What’s in a Name? He aha tō te Ingoa?

What’s in a Name? 
He aha tō te Ingoa?
Renisa Viraj Maki,  
Illustrator: Isabel Te Aho-White
Oratia Books (2024)
Picture book, Paperback, 
32 pages
ISBN: 978 1 99 004263 8

 

‘It was a special year for Priyanka and her classmates. They were about to graduate and move to a new school.’

‘He tau whakahirahira tēnei ki Priyanka mi ōna hoa ako. Kua tata puta ō rātou ihu, ka ihaere aiki kura kē.’

In this picture book Renisa Viraj Maki has used a school class as a microcosm of society, showing how one person can bring about change in people’s attitudes and actions. The story is told in both English and Māori on the same page.

Priyanka, a student leader, will be handing out graduation certificates at the end-of-year ceremony. She has a concern and tells her friend Arihia, ‘I’m worried about saying the names correctly.’ ‘E māharahara ana au ki taku whakahua tika i ngā ingoa.’  

She reads through the list and notes the names she is not sure how to pronounce. Back at school, she asks each of them how she should pronounce their name. The students are Xinze Zhou, Somachandra Swarnadhipathi, Sean Petersen and Tausa’afia Vainu’upo Fepuleai.

Each one is pleased that Priyanka wants to say their name correctly.

As she works with each one to get the sounds and rhythm of their name flowing smoothly, Priyanka compares the process to learning the words of a song or the steps of a dance. She practices and listens to her voice recorded as a phone message, until she gets every name right.

The graduation evening is a success for everyone and the principal praises Priyanka for respecting each student’s mana by saying everyone’s name so well. 

The conclusion is a happy one with the smiling students reinforcing the story’s message about why names are important:

‘Each and every name was chosen with love.’

‘Heoi, katoa katoa ngā ingoa i tapaina ki te aroha.’

The graceful colour illustrations are by Isabel Te Aho-White and they give a vivid picture of the work Priyanka put into researching and learning to say the names. The result is a charming introduction to contemporary school life. There is even a birds-eye map of the whole school, showing Priyanka’s route as she contacts each child.

This is a well-written and attractively designed book, with a heart-felt message.

The Māori translation is by Hona Black.

 

Trevor Agnew 

23 October 2024  [Review 3720]