Description
Temporarily out of stock
ISBN: 9781927305805
Title: Farewell Anahera
Author: HATLEY- OWEN VANESSA
By Vanessa Hatley-Owen, translated by Kanapu Rangitauira, Illustrated by Scott Irvine (Duck Creek Press).
A death in the family, whether it’s a close family member, extended family or a pet is hard for young people to understand. Books like ‘Farewell Anahera’ help children process that someone/something has passed on.
Vanessa has approached this delicate subject with tenderness. The language is lilting, rhythmic, and descriptive with the use of alliteration and repetition to good effect.
Out of the warm soft mist came a fine silvery thread of song.
It nudged and pulled at Anahera.
Strong and clear, it called to her.
Farewell precious one, farewell.
Then the refrain is repeated in te reo.
Anahera wakes from a deep, dreamless sleep – ‘she was there, but not there at the same time’.
Pictures and text give hints to the young readers/listeners that perhaps Anahera has died.
Children might pick up on the second reading that Anahera might be a grandmother or ageless.
Vanessa weaves in traditional tangi practices like a kuia calling and singing, the men performing a haka, and young and old sharing life breath…
It’s a beautiful story for young and old. For whanau to share with young ones when someone dies so they understand what will happen at a tangi and for other cultures to learn and respect the tangi tradition.
At the back of the book Vanessa has included an author’s note about Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) – where the spirits leave New Zealand.
Scott Irvine has produced stunning, surreal illustrations which capture the mood of the story just right. He is a well-known illustrator, designer and artist based on the Kapiti Coast.
Kanapu Rangitauira is a former teacher, licensed translator and interpreter and is currently a director of Whenua Oho in Rotorua.
Vanessa Hatley-Owen works as a librarian at a primary school, writes reviews for children’s books, and is part of the Storylines’ Management Committee. Vanessa has had short stories and early readers published since 2009. In 2018, Oratia Press published her book ‘When Dad Came Home’ in November – the 100-year commemoration of the end of World War 1.
Format: Picture Flat
Publication date: 01/03/2023
Temporarily out of stock
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