Matariki ki te Ao by Miriama Kamo and Rangi Matamua

Matariki, or the Pleiades cluster, is known by many different names and is seen and celebrated by cultures across the world. 

This book, now available in te reo Māori, features 21 stories - nine of the stories highlight each of the stars while the others reference the stories about this cluster from different cultures, taking readers from across the Pacific to Australia, the Americas, Europe and to Africa. Readers meet Papatūānuku and Ranginui, before learning about their children, the maramataka (lunar calendar) and important aspects of te ao Māori before beginning a trip around the world. 

Co-authored by Aotearoa's expert on all things Matariki, Rangi Matamua, alongside broadcaster Miriama Kamo,  the original English edition, Matariki Around the World was one of the bestselling children's books in 2022.

This popular book has now been translated as Matariki ki te Ao, through the Kotahi Rau Pukapuka programme.

The charitable trust has a goal to fortify the collection of quality reo Māori books, available for older readers, to suit every type of Māori language enthusiast. 

Translated by reo experts Leon Blake and Pānia Papa, this book is a resource to treasure. Publishing books in the language of the knowledge is so important - it not only helps revitalize the language, but helps preserve knowledge, build a sense of belonging and identity. While there are many fictional stories that have been translated into te reo Māori, there is a real lack of non-fiction. With the numbers of people learning Māori continuing to grow, adding to the number and breadth of books available in the language is a huge bonus. 

Illustrations by Izzy Joy (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa) bring the stories to life. Her art is moving and emotive, with gorgeous double page spreads. She skillfully weaves aspect of te ao Māori into her illustrations, and pays homage to the other cultures within the pages respectfully too.

This is a lovely addition to any bookshelf, embodying the very meaning of Matariki. It remembers the past, celebrates the present and inspires readers to plan for the future.

Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell

Scholastic