Kiwi Ukes!

New Zealand's answer to the pineapple uke. Made by Kala. Available at Elderly.

Which reminds us to let you know that the 2008 New Zealand Ukulele Festival will be held on November 22, 2008 at Mount Smart (how appropriate!) Stadium in Auckland. Link

All of which reminds us that we owe a big Thank You to Mike Dickison, information designer, illustrator, ornithologist, and uker for sending us a copy of his wonderful instruction book Kiwi Ukulele. In addition to being a refreshingly non-Hawaiian, non-Tin Pan Alley approach to the uke, it's peppered with Mike's thoughtful and precisely-rendered keyboard and fingering illustrations. Kinda like Cook's Illustrated for the uke. Paired with online strum sound files to help you find your groove, it's the best beginner book I've seen for anyone over the age of 14.

Highly recommended! Put it on your Christmas list now! Email Mike at the address on his site to find out about ordering.