Top 5 for Friday - Five books you could read for Matariki

He iti Kahurangi - A little treasure.

Matariki 2011 is about celebrating the treasures of our past. Of course, as a librarian, I believe we have many treasures in our library and some of my favourites are the ones that tells stories of our past. So in celebration of the Maori New Year, the harvest, families and the stars, remembering the past and looking forward to the future, here are five books you might like to try out during July.

1. Treasures from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. In this book are hundreds of collection items from the museum, from taonga prized by many Maori iwi to centuries of art from Europe and New Zealand, significant historical pieces, art and objects from the Pacific, and many of the extraordinary animals and plants that make up our natural environment. Over 300 beautiful full-colour photographs and informative, lively captions bring these fascinating objects and animals to life. From the rare to the familiar, this is a cabinet of true New Zealand treasures for all readers to enjoy. I adore Museums almost as much as I love Libraries. From the small to the large (to the extremely large which take days to investigate) I can find treasures in all of the them. Te Papa is our national museum and it is well worth a visit if you haven't been there already. To get a sneak preview of what you can find there, check out this book. You can also look at treasures from other museums around the country including closer to home with 150 Treasures of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.


2. Rural Delivery: Poems and images from New Zealand Farms. Whether it's from the comfort of a fireside chair, or in the solitude of the outdoors in all weathers, a surprising number of New Zealand farmers and rural workers, both men and women, spend quiet moments composing poems, ballads and songs that focus on their working lives. This is a collection of some of these poems, coupled with Stephen Robinson's dramatic images of rural life and landscapes. From the joys and exhaustion of high-country mustering to the tribulations of never-ending mud and wayward sheep and cattle, these are pictures and stories of heartland New Zealand, and celebrate our farming heritage. Having been brought up on a dairy farm and at one stage owned my own sheep and beef farm, I can relate to sooo much of this book (mud, gumboots, rain, dust, hungry shearers...). I have actually even considered buying a copy for my father, although I am not sure. He still manages to surprise me but I have never tried poetry on him before.


3. The Treasure/Te Taonga by Melanie Drewery. "Come snuggle on the couch with me and I will tell you of my greatest taonga". This picture books holds a special place in my heart as I discovered it around the same time as my niece came into the lives of my family - a special gift to us as she is adopted. We added 'Te Taonga' to her name because that is what she is to us.


4. Marc Ellis' Goood Fullas: A guide to Kiwi Blokes. Marc Ellis and Charlie Haddrell, a couple of Henanigan storytellers with a decent pinch of Bogan in them, who have been mates since the days they were Scarfies, have decided to bring 25 stereotypical New Zealanders to life through a humorous account of their eccentricities and idiosyncrasies, highlighting why they are such an integral part of this great nation. For a touch of humour and downright irreverance it is hard to go past Marc Ellis. Easy to pick up, put down, giggle at and you may even find some people you know in here.


5. Treasure - Hayley Westenra. When it comes to New Zealanders we have multiple choices for people we treasure. From singers and actors, writers and sportspeople, adventurers and artists, the choice is huge. Hayley certainly counts as one of them. So when I discovered she had an album titled 'Treasure" it just seemed like fate that she would make it onto this list. A little light listening while you are enjoying your reading.