Kids Māori Language Books

What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...

Join the delightful world of Spot with Kei Hea a Spot?, the te reo Māori edition of Eric Hill's beloved lift-the-flap book, Where's Spot?. This timeless classic introduces Spot, an innocent and playful puppy, whose adventures have captivated young readers for decades. In Spot's first adventure, it's time for dinner, but Spot is nowhere to be found. Readers are invited...

Colours for Kiwi Babies by Matthew Williamson and Fraser Williamson is a captivating introduction to the world of colours, tailored specifically for the youngest of learners. Through a delightful journey across the vibrant landscape of New Zealand, this book encourages babies to discover and name different colours, enhancing their visual and linguistic development. Bursting with the rich hues of Aotearoa,...

A beautifully illustrated bilingual picture book of phrases to help children say how they feel in Māori and English! A gorgeously illustrated book to help readers describe how they feel in Māori and English. A delightful, easy introduction to saying how you feel using te reo. Young and old alike will be able to describe whether they are feeling hōhā...

Join the mischievous and adventurous dog, Hairy Maclary, as he sets out from Donaldson's Dairy and embarks on a whimsical walk through town. With his friends in tow, the curious and lively Hairy Maclary encounters a series of delightful and surprising events. Each turn of the page brings a new discovery and another reason to smile. Hairy Maclary no te...

Tawhirimatea, blow winds blow, Ra, warm us up with your sunshine glow. Papatuanuku, we plant seeds in you. Ua, rain, helps new life come through... Read and sing along to this catchy Matariki song celebrating Earth, sky, seasons and whanau. Singer/songwriter June Pitman-Hayes wrote this waiata for the children at the Montessori School where she was teaching music. With its...

Let's discover some of Aotearoa's plants and insects and learn their names in English and Maori! This beautiful, brightly illustrated board book introduces babies to the array of plants and insects that are found in New Zealand's great outdoors. From the honeybee to the harakeke flax bush, from a flowering plant to a caterpillar, this is the perfect book to...

Embark on a delightful journey of early learning with Counting for Kiwi Babies by Matthew Williamson and Fraser Williamson. This engaging board book introduces the youngest readers to numbers, taking them from one to ten in both English and Maori. Little ones will enjoy counting along with the vivid and charming illustrations of unique New Zealand birds, making the learning...

This bilingual Maori and English edition marks ten years since the first publication of I Need a New Bum! All of the colourful main text is in Maori, following our hero as he searches for a tou hou/new bum, after discovering that his current one has a crack. 'Subtitles' in English run at the bottom of the page, helping readers...

Kua whakamiharo ngā kiriata Disney i ngā tamariki, reanga mai, reanga atu. Nā runga i tēnei rarangi pukapuka motuhake o ngā kiriata Disney, ka āhei ngā apataki ki te kohikohi i tētahi kohinga whakahirahira hei taonga mā rātou a haere ake nei. Kua riro mā Moana ngā tapuwae o tōna pāpā e whai, ā, ka noho ia hei rangatira i...

Enter the realm of Te Kokorangi... In this award-winning illustrated series, Maori myths and monsters come to life! Will the Astromancer's tribe survive its final battle? Join Te Kokorangi and her apprentices on a time travel adventure to Hawaiki and meet Ruapakanga and his tohora warriors! 'Katahi na te rapunga.' - Magpies 'Chock full of danger, heroes, old wisdom and...

This fascinating look at Matariki in New Zealand and around the world is now retold in te reo Māori. The Matariki constellation (or Pleiades) is known by many different names and is seen and celebrated by many cultures around the world. This beautifully illustrated book features 18 stories: 9 of which highlight the Māori Matariki stars, while the others reference...

I Roto Te Ngahere is a retelling of Olive Wadsworth's traditional counting rhyme 'Over in the Meadow', featuring New Zealand flora and fauna.

Everyone loved Old Hu-Hu. But nobody loved him quite as much as little Hu-Hu-Tu. Huhu Koroheke is a thoughtful tale of young Hu-Hu-Tu's search for understanding of what has happened to his beloved Old Hu-Hu, who flew all the way to the moon (or so they said), then fell down dead. Sensitively written, this is a beautiful story of death...

On her first venture out of the nest, Little Hoiho admires the other birds around her and tries desperately to imitate them—with unfortunate results. But when she accidentally trips and falls into the water, she discovers that she is no longer awkward and clumsy—she is graceful and agile! Hoiho Paku by Stephanie Thatcher is a delightful tale of self-discovery and...

Inviting children to explore and discover in both English and Māori, Kuwi & Friends: Rapua! I Spy blends education and amusement. This book brims with 'I Spy with My Little Eye' challenges, promising endless hours of interactive enjoyment. Through captivating Kiwiana seek-and-find tasks, this collection not only captivates young minds but also nurtures language skills. A portion of each purchase...

A heartwarming story originated in te reo Maori by an award-winning Maori-Pasifika author about aroha, whanau, passing down traditional knowledge and welcoming in the new year. He kairaranga puhara a Nanny Rina, ka taea te raranga i nga momo kupenga katoa! Ka patai ana tana mokopuna, a Haeata te Kapua, mo nga kupenga ka rarangahia hei powhiri i te tau...

Weaving a beautiful narrative of heritage, culture and the enduring strength of family bonds, The Lost Words is a daughter's account of her mother's journey through the rich tapestry of te reo Māori. My Mum is collecting words. You see, a long time ago, lots of the words were left out or replaced. Slowly they were forgotten. A powerful and...

