Weaving earth and sky: Myths & legends of Aotearoa
by Robert Sullivan, Gavin Bishop (Illustrator)
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WEAVING EARTH AND SKY: MYTHS & LEGENDS OF AOTEAROA retells the classic Maori myths and legends, which range from creation to Maui to Kupe's arrival in Aotearoa. Robert Sullivan has rewritten them in a very modern, direct, accessible and powerful way. Gavin Bishop's strong graphic technique and stunning colours help the reader visualise the world of gods, demi-gods and mythic adventure. Together, they have turned stories that many readers know well into dramatic pieces that we see and hear show more afresh. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Personal Response- I enjoyed the new experience of reading an online book but it was difficult for me to concentrate sometimes. I do know that maybe reading it on a smaller device would work better. However, upon exploring the children's library database I was surprised with the amount on the website and how many authentic cultural examples there are. I do wish that some books could have been translated to English. I spent time in New Zealand so I enjoyed reading about their mythology and origin believes. I was kind of hard to follow at times but it could be used for reading a loud. The Maoris were violent people so it would be more appropriate for middle school age students. The second story is really inappropriate since it's show more references incest.
Curricular Connections-- This book could be used in comparison to other cultural origin myths and believes. The talk about where New Zealand is geographical located could also be discussed. Also, the artwork and the different mediums could be examined. Why was blue such a prevalent color? show less
Curricular Connections-- This book could be used in comparison to other cultural origin myths and believes. The talk about where New Zealand is geographical located could also be discussed. Also, the artwork and the different mediums could be examined. Why was blue such a prevalent color? show less
I enjoyed this book more so for it's illustrations than it's stories. The stories were a little bit hard to dissect and not as suitable for the younger audience as I had hoped. Classroom use: Definitely to be used as a read aloud, and lots of discussion in between about what is happening in the story.
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Author Information

11+ Works 104 Members
Robert Sullivan is currently the head of the Creative Writing programme at Manukau Institute of Technology. He is the co-editor of Homeland: New Writing from America, the Pacific, and Asia; Whetu Moana: Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English; Mauri Ola: Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English; and Puna Wai Korero: An Anthology of Maori Poetry show more in English. He has also written several volumes of poetry. He won a 2015 Nga Kupu Ora Maori Book Award in the Creative Writing category for this book of poetry. He Puna Wai Korero. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Gavin Bishop, writer and illustrator of more than 20 children's books, was born in Invercargill, New Zealand. He studied paint at the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts in Christchurch. Bishop has been a professor and lectured extensively throughout New Zealand. He lectured in China at the invitation of UNESCO. In addition to his books, show more which often reflect his Maori heritage, Bishop has written two ballets and two TV series based on his first book, Bidibidi. He is the winner of the Russell Clark Medal for Illustration (1982), the Grand Prix in the Japanese Noma Concours for Children's Book Illustration (1984), the New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year (1982, 1984), the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, and the 2018 NZ Book Awards for Children and YA, Elsie Locke Award for Nonfiction for his title - Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story (2018). He will be featured at the annual Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children's Writers and Illustrators 2015. His title Quaky Cat Helps Out made The New Zealand Best Seller List 2015. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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