Kupe and the Great Octopus of Muturangi

'Kupe and the Great Octopus of Muturangi' is a traditional tale of how Kupe set out to destroy the octopus that was destroying his people’s fishing grounds. He and his followers chased it from the islands of Hawaiki in the north to the cold waters of the south, and discovered the land they decided to call ‘He Ao Tea Roa’. It also explains how the channel separating the North Island from the South came to be called ‘Te Moana O Raukawakawa’.

This book has been beautifully produced. It is in A3 format with bold, clear, double-page illustrations and great use of colour. There is minimal text, but the language used is simple and effective, made even more so by the use of very large uppercase fonts throughout. It is printed with heavy-duty paper which will not tear easily and will add to the lifetime of the book.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough and have no criticism to make. It is a tale I have not heard before, and learning the name and origins of ‘Te Moana o Raukawakawa’ (Cook Strait) was a revelation to me! This would be a great read-aloud book.