Check out the latest books on Pacific culture, society and customs for kids and adults. This list updates when we add new titles to our collection.
The topic Pacific has been added to your favourites.
The topic Pacific has been removed from your favourites.
The topic Pacific will be added to your favourites. What does this mean?
Book
"This memoir chronicles my upbringing in Samoa, migrating to New Zealand and in the 1980's and navigating motherhood. A life-altering event happened to me in 2016 which nearly left me paralyzed. What I thought was a cursed turned out to be the launching...
"Story is vital. It carries the collective experience of humanity and expresses and shapes who we are. When our own four children were pre-schoolers, nearly all children’s books were Pālangi-centric. I couldn’t find any that included Tongan characters,...
Picture book
"Punky loves to do a lot of things--except meeting new friends. She doesn't feel brave enough. So when her grandmother asks her to go out and grab butter for her famous banana bread, Punky hesitates. But with the help of her grandmother's magical sun...
"A collection of 10 fiction stories from Samoa for children. Ranging from fantasy, adventure, 'spooky', historical, sci fi, family slice of life, and humorous. Written in English but with some basic Samoan words and commonly used phrases throughout, ...
Tongan version of A New Dawn Story: Emeli Sione shares her Dawn Raid story to help us understand the real impact of this dark time in our history. With valuable lessons for all New Zealanders, A New Dawn provides us with hope on our journeys of equal...
"You think you know the tale of the Little Red Hen. You think you know how it ends. But in this story everything changes when the hard-working Red Hen lays a perfect white egg. And out of this egg comes a chick with a mind of her own. Here is a beautiful...
"Pe‘e Māori — Traditional Cook Islands Chants is a unique collection of various types of intonation with revelations on their use and symbolic meanings. The sacred dignity in customary welcome, ceremonial decorum, title investitures, traditional hair...
"Whether you want to visit beautiful Waikiki Beach, surf the big waves on the North Shore, or snorkel at Hanauma Bay, the local Fodor's travel experts in Hawaii are here to help! Fodor's Oahu guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommend...
"In this anthology of contemporary eco-literature, the editors have gathered an ensemble of a hundred emerging, mid-career, and established Indigenous writers from Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and the global Pacific diaspora. This book itself is...
The story takes us through the steps of how to weave mats of different kinds, starting with harvesting the pandanus (voivoi) leaves, boiling and putting them out in the sun to dry. The green colour gives way to a beige-whitish colour. They are then s...
The story is about how young boys paddle out in their canoes to catch turtles. They learn how to immobilise the turtle in the sea by turning it over before the group lift their catch into the canoe. Some important values that this story teaches include...
Ilaisa and Isikeli are brothers. As Alena, their cousin, walks past them on their way to school; the boys easily notice the sweet fragrance of the oil Alena used that morning. So they ask Alena if they can be given the same strong scented oil. When Alena...
Every morning Tomu goes out to feed their pigs. This particular morning, he does not know that his dog, Popi, is following him. All the pigs are resting sleepily as Tomu pours the food in the food trough. Suddenly, Popi starts barking. The startled piglets...
After continuous rain for almost 2 months, a landslide occurs beside the Dilkusha Girls School near Nausori. The main road is blocked because of the landslide. Sushil raises the alarm, rings the bell, and the Matron directs all students to go into a ...
Jone is picking up breadfruit leaves near his home. Then enters Taito, an elderly member of the village. Jone invites Taito to come and have a rest in his house. Taito thanks Jone for his kind invitation but he needs to attend a village meeting. And the...
Mosese and Viliame are brothers. They live with Bu Sera, their grandmother, in Navivi, Nadroga. Bu Sera sells bananas by the roadside. One day after school the boys were very hungry, they decided to barter two (2) coconuts for four (4) bananas with t...
Chung and Tevita are close friends who live in Waibau, Naitasiri. They attend Sawani Primary School. On Saturdays they help their parents by selling root crops and vegetable from their farm. They sell those in the Suva market. They ensure that they give...
