A friendly approach to the pleasures of multilingualism – Kirkus Reviews

This book should be on bookshelves in every multilingual home, to help empower kids and develop their ‘superpower’ of speaking in different languages. – Shelley Admont, award-winning author, KidKiddos Books

Elementary school children everywhere will enjoy re-reading this story over and over again. – Nikki Prsa (American polyglot)

Awards

1st Place: Best Illustrations (Purple Dragonfly Award) 1st Place: Cultural Diversity (Purple Dragonfly Award) Golden Award (Mom’s Choice Award) Honorable Mention: Picture Books 5 & Younger (Purple Dragonfly Award) Brain Child Book Award (Tillywig Award)

Little Polyglot Adventures Series (Vol. 1): Dylan’s Birthday Present / Te taonga huritau a Dylan - Maori Children’s Book

This is the Maori (Te Reo Maori) edition of this children’s book. It is also available in several other languages, in both monolingual and bilingual versions.

Summary in English:

Dylan is an American boy like many others. One thing makes him special, though: his parents come from other countries and speak to him in different languages. It’s his birthday today and he receives a very unusual present, only to lose it shortly after. Together with his best friend Emma, a sweet bilingual girl born to South African parents, Dylan sets out to find his lost birthday present. During their search, the two friends learn about the value of friendship, of speaking different languages, and of appreciating one’s own as well as others’ cultural and linguistic background.

If you are looking for a children’s book in Maori that will help your child see the value in speaking other languages, in being multicultural, and that will hopefully get them excited about learning languages, this book is a great choice.

Summary in Maori (Te Reo Maori):

He tamaiti Amerikana a Dylan, penei i etahi atu. Engari, kotahi te take e motuhake ai ia, ara no etahi atu whenua ona matua, a, korero ai raua ki a ia i etahi atu reo. Ko tona huritau i tenei ra, a, kua whiwhi ia i tetahi taonga tino rereke, engari kaore i roa ka ngaro i a ia. Ka whakatika ake a Dylan raua ko tona tino hoa, ko Emma, ko tetahi kotiro reo rua, ngawari ano hoki, i whanau mai ona matua i Awhirika ki te Tonga, ki te kimi i tana taonga huritau kua ngaro. I a raua e kimi ana, ka ako nga hoa tokorua i te uara o te hoatanga, o te korero i etahi reo rereke me te whakaaro nui ki tou ano ahurea me tou ano reo, tae atu ano ki nga ahurea me nga reo o etahi atu.