Punga: The Goddess of Ugly

Kindergarten-Grade 3-When a mischievous twin is turned into a wooden statue by Punga, the hideous and vengeful goddess of all things ugly, her sister devises a scheme for rescuing her (and Mudfish and Lizard in the bargain). Since it is the one night of the year when the creatures on Punga's lodgepole are allowed to dance, Kiri challenges the goddess saying, "'if any one of us is ugly, that one should be on your roof beam for all to see.'" Then she and Maraweia, Lizard, and Mudfish perform a perfect haka, a fierce and beautiful traditional Maori dance, and earn their freedom. When Punga reacts by sticking out her tongue, she is turned into a repulsive wooden decoration on her own lodge house. The mixture of greens that dominates the watercolor illustrations evokes the lush tangle of the New Zealand forest. Lattimore's own interpretations of Maori traditional wooden carvings add a feeling of authenticity and are scattered throughout the paintings; at least one of these scenes is as vivid as a nightmare and is potentially frightening. A glossary of Maori words and a map round out this picture book, which is long on folkloric feeling but lacks any sources other than an author's note explaining some Maori customs.
Ellen Fader, Oregon State Library, Salem
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

An art historian who's created picture books on several cultures (The Winged Cat, 1992) explores the Maori custom of sticking out the tongue in a way that's considered beautiful, especially during the haka dance. Sisters Kiri and Maraweia must learn to do this to earn a moko (chin tattoo), but Maraweia keeps making silly faces. Grandmother warns that she'll meet the fate of Mudfish and Lizard, who ``wiggled their tongues in a very ugly way'' and were entrapped as wood figures on Punga's lodge. Sure enough, Maraweia is so caught; but Kiri confronts the goddess and persuades her to free her so that, together, they can show her the haka as it should be danced--and, magically, their tattoos appear. A note and glossary place the invented tale somewhat in context, but more precise details about the role of Maori tradition would have been welcome. Still, the meaning the Maori attach to this classic gesture will intrigue; while Lattimore's art--with its vibrant, humorous characters, detailed Maori carvings, and dozens of other faces and species to spy in a freely rendered, lush green setting--is, once again, the book's strength. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.