E Oma, Rapeti - Kua Kainamu te Kirihimete. Run, Rabbit - Christmas Countdown product reviews

There is nothing better to get children into the mood for Christmas than a book full of colourful Christmas decorations and a little rabbit who, like little humans, just can't wait. Getting ready for the celebration is part of the enjoyment. Miss Five is old enough to remember her last Christmas, and the fun that went into getting ready for the big day. Sometimes it is almost too difficult to contain the excitement! Mr Two is a little young to remember much, but he is following his big sister's example. proving himself open to all the creative possibilities she is finding.

Miss Five and her family did many of the things outlined in the book last Christmas. They made cards, baked cookies, and had quality time with family members like nanny and grandad. This meant that Little Rabbit's story was relevant to their own experiences.

Since the E Oma Rapeti books are bilingual, they are accessible to a wide range of readers who have different reading skills - in either Te Reo Maori, or English, or both. This makes the story a true product of Aotearoa New Zealand that helps family members on their journey to the mastery of both languages. It is part of our national identity that our children grow up to see Te Reo for what it is - a taonga for everyone, tangata whenua and tangata tiriti alike.

In the tradition of the repeated question "Are we there yet?", Rapeti repeats a similar question each night at bedtime. "E whia nga moe ka Kirihimete? How many sleeps till Christmas?" This gives the opportunity to count down from five to zero, a useful learning opportunity for Mr Two! There are also some lovely affectionate phrases for the whole family to learn. Two that their mother especially liked were "Taku taringi, Rapeti (my darling Rabbit)" and "Taku hei mokimoki, Rapeti e (my lovely rabbit)".

Kimberly Andrews' illustrations are a delight. Each animal is easy to identify, even for Mr Two. All the books in the series include some of Rapeti's friends. This story features several, including a hen, a sheep, a pukeko, a kea, and a snail. All these creatures are easy to identify, even for a child as young as Mr Two who occasionally needs a little help. We liked the way that the creatures all cooperate with one another to make the Christmas items and join in with a singalong when it is down time. Little Rapeti does not appear to have any brothers or sisters, so it is nice to see that he has this group of good friends.