There are many books sharing stories of Matariki. This new hardback is comprehensive and clear in not only explaining what Matariki is to
Aotearoa New Zealand, but also to what it is called and means to countries around the world.
It is shared in a chatty but informative style:
When talking about Sky Father Ranginui and Earth Mother Papatūānuku
They loved each other SO much they hugged all day and all night. Lovely, eh? Well, not so much for their kids.
Talking about early Māori navigation,
It’s kind of mind-blowing what our tipuna did without using modern navigational instruments
This relaxed style of narration is throughout the book, allowing young readers to relax and connect with the information and in turn wow over the connection of Matariki (no matter what it might be called) around the world.
Matariki (Aotearoa New Zealand) is focused on in the beginning of this book, covering how Matariki came to be in Māori legend. (Ew, a God’s crushed eyes were thrown at the sky!) Seven children of the Sky Father and Earth Mother Gods are introduced to the reader, along with a simple explanation of our Lunar and Māori calendars and their importance.
Each of the nine Matariki stars are then introduced showing where they sit in the sky alongside their brothers and sisters. The following pages are double-page illustrated spreads going into more detail about each Matariki star.
Matariki is an important time of year for many cultures around the world, also using it for planting, ceremony, festivals, and celebrations. Over a dozen countries are visited in more colourful double-page spreads, also sharing their own myths of how the stars they know as Matari’i, Makali’i, Karatgurk, Subaru, Mao, Krittika, Isilimela and more found their way into the sky.
With a glossary and an index in the back of the book, this is an excellent resource for classroom or household shelves, to dip into again and again or even use for further topic studies into myths, culture celebrations, astronomy or ancient marine navigation.
The title sums it up. This book is all about Matariki, and is perfect in publication timing with Matariki being a national Aotearoa New Zealand holiday for the first time on Friday 24 June 2022.
But also within is more information about this cluster of important stars, and a cluster/collection of stories about other culture’s belief’s in these stars.
Accessible and interesting to such a wide range of ages.
Authors – Rangi Matamua / Miriama Kamo
Illustrator – Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
Non Fiction
Age – 8+
Teacher’s Notes here
(2022, Scholastic NZ, Action, Adventure, Animals, Family, Historical, Love, Revenge, Science, NZ, Navigation, Sea, Ocean, Countries, Myths, Legends, Origin Stories, Gods, Aotearoa New Zealand, Non-Fiction, Stars, Astronomy, Matariki, National Holidays)