Ētahi Rotarota o Aotearoa / Kiwi Rhymes for Modern Times is a bilingual children's book featuring original nursery rhymes in English and te reo Māori. This thoughtfully curated collection reimagines traditional verses with contemporary values, celebrating diversity across race, gender, ability, and sexuality. It brings some of the old fashioned nursery rhyme themes up to date and re-writes some of the less appealing aspects into fun and modern verse.
Illustrated by Ana Craw with Johannah Kātene-Burge's cultural guidance, the stories showcase Aotearoa's native flora and fauna while introducing tamariki to te reo Māori.
Professionally translated by Tamati Waaka, these modern rhymes help shape young minds with inclusive narratives that reflect the world we want our children to inherit.
The stories that our tamariki hear shape their understanding of the world and their place in it. This book is well reviewed by parents and teachers alike.
It suits a cross section of ages - 1-3 years for singing and rhyming, 4-6years for reading and singing along independently, recognising pictures and eventually the words, 6-8 years for bilingual language learning.