Toku Whanau Rerehua / My Beautiful Family

‘How was school today, Huia’ her mum asked. ‘It was okay … but our news topic is our family.’

Huia feels too shy to talk about her family to her classmates because she has two mums. Will her friends laugh at her and tease her?

Over the next days, she learns that some whānau have a step-parent, some have one parent, and some children are adopted. There are all sorts of families! So when her turn comes to show her family photo, she doesn’t have to be shy.

Written in te reo Māori and translated into English (te reo appears first on the pages), Rauhina Cooper’s story is beautifully illustrated by award-winning illustrator Izzy White.

About the Author

Rauhina Cooper (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu) is a teacher and facilitator in kura supporting teachers in te reo Māori. She is passionate about the survival and use of te reo Māori. Rauhina lives in Ōhaupō. She was inspired to write the book by her own ‘blended’ whānau.

Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kai Tahu, UK, Denmark) is an award-winning book illustrator. She is passionate about whānau, whakapapa and tikanga Māori. Izzy lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington.