Illustrating the story of Matariki
Witi Ihimaera is one of New Zealand’s most prolific and accomplished writers, and he and illustrator Isobel Te Ahowhite have joined forces to produce a children’s book that reveals the tradition of Matariki.
The Astromancer is looking for four new apprentices to learn about Matariki and the Maramataka calendar. She chooses three boys and an orphan girl, Aria, who will come only if she can bring her smelly dog. Aria, though, is bored by the lessons, and she doesn’t want to be told what to do.
But these are dangerous times, and Ruatapu the Ravenous is about to threaten the safety of the whole tribe. Will Aria step up to save them?
The book is also available in te reo Maori as Te Kokorangi.
We talk to illustrator Isobel Te Aho-white.
Tell us a little about The Astromancer: The Astromancer is a coming-of-age story that follows Aria and her journey from being a kid dealing with a lot of whakama¯ to someone who finds her gift with the help of the mentors and friends she meets along the way. It’s both a heartwarming and heartstopping story that will have readers on the edge of their seats!
What was it like working with one of New Zealand’s most prolific and accomplished writers , Witi Ihimaera? Witi is great to work with. When Penguin Random House approached me with the offer I leapt at the chance (I mean, who wouldn’t?), though as a newcomer to the publishing industry I was quite nervous about it. But a lot of that anxiety was assuaged when I met Witi in person, because his storytelling is such that opens up a world where the reader is an active participant, and his approach to working with me as an illustrator was much the same. So that allowed me to fully express how I interpreted the writing, to visualise the world from a space
within it, and I am honoured to have had
that role.
What is your favourite book you have read so far this year and why? I am usually an audio-book
type of person because my restless hands are always drawing or crafting. But fiction reading-wise, I am midway through Whiti Hereaka’s Kurangaituku, and it’s one of those books where I read a paragraph, stop and think about it, and then read it again. I love books like that.
What projects are you working on next? Several children’s books at various stages — working with Linda Tuhiwai-smith, Linda-jane Keegan,
Melinda Szymanik and Tim Tipene. I’ve just completed a couple of books with overseas publishers/authors as well, waiting for those to come off the press. All very different stories which I am very excited about!