Animals were much more than a source of food for early Maori ucirc; they were considered part of the great family to which we all belong. Some were cheeky, others were wise, while others still were dangerous and cunning. In some cases animals worked with man to educate or guide. Yet they all had a role to play and a destiny to fulfil. In this beautiful book, Warren Pohatu introduces us to special members of our animal family and shares their characteristics and roles with us. He retells legends of the past in which animals play a special part and emphasises the bond we can all share. This is Warren Pohatu's second book. He lives in Henderson, Auckland and his iwi affiliations are Ngati Porou, Rongowhaaka, and Ngati Kahungungu.