One of the country's top children's book illustrators visited Mount Maunganui Primary School today to talk ‘doodling' and Kaha the Kea.

Illustrator Bruce Potter stopped in Tauranga as part of a nationwide book tour ahead of the latest release of Kaha the Kea.

Dakota Davy, 8, and Charli Sheppard, 8, learning drawing techniques from Bruce Potter.

'I'm trying to get kids to learn to draw without getting nervous about drawing. When you do doodles you can literally do anything,” says Bruce.

'It's good to start when you're young. It's really practice and confidence and being stubborn enough to not ever give up and get what you want.”

Children watched in awe as Bruce penned a dinosaur on the whiteboard for them to copy.

Mount Primary pupil, eight-year-old Charli Sheppard says her favourite things to draw are dinosaurs and tigers.

Charli is familiar with the children's books and says she has learnt a lot from having Bruce visit her school.

Mia Fletcher, 8, and Lourdes Devine, 10, learn how to draw a Doodle Bug.

'It's amazing I love it. I've learnt how to draw dinosaurs and shadows and eyebrows. It's amazing for Bruce Potter to be here because I know most of his book about Kaha the Kea.

'Drawing is my most favourite thing to do in the whole wide world.”

While most students drew dinosaurs and flowers, some asked Bruce to show them how to draw the famous Doodle Bug.

The Doodle Bug is a small green bug that hides in the series illustrations. ‘Where's the Doodle Bug?' is a game children can play while reading the famous children's books.

Sarah Skousgaard, 9, Greer Burgess, 9, and Nick Rea, 10.

Kahu Hunter, 9, and Maddi Culpan, 10.