Priyanka and her classmates are in their final year before they attend a new school.

A special end of year event is organised for those school leavers, and Priyanka has been chosen to present the leaving certificates. As a student leader, she wants to do the job well, and is a little worried about pronouncing their school’s multi-cultural student’s names correctly.

With a little sage advice from a friend’s kuia, Priyanka puts her heart, mind and pronunciation skills to the task – and is proud of herself on the night.

Such an important book in our wonderful multi-cultural society. At its simplest form – this book recognises the respect and mana of a person’s name by taking the effort to pronounce it correctly. After all – our name is such an important part of us all, no matter where we are from.

As main character Priyanka learns her classmate’s correct names, many are surprised at her wanting to know how to say them properly. We often fall back on nicknames because they are easier, or even stumble over unfamiliar names without taking the time to learn them.

This full colour picture book portrays a student determined to do it correctly to honour not only the important event they will all be part of, but the participants themselves.

Bilingual in English/Maori, What’s in a name is a perfect way to kick off a conversation about this important piece of everyone’s identity – their name.

Author – Renisa Viraj Maki

Illustrator – Isobel Te Aho-White

Picture Book

(2024, Oratia Books, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ, School, Friendship, Names, Pronunciation, Respect, Leaving Ceremony, Student Leader)