Tirama, Tirama, Matariki

‘Twinkle, twinkle, Matariki’ is a journey of three feathered friends blasting off in a spaceship, Kiwi, Pukeko and Hoiho through the stars of Matariki. Bright and colourful illustrations really ‘pop’ off the page drawn with a naive style that captured the imaginations of the students I shared this book with. Each page I turned was met with gasps!

As the birds travel through the night sky, different stars and aspects of the celebration of the Maori New year are explored. All nine stars and what they represent are included,’ Tupu-a-nuku, underground Kai, Tupu-a-rangi, kai bush and sky’. There is a handy reference list at the end of the book that details all the stars and birds too.

There is a fabulous CD included which had us all up and moving to the funky beat listening to both the English and Te Reo versions of the book, our students especially loved the Te Reo version.

I think this is a resource that makes learning about Matariki fun for young and old! I highly recommend adding this to your collection.

Title: Tirama, Tirama, Matariki / Twinkle, Twinkle Matariki

Author & illustrator: Rebecca Larsen

Translator: Justin Kereama, Tania Solomona

Publisher: Plus One, Imagination Press Limited

ISBN: 978-0-99511-422-7

RRP: $20

Format: Soft cover

Date of publication: 2019

Ages: 3+

Reviewer: Louana McCormack, Librarian, Opaheke School, Auckland

How highly are you recommending this book? Highly Recommended

What’s the book’s opening sentence? Pukeko, Kiwi and Hoiho wanted to fly very high.