Award-winning bilingual picture book now in new paperback edition

 

Whakarongo ki ō Tūpuna 
Listen to your Ancestors
BILINGUAL

Darryn Joseph
Illustrated by Munro Te Whata

Back in an attractive paperback edition is the award-winning book that helped launch Darryn Joseph as a leading author and promoter of children’s literature. 

 

Darryn had penned a score of readers for Māori immersion education, before Whakarongo ki ō Tūpuna / Listen to your Ancestors came as his first book for the general market, in 2019. 

 

That hardback book won the NZSA Heritage Book Award, Māori section in 2020, and is now available in a lower-priced paperback. 

Set in a school and a rest home, Darryn’s story follows a teacher giving life lessons to her students based on the example of Māori gods and ancestors.

 

As the story unfolds, the teacher ages and retires, and her granddaughter cares for her until her death. Her granddaughter also a teacher, then begins to pass on to her pupils lessons from the ancestors.

Beautifully illustrated by Munro Te Whata, the book dives deep into te Ao Māori, the connection to tūpuna and to the natural world, the concepts of aroha and manaakitanga.

 

Darryn has gone on to a range of collaborations and translations with noted author-illustrator Donovan Bixley, as well as judging for the New Zealand Book Awards and being a trustee of the Storylines Children’s Literature Trust. 

The authors

Darryn Joseph (Ngāti Maniapoto) is an author and language consultant who was for over 20 years a senior lecturer in Māori language at Massey University, Palmerston North. He is the author or translator of some 30 books, mainly for Māori immersion education. 

Munro Te Whata (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Niue) is an animator, artist and writer who has illustrated several books. He lives with this family in Auckland where he works in and teaches animation and illustration. 

Publication: 5 March 2024  |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-67-4  |  RRP $22.99

Paperback, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pages, colour

Robyn Kahukiwa's Ngā Atua – Māori Gods returns in bilingual paperback

Ngā Atua – Māori Gods

Written and illustrated by Robyn Kahukiwa

Translated by Kiwa Hammond

Bilingual paperback relaunches Robyn Kahukiwa's classic introduction to Māori gods

A new paperback edition brings Robyn Kahukiwa’s beloved Ngā Atua – Māori Gods into te reo Māori thanks to a fine translation by Kiwa Hammond. 

 

Robyn dedicates her book to her mokopuna so they can learn  of  ‘the supernatural beings who are important to the Māori people of Aotearoa New Zealand’. 

 

In the hands of an internationally renowned artist, Robyn Kahukiwa brings to brilliant life the pantheon of Māori deities. 

 

Simple text, in te reo Māori and English, explains the arena of life for which each god is responsible: 

 

Hine Moana is a powerful being, She looks after the sea with Tangaroa.

He mana hoki tō Hine Moana e tiaki ana i te moana i te taha o Tangaroa. 

 

Then there is Mahuika, who has the power of fire; Tāwhiri-mātea who controls the weather, wise Muri-ranga-whenua, warrior god Tūmatauenga and many others.

 

This new paperback version (ISBN 978-1-99-004242-3) replaces the popular hardback edition in English (published by Oratia Books in 2017). 

The author

Robyn Kahukiwa (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti) is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most important artists. Her paintings have been exhibited worldwide and are held in galleries, museums and private collections. Robyn has written and illustrated numerous children’s picture books, garnered awards and herself been the subject of books including The Art of Robyn Kahukiwa (Reed, 2005). 

The translator 

Kiwa Hammond (Ngāti Kahungunu o Te Wairoa, Ngāti Ruapani, Rongowhakaata, Moriori, English, Irish, Scottish) is a noted writer, educationalist and registered translator of te reo Māori who lives in Wairoa. He is co-director of AATEA Solutions and a passionate advocate for language regeneration. 

Publication: 17 May 2023  |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004242-3 | RRP $22.99

Paperback, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pages, colour

 

Telling the huia bird's touching story in te Reo and English for young readers

12 huia birds greet a new day …

Tekau mā rua manu huia hei mihi ke te rā hou …

First published in a hardback edition in 2016, this beautifully illustrated story about the huia and its tragic extinction is out in bookstores tomorrow in a bilingual (English and Māori) paperback. 

Translated by Lois McIver with Kanapu Rangitauira, the rhyming text starts with 12 huia birds living in the forest as they always have — until one day a waka appears on the horizon. 

Māori settlers bring their weapons, rats and dogs, and European settlers who follow centuries later add to the pressure on the poor huia. One by one they start to disappear — what will remain?

Through its gentle rhyme and colourful imagery, 12 Huia Birds / 12 Manu Huia shares an environmental message – and includes links to an app, educational resources and games.

The Listener named the previous edition as one of its best children’s books of 2016, and called it: “A striking reminder of the many ways this beautiful bird was wiped out.” 

Author Julian Stokoe with the new book

The authors

Julian Stokoe is a mixed media and animation director who has worked widely in TV and design. He is director of mobile media developer Yoozoo. Julian lives with his wife and family in Laingholm, Auckland.

Stacy Eyles (Ngāti Porou) is an art director, artist, and award-winning illustrator based in Wellington. He produces work in many different media, ranging from canvas and murals to clothing and television.

Publication: 14 July 2020  |  RRP $22.99  |  ISBN:  978-0-947506-78-0

Paperback, 270 x 210 mm, 32 pages, colour