Family of Forest and Fungi - He Tukutuku Toiora
Authors: Valetta Sowka; Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Illustrator); Hana Natalija Park
Published October 2023
This book combines beautiful storytelling with activities that can be completed in the pukapuka, along with a range of te reo Māori phrases and kupu. Grounded in te ao Māori, there is a strong focus on connection with te taiao nature, including kaitiakitanga and maramataka. This leads into practical information about our indigenous trees and fungi and the connections between them.
Although this book is written for tamariki, we also think it's a useful resource for adults and kaiako will find inspiration and ideas that can easily be adapted for different age groups.
From the Publisher:
How did our Maori ancestors use mushrooms? What are some of the astounding ways that fungi can help us? Why do mushrooms glow? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this book for tamariki about the magical world of fungi. Help your child build a natural connection to the taiao by journeying to the forests of Aotearoa and discovering the amazing kingdom of fungi that dwells there!
Reviews:
"An aspect of mindfulness was created when doing the questionnaires. We loved the detailed illustrations of the pukapuka, but especially those of the fungi/mushrooms. The information was informative to all ages and not reduced to target one age group." Linda Savage, Foxton
"These resources have given us an amazing opportunity to dive right into the incredible world of, not only native fungi, but also Maori wisdom in the natural kingdom and relationships in our ecosystem." Paula Dooge, Motueka
Click on the link above to visit the publisher's website where you can read more and purchase the book online.
