Nicely told stories, with enough detail to make them truly interesting. It's in the juvenile section of the library, but doesn't talk down to children or adults. (If you're choosing this for a read-aloud book to young children, I'd read the story to yourself first to choose ones most suited to them. Many of these are probably most suited to older children, teens, and adults.)

Very appealing watercolor illustrations that suggest strong natural and magical forces (not attempting the Maori art style, by the way). ( )

The Maori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa that is often translated as "land of the long white cloud", a swirl of cloud caused by warm winter winds from Australia meeting cold Antarctic air over New Zealand.

One of my favourite opera singers, Kiri Te Kanawa was inspired at a family reunion (her mother is Irish and her father Maori) to write folk tales just as she remembered them being told to her when she was a child. The legends depict the fantastic mythological culture of New Zealand. This is a charming book, beautifully illustrated by Michael Foreman. ( )