Ā Mātou Kōrero | Our Stories is a series of illustrated storybooks that have been developed to support, reflect, and celebrate the Kiwi Muslim community in Aotearoa New Zealand. They are also a way for non-Muslim Kiwis to “learn about others, so that they are no longer others.”
The idea for this series was raised by Dr. Maysoon Salama of the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand, and the Ministry of Education, after the terrible events in Christchurch in March 2019, to support wellbeing and inclusion, resilience, and understanding for the Muslim community in Aotearoa.
The books are designed to be read to tamariki, by kaiako or whānau, and are intended for an audience of both Muslim and non-Muslim tamariki throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The series has been created for those in Early Childhood settings and at Level 1 of the New Zealand Curriculum, and is aligned with both Te Whāriki and the New Zealand Curriculum.
The focus of the series is on wellbeing and resilience, and promoting unity, diversity, and inclusion – and the kaiako support materials (KSMs) incorporate these purposes into the learning discussions and activities.
Aya and the Butterfly is the story of a young girl who is coming to terms with losing her father, and learning that it is okay to feel sad and to miss him, while also remembering him with the help of her grandparents.
Aya and the Butterfly is accompanied by support material to assist with conversations with learners around the topics of grief and loss, and the cycle of life in general.
Aya and the Butterfly (PDF, 6 MB)
Aya and the Butterfly – English audio (MP3, 11 MB)
Kaiako support material – Aya and the Butterfly (PDF, 282 KB)
Dr Maysoon Salama reads Aya and the Butterfly in English.
Aya and the Butterfly – Arabic text (PDF, 6 MB)
Aya and the Butterfly – Arabic audio (MP3, 13 MB)
Kaiako support material – Aya and the Butterfly arabic text (PDF, 246 KB)
Dr Maysoon Salama reads Aya and the Butterfly in Arabic.
When Syed the Sandgrouse becomes lost in a storm far away from his home, he has to find a way to make a new life in Aotearoa New Zealand and meets new friends to help him along his way.
Open Day at the Mosque is the story of a typical open day celebration, narrated by a young girl from the mosque – tour the mosque and see all the different ways the open day is celebrated and shared with the wider local community.
Open day at the Mosque (PDF, 6 MB)
Open day at the Mosque audio (MP3, 7 MB)
Kaiako support material – Open day at the Mosque (PDF, 199 KB)
A pepeha-inspired story about a young kiwi Muslim boy growing up in Waikato and the different ways that culture, food, family and friends, and his likes and dislikes combine to give him his own unique identity.
Ko wai au? – Who am I? (PDF, 14 MB)
Ko wai au? – Who am I? audio (MP3, 8 MB)
Kaiako support material – Ko wai au? – Who am I? (PDF, 184 KB)
Updated on: 15 Mar 2021
