The Marble Maker | Te Kaihanga Māpere

A child dreams of inventing a brand new marble and having the recipe appear in The Book of Marbles.

In a chaotic lab, with an opera-loving sheep as an assistant and using ingredients as diverse as ‘teeth bling from a retired rapper’, ‘three pints of swooshy night air’ and ‘a snippet from a sheep’s fringe’, the child tries and tries, only to fail miserably.

But with a little help from her woolly friend, who thankfully knows just when to say the right kind of ‘baa’, she gets up from the ingredient-strewn floor to try again.

In a twinkling, twirling burst of energy, amidst wild ‘baa-woos’, she gives the marble-making her absolute all – but will it be enough to get her into The Book of Marbles?

Awards & Recognition

  • NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2017 - Winner: Te Kura Pounamu Award for Te Reo Māori - TE KAIHANGA MĀPERE

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  • “This is a fabulous, world-class book.”

    THE MARBLE MAKER - Thalia Kehoe Rowden, The Spinoff

  • “Sacha Cotter´s use of language is highly imaginative and rolls off the tongue, making this a delightful read aloud. Josh Morgan´s quirky, vibrant illustrations provide the perfect accompaniment to the text. THE MARBLE MAKER is a rare gem that is certain to reach a wide audience and will no doubt inspire many young inventors and potion makers. Highly recommended.”

    THE MARBLE MAKER - Julie Harper, Magpies Magazine

  • “Whū! Hangareka ana! This book was really funny. TE KAIHANGA MĀPERE is another stellar collaboration from Sacha Cotter (kupu), Josh Morgan (pikitia) and Kawata Teepa (whakamāoritanga).....It’s really clever and unexpected and, yeah, funny.”

    TE KAIHANGA MĀPERE - Kristin Smith, The Sapling

  • “Both Cotter and Morgan have done something truly beautiful in the way they write and illustrate Māori characters. I love how the kaihanga māpere is so far from your clichéd caricature of a young Māori girl, in both looks and personality (which of course makes her a far more truthful representation of Māori kids who are all diverse and unique individuals). She has scruffy red hair, khaki gumboots, a sheep called Winitana for a best friend, and she’s an inventor!”

    TE KAIHANGA MĀPERE - Kristin Smith, The Sapling

  • “I’ll be looking out for more books from this team – they are taking people’s expectations for books about Māori kids and turning them upside down in the funniest possible way.”

    TE KAIHANGA MĀPERE - Kristin Smith, The Sapling

  • “THE MARBLE MAKER is a must-read for the marble champion in your home.”

    THE MARBLE MAKER - Diane McCarthy, Eastern Bay Life

  • "Delivered with energetic and engaging text, there is a powerful positive message hiding within the fun language and crazy scenes: a message of encouragement and of never giving up, even when you fail THE MARBLE MAKER is a fantastic creation; rich in detail, well written, fun and appealing – it’s sure to be a hit!”

    THE MARBLE MAKER - Vanessa Hatley-Owen, Booksellers NZ Blog

Order your copy from HUIA Publishers today

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