A playful and comprehensive look-up reference to everyday words, for anyone interested in te reo Maori. This comprehensive picture dictionary contains illustrations for over 1400 of the most common words used in daily life. Wonderfully illustrated by two up-and-coming Maori artists, The Maori Picture Dictionary / Te Papakupu Whakaahua has a sense of fun that makes it easy to use....

From the author and illustrator of the popular children's picture book The Gruffalo, Kei Hea Taku Mama? (originally titled Monkey Puzzle) is now translated into te reo Māori. Featuring the same stunning illustrations as the original book, the te reo Māori translation retains the unique humour of the original story as butterfly eagerly tries to help little monkey find his...

With the same lively, creative illustrations as the original book, the te reo Maori version retains the simplicity and imagination of Maurice Sendak's story, capturing Max's feisty character, the magic of the adventure and 'wild rumpus', and the pleasure of things returning to normal.

In Te Kuia me te Pūngawerewere/The Kuia and the Spider by Patricia Grace, a delightful tale unfolds, depicting the gentle rivalry between a kuia (elder woman) and a particularly talented spider. The kuia diligently spends her time weaving intricate mats and baskets, a craft imbued with tradition and skill, while the spider crafts her delicate web in the corner of...

From the renowned creators of My First Words in Maori comes an essential addition to any child's language-learning journey: a beautifully illustrated set of flashcards designed to enhance and support tamariki in their te reo Māori development. Produced under the expert guidance of Māori language champion, Stacey Morrison, these flashcards are more than just educational tools; they are keys to...

Inspired by the hikoi in response to the Treaty Principles Bill, this story draws on the words of resilience and resistance that have inspired generations of Māori in the determination for our land, language, and right to live as Māori and shape our own destiny. In the story, a koro and his moko join the hikoi to parliament and remember...

Te Pō Kanikani follows two mokoroa who adventure into te pō to see the moon DJ. They are entranced by the hypnotic sound of Hina and dance all night until they become beautiful moths. This story, written in te reo tuku iho, is about friendship, transformation and rhythm.

Ahakoa te kaha ka whakapau, kaore ano a Kara te Kakapo kia mau i te mahi rere. Ma te ngakau rorotu, te manawa roa me te hinengaro tuwhera, ka ea ranei i a Kara tana wawata? No matter how hard she tries, Kara the kakapo just can't seem to master the art of flying. But with optimism, determination and a...

The first sighting of Captain James Cook and his crew is told through the eyes of a young Maori boy

There is much fun to be had with this uniquely Kiwi version of a popular children's song. Lots of potential for actions that young children will adore performing as they sing along. Also includes lyrics in te reo Maori.

That Grandpa is just a tease! Meg and Grandpa go camping, and Grandpa's teasing and practical jokes always end with him saying, "I can't imagine how that happened." Until finally the tables are turned and Meg gets her own back!

Te Tuna Watakirihi Me Nga Tamariki O Te Tiriti O Toa/Watercress Tuna and the Children of Champion Street by Patricia Grace, with illustrations by Robyn Kahukiwa, is a timeless and enchanting picture book that has been cherished since its original publication in 1984. This bilingual Maori-English edition, translated into te reo Maori by Hirini Melbourne, brings the beloved tale to...

There's a Moa in the Moonlight. He's in our garden plot. He's munching all our melons. He likes the seeds a lot. Moa and friends are invading the garden - Huia is hanging out in the hibiscus, Wren is darting around and Adzebill is hunting lizards! What will Mum say when she sees all these animals in her garden? An...

There's a Crab in My Castle features a cool crab in the castle! He'd like to be the king. He sits there on his throne, watching everything. The newest addition to Dawn McMillan's Nature Stories series takes readers to the rocky shore, where crab meets sandhopper, snapper, kina, manta ray, and more. Enticing rhymes and Nikki Slade Robinson's evocative illustrations...

Hinemoa Te Toa (Maori) tells the story of a very brave girl named Hinemoa. Even dentists don't scare her! When her brother claims there is a ghost in his room, it is Hinemoa who musters the courage to tell the ghost to 'bring it on'. However, her courageous spirit meets its match when she becomes impatient and jumps into the...

Kuwi & Friends - Ngā Whetū o Matariki - The Stars of Matariki A beautifully illustrated board book of first words for little ones. Each spread includes the name of one of the nine stars of Matariki, its placement in the night sky, and a colourful and detailed illustration highlighting the meaning behind each of the stars. A wonderful book...

Wonderfully detailed miniature model characters and objects provide interest in this picture word book. Everyday Words in Māori is designed for Māori-speaking children and those studying Māori as a second language to provide a quick and enjoyable way to enrich their vocabulary. There are a number of hidden objects to find in every big scene. There is a pronunciation guide...

With the same beautiful illustrations and die-cut pages as the original book, the te reo Māori translation retains the humour and quirky character of the little caterpillar and the simplicity of the story. Throughout Te Anuhe Tino Hiakai, readers will delight in the vibrant visuals and engaging narrative that have made this tale a classic. The charming translation preserves the...

Titiro / Look by renowned illustrator Gavin Bishop invites young readers and their companions into an imaginative and colourful world where the familiar and the unexpected coexist in perfect harmony. On each page, members of an extended family gaze towards the reader, holding cherished toys, sparking curiosity and engagement from the outset. This delightful bilingual book offers a captivating exploration...