Po marie, my moko product reviews

Po marie, my moko has a lovely gentle air about it, evident from the moment we first looked at the cover. It features an illustration of the kuia Nanni looking out over the night sky, her moko safely on her knee. The picture radiates safety and tranquillity, exactly what a small child needs when he is about to go to sleep. The surrounding night is calm and welcoming, inviting the child to close his eyes and drift off.

The trend to relaxation continues as the story unfolds. The book has a magical feel about it with an exciting journey through the imagination. There are constant reminders about how special the little boy is as all of nature comes together to watch over him. He is connected to the world through the stars which are his tupuna, the awa as it flows to the sea, Tane Mahuta and Tangaroa who are the kaitiaki of the forest and the sea respectively, and Marama the moon who spreads her light to everyone.

The illustrations are evocative of the night, comprising shades of blues and greens which merge from sky to trees to river to sea, and finally to the quiet street leading back to the little boy's kainga. Nanni is there all the time, watching over him and reassuring him that all is well so it is safe to fall asleep.

Miss Seven and Mr Four did not lose focus at all. The book length was perfect for their age group, and the rhyming pattern made the story easy to follow. Miss Seven could read most of the story without assistance although she did need help with a few works like Marama. But she was delighted to discover that she already knew Tane Mahuta! The Maori words are all included at the bottom of the relevant pages, but the children knew most of them already.

At the end of the story, Nanni refers to her mokopuna as a taonga - a delightful way to refer to a small boy who is surrounded by love and beautiful stories. He falls asleep peacefully, secure that he is valued and safe at home. His room reflects his relationship with nature; his bedside table is decorated with shells, a leaf, and a feather; there is a poster of sea creatures on his wall, and the whirling patterns from the sky are projected on to his wall and through his window. And his bedtime companion is a creature of the forest, a small toy owl securely tucked under his arm.