The Grandmothers of Pikitea Street (Ngā Kuia o te tiriti o Pikitea)

Description

A touching story about multiple cultures in New Zealand bonding through food and stories across the generations.

‘I hope young readers, and those who read the book with them, connect to this story and see the beauty of our multicultural society,’ says author Renisa Viraj Maki of her debut book. ‘As an Indian immigrant, I struggled to find stories that celebrate the multicultural experience. That inspired me to write about immigrants and locals connecting across cultures.’

Review

NZ Booklovers ~ “As Nīkau is getting ready for bed, her kui (grandma) tells her the story of one of their ancestors – Māui. Across the street, Aida is helping her sēti āyati (grandmother) make injera. The Ethiopian flatbread reminds Aida of the moon and she promises her grandmother she’ll eat it all at school the next day.

“A heartwarming story that emphasizes the things we all have in common, regardless of our background – storytelling, food and the love for our grandmothers.” Read the full review.

Meet the Kiwi creators

Renisa Viraj Maki is a Kiwi-Indian leadership consultant and artist who is a graduate in art history. She is dedicated to writing stories that reflect cultural diversity; this is her first book. Renisa lives in Auckland.

Nikki Slade Robinson is an award-winning illustrator and author who has published numerous children’s books. See her author page.

Kanapu Rangitauira (Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou, Te Whakatōhea) is a registered translator and teacher of te reo Māori. Among his book translations is Nanny Mihi’s Medicine/Ngā Rongoā a Nanny Mihi (Oratia Books, 2022). Kanapu lives with his family in Rotoiti, Rotorua.