He Reo Iti Noa Ahau

He pukapuka whakahirahira tēnei, nā te taniwha hikuroa a Linga Tuhiwai Smith. I titoa e ia 'He Reo Iti Noa Ahau' hei tautoko i te hunga tamariki kua pāngia ki te tūkino.

He pakiwaitara tēnei e pā ana ki a Rāwiri. He uaua ki a ia te kōrero, ki te whakaputa I ōna kare-a-roto, me te tākaro. Nā te aroha me te tautoko o tōna Nēni me ētahi atu ki a ia ka whakakaha i tōna reo.

Ko tēnei te wā tuatahi kua pānui ahau i tētahi pukapuka tamariki e pā ana ki te tūkino. He tino āwhina te "Whakamārama Tūmahi" kia whakamārama atu me pēhea e tohaina ai tēnei pukapuka me ngā whāinga o te kaitito.

Nā Isobel Joy Te Aho-White ngā pikitia whakaari rerehua hei tautoko i te pakiwaitara nei. Nā ngā pikitia whakaari ka whakawhānui i tō Rāwiri ao me te pakiwaitara.

Ko te tūmanako ia, kei ia kura, kei ia wāhi tautoko tamariki tēnei pukapuka. Te mutunga kē mai o te pai o tēnei pukapuka. Ko te tōmina ia, ka tino whai hua tēnei pakiwaitara, waihoki, ka āwhina i ngā whānau me ngā tamariki ki te kōrero i ngā mātau ā-wheako. Me whakanui tēnei pukapuka ka tika!

'He Reo Iti Noa Ahau' is a book that has been written by the renowned Linda Tuhiwai Smith to support tamariki who have been affected by trauma.

The book tells the story of Rāwiri who finds it difficult to express himself and finds it difficult to play. Through the support and love of his Nēni and other people around him he regains his voice.

This is the first time that I have read a book for children that openly discusses trauma. This book offers hope to tamariki who face adversity. The notes for Kaiako at the back of the book offer advice about how this book should be shared and its purpose.

Isobel Joy Te Aho-White has produced the beautiful illustrations that support this book. The illustrations add depth to the story and expand on what we know about Rawiri’s story.

This resource should be available in all schools and places that support tamariki. I loved reading this story and I hope it helps whānau and tamariki to talk about their experiences. We need more books like this!

Note from Read NZ Te Pou Muramura: This series features trauma and difficult experiences, including violence and suicide. There is a very good interview with the author on The Sapling, which discusses these books further. You can find this here: https://www.thesapling.co.nz/qa-linda-tuhiwai-smith-on-the-whatumanawa-collection/