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Māui: Sun Catcher
The modern Maui is an intermediate-school boy who lives with his Mum and three older brothers in a city where the day is never long enough to get things done. Maui grasps the mantle: Mum, I'm gonna catch that Sun for you. That Sun who's always on the run. With their woven flax net, the brothers drive to the pit where the Sun lives, and make their play to slow the day. This bilingual book, in English and Maori, brings Maui into the 21st century in a fun and colourful retelling - the first in the international Indigenous Voices series.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
December 10, 2016
Bright, contemporary illustrations give a modern-day look to the well-known myth of Māui capturing the sun. Māui wears a trendy super-hero outfit, and his four brothers are dressed in work gear. Their stylish mother might just have arrived home from the office.
The rhyming verse flows like a rap beat and carries the story forward at a fast pace. When the brothers drive to the pit where the sun is resting, they ask Māui what he plans to do.
Māui held up the flax ropes.
‘Then we will take these vines that wind and bind us.
And together we will catch the Sun in our net.
Our ropes are magic, but we must hold strong.
Te Rā will fight to rise and set.’
The bilingual text will appeal to families and teachers who value engaging stories in te reo. Māui’s negotiations with the sun are a fine example of what good communication can achieve, while whanau working together for a common goal leads to a satisfying outcome. The humorous twist at the end shows that Māui has other tasks to complete.
This is an attractive hardback publication by the award-winning author, illustrator, and translator team.
Reviewed by Jean Bennett (Bookrapt)
The rhyming verse flows like a rap beat and carries the story forward at a fast pace. When the brothers drive to the pit where the sun is resting, they ask Māui what he plans to do.
Māui held up the flax ropes.
‘Then we will take these vines that wind and bind us.
And together we will catch the Sun in our net.
Our ropes are magic, but we must hold strong.
Te Rā will fight to rise and set.’
The bilingual text will appeal to families and teachers who value engaging stories in te reo. Māui’s negotiations with the sun are a fine example of what good communication can achieve, while whanau working together for a common goal leads to a satisfying outcome. The humorous twist at the end shows that Māui has other tasks to complete.
This is an attractive hardback publication by the award-winning author, illustrator, and translator team.
Reviewed by Jean Bennett (Bookrapt)
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review