| PAGE | |
| Bell-Bird | 1 |
| “It is Christmas Eve! and the long soft shadows of a summer night are quickly falling on the garden, fields, and meadows” | To face 3 |
| “Take that,” said Santa Claus; “it will give you light in the darkest places” | To face 6 |
| “We’re sorry we’re so big,” said Hal | 13 |
| Kiwi | 14 |
| Parson-Bird or Tui | 15 |
| Pied Fantail | 15 |
| Brown Owl or More-pork | 16 |
| Crow | 17 |
| Tuataras | 19 |
| Vegetable Caterpillar | 20 |
| Robins | 22 |
| Maori Hen | 23 |
| White Heron | 25 |
| “They are only Maories; and see, they are more frightened of us than you are of them” | To face 26 |
| On the top of the geyser were shot out a troop of laughing gnomes | 29 |
| “Run to the hill!” cried Red Cap | To face 38 |
| Kea | 47 |
| “You must have been dreaming, Hal!” | To face 51 |
About This Book
The narrative follows a family on a southern-hemisphere Christmas Eve, blending accurate descriptions of New Zealand landscapes, native birds, and geothermal wonders with elements of fairy tale. Children and curious companions explore bush and creek, encountering bell-birds, kiwi, tuatara, and geysers while playful supernatural figures and gnomes animate the setting. Episodes interweave local Maori presence, natural-history notes, and illustrated vignettes to convey how seasonal celebration and indigenous flora and fauna shape a different kind of Yuletide, aiming to amuse young readers while presenting truthful portrayals of the region's wonders.