Over the protests of his kids, Dad cuts down a tree to get ‘a better view’ — only for a chorus of birds and insects to put it back together overnight. The battle of wills between the blade and nature goes on until Dad finally sees the light and comes to love the tree.
Told in both te reo Māori and English, this story is a modern reimagining of Rātā and the Tree. Author Tim Tipene (Ngāti Kurī, Te Uri-o-Hau, Ngāti Whātua) encourages readers to consider traditions, tikanga and respect for nature. It's a lovely retelling, with the story very clearly set in the present day. It's a lovely touch too that the tamariki are the teachers within the story - helping Dad learn the error of his ways and embodying the concept of tuakana-teina and intergenerational learning.
Tipene uses some lovely alliteration and onomatopoeia within the story. Told in both languages, it's lovely to see kupu Māori woven into the English writing too. Kanapu Rangitauira (Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou, Te Whakatōhea) has translated the story into te reo Māori. His use of simple sentence structure and the repetitive format of parts of the story, make this a great book for those looking to stretch themselves beyond beginner.
Illustrator Ani Huia Ligaliga (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tamanuhiri, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine) has created realistic and bold artwork to accompany the story. Her manu are particularly beautiful, and the illustrations of nature's force are powerful and beautiful.
The Ever-Standing Tree - Te Rākau Tū Tonu is a fantastic retelling of a beloved story. Tipene opens up this important story to a new generation of readers, ensuring an important message isn't lost.
Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell
Oratia Books
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