE TO PREVIEW/PURCHASE.
At all times, Earlybird warmly represents the emotions and major steps in the common and complex story associated with premature birth through colorful playful images and text that is embraced by children born prematurely, their families and others touched by preterm birth. At Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Peri the premature pukeko decorates our walls and informs our families. Peri is one of our family and we are so grateful to have his story to help our families.
- Prof Terrie Inder: Mary Ellen Avery Professor of Pediatrics in the Field of Newborn Medicine, Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women's Hospital: Professor of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital: Professor of Pediatrics.
As a doctor and importantly as a father who has health challenges thrown at him, Earlybird is a lovely story about seeing what is special in something that can be hard at the same time. Premature birth often results in emotions like fear, anger, concern, grief and often gratitude and love. Earlybird is a great way to remind children and whānau that often out of all this comes a great a story!
- Dr Lance O’Sullivan, New Zealander of the Year 2014
Earlybird is an engaging and moving story of a familiar experience for many families that can be difficult to put words to. The book cherishes the early days, weeks and months parents and siblings have with their premature baby and provides a pathway to the story of that experience for that child…. A book to treasure.
- Dr Denise Guy, Child Psychiatrist
Peek inside Earlybird - a selection of English and Te Reo Māori pages
Thanks to our generous sponsors, all proceeds from the sale of the Earlybird books and prints
go directly to The Champion Centre:
