Taming the Sun - Four Maori Myths product reviews

I thought I had a handle on Maori culture, after all they're on the news often enough. But after a recent visit to a local Marae, and spending a day as their guest, with a group of about 140 others, my eyes were opened to the realisation that the media only cover the extreme ends of the Maori cultural spectrum. We only see the poor and unemployed, contrasted with the agressive activists. We are not shown the true nature of Maori culture, the history, the stories and lore, the Kawa of the nearby Iwi, and the ethical lifestyle many culturally-active Maori enjoy as part of their heritage.

So, in the spirit of exploring something old, yet new to me, I picked up this book I had on the shelves waiting for a new home, and had a read of it. Yes, it is written to be understood by the younger generation, but the stories give an insight into the myths and legends of the Maori culture to anyone who reads them. If you can suspend your disbelief, and ignore the occasional contradiction caused, no doubt, by centuries of retelling, there is a wonderfully colourful world in there worth exploring.

Being a hardcover, it is a little pricey at first glance, but when you consider the added durability hardcover books often have over paperback, the cost isn't really too far off the reasonable track at all. And the illustrations are alive with vibrant colours and traditional styling.

Overall, I was highly impressed. As a child I heard all four of these legends, and I was gratified to see that even with the removal of some of the grosser bits (such as Maui's bait when he fished up Te Ika a Maui, The North Island) the stories still retain all their rich texture and wonderment. If you are of the multicultural school of thought, you will find this to be a wonderful addition to your child's bedtime story collection.