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by Joseph E. Ciotti (Author), Abby Worthley (Illustrator)
This illustrated children's picture book retells the Tongan tale of how Maui 'Atalanga lifted the sky to its great heights. Maui the Sky Lifter allegorically explains why the sky is so far away, why plants have flat leaves, what causes earthquakes and why rain clouds are dark grey-all the while remaining faithful to Tongan oral tradition. Like all cultural legends of the sky and nature, this Polynesian tale views our world through the poetry of science.
Maui the Sky Lifter also introduces the reader to the three Tongan generations of Maui who form Orion's Belt, and pays homage to the culturally important role of storyteller.
This legend offers a set of strong values and lessons for the young reader-reminding them that greatness comes not from the strengths and talents you have, but from how you use them.
Formatted 17" x 11" double-page page with 38 pages, Maui the Sky Lifter includes an epilogue of selected vocabulary words and a set of maps of Tonga, all intended to familiarize the reader with this region of Polynesia. Besides a star map of Orion, the appendix also describes Tonga's famous trilithon Ha'amonga 'a Maui (Maui's Burden) which is believed to memorialize Maui 'Atalanga's heroic task of lifting the sky, while also representing the constellation of Orion.
