National Library of New Zealand - Te Puna Mātauranga O Aotearoa Services to Schools - Supporting literacy and learning

Create Readers

We want to help create motivated and engaged young readers. This blog is about children's and YA literature (especially New Zealand), literacy research, and ways to get, and keep, kids reading.

Te Wheke a Muturangi by Lee Watt

From Hawaiiki to Aotearoa, Kupe chases Te Wheke-a-Muturangi.

Short listed for the Kura Pounamu awards in 2008, this te reo Maori book is in graphic format and retells the traditional story of how Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, the pet octopus of Muturangi, led Kupe and others across the Pacific ocean.

This is not just the basic myth but a detailed account of an important legend about the discovery of Aotearoa. The contemporary illustrations are designed to appeal  to young readers.

The story also shows the links between Māori legends and natural phenomenon and place names links this with famous tupuna.

Reviewed by Alice

Flickr image by fox2mike

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