Matariki
Gavin Bishop (Puffin)
Board book
Age: Aimed at 0-2 but suitable for all ages to share
Author and illustrator Gavin Bishop has created a stunning Matariki board book as an introduction to the Māori New Year. A bilingual book, each page shares the meaning behind the eight stars of Matariki. The beautiful blue and yellow illustrations will help children understand each star while older children and adults can read the te reo Māori and English translations. While aimed at our youngest learners, the clear and simple explanations mean this would be helpful for all who are new to the celebration. – Sara Shirazi
Pearl in a Whirl
Catherine Roberson, Fifi Colston (Puffin)
Picture book
Age: 2-9
The illustrations in this book are beautiful and detailed. It is a book that depicts an event in Aotearoa New Zealand (Cyclone Gabrielle) through the eyes of cat. I would recommend reading this book aloud to tamariki and think it could invoke wonderful conversation around the topic. Older tamariki could also read it on their own. There is a nice short write up at the beginning of the book talking about what happened during Cyclone Gabrielle. Also there are more factual photos at the end of the story to help answer any questions your tamariki might have. I really enjoyed reading this book. – Kristen Stevenson
Tōku Whānau Rerehua My Beautiful Family
Rauhina Cooper, Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Oratia Books)
Picture book
Age: 4-8
“Kātahi ia ka tū pakari, ā, ka tīmata ki te kōrero. Then, with all her courage, she began to speak.”
This pukapuka is a beautifully illustrated story about finding your voice and upholding the mana of whānau – in all shapes and forms.
The story focusses on the journey of one kōtiro gaining the courage to stand and speak in front of her class. It provides a great example of how tamariki can support those sharing in front of the class, as well as embracing all the differences in whānau make up between peers (and finding the similarities).
As a whānau on our te reo journey, it is always great to find good kids books with both te reo Māori and te reo Pākehā, so that we can read both. This book would be perfect for preschool to primary age children.
Six year old Lowri says: “Huia is very shy. She’s really nervous about sharing in front of the class about her family because she thinks her family is too different. When the other kids share their photos, and talk about their families, they are all proud of who is in their photos. All of them are different, but their friends are so excited to ask them questions about their families.
The teacher is really kind in the story. She says all the families are beautiful. In the end Huia is so brave. She gets up and talks about her cool family – and she even has a cat!” – Rhiannon and Lowri Morris
A series of books nurturing resilience of children who have experienced a traumatic life event
Riwia and the Stargazer
Te Wai, Tama and the Moon
I Don’t Like Wednesdays
Nothing is Impossible
Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Huia)
Picture book
Age: 5-12
This series of books are stunning reads around love and loss, with a view to support the well-being of young people. Each of the four stories has at the heart the value base of kaupapa Māori, showing the creative and unique ways in which adults can support children’s feelings and growth when coping with difficult life events. They exemplify how to build resilience, showing coping mechanisms to navigate the pathway of life with a sense of well-being and a connection to whanāu.
The watercolour illustrations are beautiful, focussing on the attention to detail of each person, place, event, or things in each story. The pictures encourage fabulous conversation between child and their trusted support person and represent a realistic view of the events with a sense of security and aroha.
There are great activity notes in the back of each book, giving opportunities to continue the open and honest discussions with creative ways to deepen shared kaupapa Māori values together. – Paula Reynolds
The Sparrow
Tessa Duder (Penguin)
YA fiction
Age: 14-16
The Sparrow by Tessa Duder, author of the celebrated Alex books, is an historical novel set during the arrival of early Pākehā settlers in Aotearoa. The main character, Harriet, an escaped convict, is a lively character with an interesting backstory. Harriet arrives in Auckland intending to reunite with her family in England. However, she quickly finds that as a woman of low class barely any work is available to her, so starts working under the guise of a boy, Harry.
Through the stark difference in how Harry and Harriet are treated, The Sparrow scrutinises colonial-era England’s repressive expectations of how men and women should, or shouldn’t act. The secondary storyline, which traces Harriet’s early life to her escape from prison camp, is a captivating subplot that greatly complements the novel’s primary storyline.
The Sparrows characters were my favourite part of the novel. Antagonists Violet and Albert, both aware of Harriet’s disguise and past, are threatening and unpredictable, which creates great tension.
While the novel stresses the often-forgotten fact that without help from Māori, Pākehā settlers would never have survived, the novel is very much a Pākehā reimagining of this period. The Sparrow would be a good choice for students taking English aged 14-16 and would work nicely in conjunction with the new emphasis on teaching New Zealand history. – Daniel Long
Catch a Falling Star
Eileen Merriman (Penguin)
YA fiction
Age: 15+
Jamie Orange is full of life. He loves performing and writing musicals and being the centre of attention among friends. His most creative ideas and adventures happen late at night when his mother is asleep, and often lead to unintended consequences.
As Jamie learns more about ‘the black dog’ his Uncle suffered from and the culmination of his experiences catch up with him, his anxiety blooms and he swings from high to low. Jamie’s story allows the reader to step into the world of a young person suffering with a severe mental illness and understand how bipolar effective disorder contributes to his behaviour. It’s an emotionally heavy read with a hopeful outlook. It would be a great book to generate discussion with young adults about safe relationships and mental health. – Erica Finnie
