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  • Published: 29 September 2020
  • ISBN: 9780143774020
  • Imprint: Picture Puffin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 24
  • RRP: $17.99

Little Hector Meets Mini Maui



In Little Hector’s third adventure, the Hector's dolphin goes on a holiday to visit his Maui relatives - the rarest dolphins in the world.

In the sparkling third adventure of Little Hector, our daring hero meets his special Maui cousins and learns about friendship.

Little Hector is off on a holiday to meet his rare and special cousin, Mini Maui.
For the first time in his life, Hector is the BIGGER dolphin. But Mini thinks he’s BOSSY.
Will they ever be friends?


The third story in award-winning author Ruth Paul's Little Hector series introduces readers to the world's smallest and rarest dolphin species - and shows that friendship isn't about size, it's about sharing.

  • Published: 29 September 2020
  • ISBN: 9780143774020
  • Imprint: Picture Puffin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 24
  • RRP: $17.99

About the author

Ruth Paul

Ruth Paul lives in an off-grid, straw-bale house on a farm just outside Wellington, New Zealand. As well as writing and illustrating children's picture books, Ruth has worked as a costume illustrator for Peter Jackson movies. She has two teenaged sons and is actively involved in her local community, having previously chaired her local Community Board and School Board of Trustees. Over the years, Ruth achieved a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English and History from Victoria University, a Diploma in Visual Communication Design from Wellington Polytech (now Massey University), and most of a law degree.
In 2019 she was awarded the Arts Foundation Mallinson Rendel Laureate Award, and in 2023 she was University of Otago College of Education Creative New Zealand Children’s Writer in Residence Fellow.


Ruth started writing and illustrating her own picture books in 2004, and has created over 15 titles. The King's Bubbles won the NZ Post Children's Choice picture book award in 2008, and three of her books have made the Storylines Notable Book list over the years. Stomp was a finalist in the NZ Post Book Awards 2012, and Bad Dog Flash was selected for the US Kid's Indie Next List in 2014. I Am Jellyfish, a literally luminous story with its glow-in-the-dark cover, won Best Picture Book at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in 2018. The judges were full of praise, noting that ‘The text and illustration perfectly complement each other in this humour-filled tale of small but mighty…This is a book for all the unsung small heroes and it will be giggled over and read again and again.’

In 2019, Ruth was made an Arts Foundation Laureate, receiving the Mallinson Rendel Illustration Award.

Ruth’s books have sold in New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, the UK, China and Korea, with translations in five languages. Her original picture book illustrations have contributed to touring exhibitions for Painted Stories (previously Te Tai Tamariki Trust) and two are held in the prestigious Mazza Collection at the University of Findlay, Ohio. She says every new book is a challenge and presents the opportunity to get better at the craft she wholeheartedly loves.

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Praise for Little Hector Meets Mini Maui

A conservation-themed tale and dolphins delighted our young reviewers...[who] liked that it was funny but had good messages. They noted pages where Hector didn’t want to go home, or when his parents had to have words with him about being nice, and that is all resolved in a happy ending. They appreciated the tricks and splashing that the dolphins used and enjoyed the illustrations that stood out, featuring lots of different sea creatures – the squid was a favourite – in bright colours. It was a book they said they would read again (and again) and recommend far and wide.

Dionne Christian, Kete

What I especially appreciate about Ruth Paul’s Little Hector series is her blend of story book and conservation focused themes. Aotearoa has one of the most diverse and unique marine eco-systems on the planet...[Little Hector Meets Mini Maui] is a fantastic resource, with excellent morals, to introduce younger tamariki to the ocean, all that dwell within and how they can preserve it.

Becky Popham, The Sapling

A lovely picture book teaching kids about learning to get along with other kids...On the inside back cover are facts about New Zealand’s endangered Maui dolphin.

Ann Kilduff, NZME