Ariā and the Kūmara God
  • Published: 21 May 2024
  • ISBN: 9781776958085
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 64
  • RRP: $25.00

Ariā and the Kūmara God

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A full-colour illustrated chapter book for readers 6 years plus that returns to the exciting magical world of the Astromancer! Will headstrong Ariā manage the impossible climb up to the stars and free Te Kōkōrangi from Ruatapu's clutches before time runs out?

Enter the exciting and dangerous world of the Astromancer… This epic magical adventure inspired by Māori mythology is perfect for younger fans of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter.

The stars foretell disaster.
The karakia have not been chanted.
The gods’ dues remain unpaid.
When Ruatapu the Ravenous kidnapped Te Kōkōrangi, keeper of sacred knowledge, the bloodthirsty chief was warned that his ambitions would have dire consequences. Now he is beginning to find out. The crops have failed and humankind faces starvation unless the star Whānui, atua of kūmara, can be persuaded to help.

Headstrong Ariā and her three fellow apprentice star-gazers begin an impossible climb up into the heavens, on a breakneck race to intercept Whānui on his passage and plead for mercy. But the staircase of vines is on the brink of collapse, they’re facing attacks by angry deities, and Matariki is drawing ever nearer…

From the world-renowned author of Whale Rider comes this spine-tingling, fast-paced sequel to the bestselling Astromancer. With fabulous illustrations throughout, Āria and the Kūmara God will captivate readers six years and up. It’s the ideal chapter book to read aloud together, either to welcome in the Māori New Year, or at any time of year!

‘Chock full of danger, heroes, old wisdom and new blood. . . . this is an action adventure story where we learn in the best way – by being thoroughly absorbed in a wonderful story.’ LOUISE WARD, NZ HERALD

Also available in te reo Māori as Ariā Me te Atua o te Kūmara
Don’t miss Ariā’s bestselling first adventure: The Astromancer!
  • Published: 21 May 2024
  • ISBN: 9781776958085
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 64
  • RRP: $25.00
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About the authors

Witi Ihimaera



Three-time winner of the Wattie/Montana Book of the Year award, Katherine Mansfield fellow and playwright Witi Ihimaera is one of New Zealand’s most prolific and accomplished writers. Witi’s first novel, Tangi, won the Wattie Book of the Year Award in 1974, a feat he repeated with The Matriarch in 1986. His celebrated novel Bulibasha, King of the Gypsies, now adapted as the film Mahana, won the Montana Book of the Year award in 1995. Witi’s other novels and short story collections include The Whale Rider (also adapted as an internationally successful film); Dream Swimmer (sequel to the award-winning The Matriarch); Pounamu, Pounamu and Nights In The Gardens of Spain. In 2015 he published the first volume of his autobiography, Maori Boy.
 

portrait photo of Witi Ihimaera

Isobel Joy Te Aho-White

Isobel Te Aho-White (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngai Tahu) is an award-winning Illustrator based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Her book Santa’s Worst Christmas (2019) with Huia publishers was nominated for the NCYA Book Awards across five categories and her book Whiti: Colossal Squid of the Deep (2020) written by Victoria Cleal and published by Te Papa Press won a Whitley award for best children’s book. She is the illustrator of Witi Ihimaera's novels about Te Kōkōrangi, the Astromancer (Puffin, 2022 and 2024), a co-illustrator of The Maori Picture Dictionary/Te Papakupu Whakaahua by Margaret Sinclair and Ross Calman (Puffin, 2022), and her illustrations have enhanced well over 30 children's books to date.

portrait photo of Isobel Joy Te Aho-White

Praise for Ariā and the Kūmara God

I’ve really enjoyed this book as it relates to what we are learning at school. I found it really easy to read and follow and I enjoyed all of the beautiful pictures. I’m looking forward to taking this book to school for my teacher to read to the class as part of our learning about Matariki.

Ella (aged 8), Kidspot.co.nz

This spell-binding tale was inspired by pūrākau, legendary tales from ancient times, but Ariā, her three friends Tahi, Mākura, Iwihōia and her faithful dog Kurī have come out of Witi Ihimaera’s creative imagination...a great book for whānau to read together as Matariki comes near.

Lyn Potter, NZ Booklovers

Who better to teach us through story than Witi Ihimaera? The Astromancer: The Rising of Matariki (Puffin, $25) is a new chapter book for readers of about 8 and up and is chock full of danger, heroes, old wisdom and new blood. . . . this is an action adventure story where we learn in the best way - by being thoroughly absorbed in a wonderful story.

Louise Ward, NZ Herald

a beautiful book with a gripping story

Maria Gill, Kids Books NZ

Don’t be fooled – The Astromancer, which features arch-deceiver Ruatapu the Ravenous, is much more than the picture book it appears to be. What might have been a first chapter book becomes a lavishly illustrated story, with Isobel Te Aho-White’s alternating full-colour and graphic black-and-white pictures making the 10-chapter hardback perfect for classroom reading in the lead-up to Matariki.

Ann Packer, NZ Listener

The immersive, vibrant world Witi Ihimaera has created is sure to be a perfect addition to any home or for anyone who wants an engaging story with mātauranga Māori woven throughout it.

Ariana Stewart, The Sapling

The Astromancer. The Rising of Matariki, a new children’s book by Witi Ihimaera, one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed authors, is a spellbinding tale inspired by purakau, legendary Maori stories from ancient times. . . . Witi Ihimaera is a great storyteller. Te Kokorangi is based on an astromancer who lived long ago. But the children and Aria’s dog have come out of his own creative imagination. They make this story very relatable for children who will also be entranced by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White’s brilliant illustrations. Central to the story is the continuing battle of wills between Te Kokorangi and Aria who has suffered the trauma of being an orphan and having to fend for herself. It is only love and a sense of belonging that can heal her. At the beginning the boys stay in the background, but their strength and courage eventually shine through. The Astromancer: The Rising of Matariki is a great way for children to learn about Matariki, and how it is about so much more than simply gazing at the nine Matariki stars in the night sky. These ancient stories still have relevance for us today. They teach us about the need to respect and live in harmony with the spiritual and natural world. Friday June 24 will be a very special occasion, the first time Matariki will be a public holiday in New Zealand. The Astromancer. The Rising of Matariki would be a great book for families to read together as part of their Matariki celebrations.

Lynn Potter, NZ Booklovers

A fantastic adventure story, Ariā and the Kūmara God is a joyous blend of contemporary and traditional storytelling...woven into the story itself are smaller tales and myths that are relevant to the bigger picture. This is a great way to introduce people to many of the lesser-known myths and legends in Māoridom. Witi Ihimaera is a master at creating tension, and his writing here skilfully incorporates humour, action and fantasy. ...Isobel Joy Te Aho-White's illustrations are stunning...They complement the combined fantasy and contemporary elements of the story beautifully. For older readers, Ariā and the Kūmara God is a great read, combining facts and fiction masterfully into an epic fantasy quest with lovable character and an equally lovable kuri!

Kirsty Wadsworth, Magpies

Christmas Book Guide for Kids 2022: One of our most celebrated writers, and most talented illustrators, put out this beautiful, lively Matariki story. With a gutsy heroine and high stakes this is a great one for the home library.

The Spinoff