In Fiji we are fortunate in the abundance of fruits that we can harvest right throughout the year. The ten fruits listed in this book are all sweet and luscious to consume, and most of them can be made into dessert (banana) and jam. The story hopes to...
"From deciding when to go, to choosing what to see when you arrive, this is all you need to plan your trip and experience the best of Hawaii, with in-depth insider information on must-see, top attractions like sun-drenched Waikiki Beach and the Hawai...
"Since the 1970s, a "Polynesian pipeline" has brought football players from American Samoa to Hawaii and the mainland United States to play at the collegiate and professional levels. In Gridiron Capital Lisa Uperesa charts the cultural and social dynamics...
"An Indigenous legend about how four extraordinary individuals of dual male and female spirit, or Mahu, brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii, based on the Oscar Award-contending short film. In the 15th Century, four Mahu sail from Tahiti to Hawaii...
"From curries to creamy pina coladas, a delectable global history of the many culinary incarnations of the coconut. The flavor and image of the coconut are universally recognizable, conjuring up sweet, exotic pleasures. Called the Swiss army knife of...
"This is a short reader written in Tongan and English about the excitement and fun of going to the movies screened in villages throughout Tonga. It can be read by anyone proficient in Tongan and is designed for students already learning Tongan. In the...
The coming together of Marica's friends and relatives to celebrate her birthday. Strengthening of relationships is taught from a young age. Togetherness, cooperation, looking out for others are some of the values taught in this story.
Scott Hamilton wrote these poems as letters to the sculptor and painter Visesio Siasau. The poems look back on adventures the two shared amidst the jungle ruins and kava bars of Tonga, and discuss the alternately violent and beatific history of that ...
"Emeli Sione shares her Dawn Raid story to help us understand the real impact of this dark time in our history. With valuable lessons for all New Zealanders, A New Dawn provides us with hope on our journeys of equality, justice and healing as Pasifika...
"A journry to discover the tasty and nutritious plants that Pacific has to offer. In this cookbook by Fiji-based nutritionist Vittoria Pasca you'll finfd over [forty] delicious recipes together with an explanation [of] why they are good for you."--Back...
"When an athlete with an exceptional record of achievement and longevity comes to the end of their career, the numbers can speak for themselves. Ross Taylor has scored the most runs, made the most centuries and taken the most catches by a New Zealander...
"Artists' book of photographs and paintings about three islands all named 'Motutapu', from Tamaki Mākaurau, Tongatapu and Rarotonga. The artists have visited each island over the last four years. Benjamin Work has responded with series of paintings and...
Pa, a Rarotongan Cook Islander, is an ocean swimmer from island to island in Polynesia. His swim from Moorea to Tahiti is 22 kilometres. Pa's story reaches a cliimax when he is caught in the surging ocean current. 1985 was the year he did this amazing...
"Rough Lives Speak, the anthology by Street Poets & Artists Collective Enterprise. SPACE is made up of eight poets and an artist--seven poets published in this book. Voices in this book speak straight from the heart of former rough sleepers honed thr...
"For more than a millennium, Polynesians occupied the remotest islands in the Pacific Ocean, an enormous triangle stretching from Hawaii to New Zealand to Easter Island. Sailing in large, double-hulled canoes, without the benefit of maps, writing, or...
DVD
Sina's up early , she has a very busy day ahead. Her day begins with cheerful greetings to her family, friends, her rugby coach and whoever she meets all through the day.
"Lei Loves - introduces festive greetings from Mother's Day to Happy New Year, and culminates in wishing Leia 'Happy Birthday'. "--Provided by publisher.
"Lāuga or Sāmoan oratory is a premier cultural practice in the fa‘asāmoa (Sāmoan culture), a sacred ritual that embodies all that fa‘asāmoa represents, such as identity, inheritance, respect, service, gifting, reciprocity and knowledge. Delivered as ...
Introduces the Samoan words for different kinds of animals.
A bilingual book of Samoan and English words.
Each page has a picture of a number of objects and the corresponding numeral for very young children.
This Pacific island-themed book is a useful parental tool to teach children the numbers 1-12 in Fijian. Each page is designed with beautiful and simple colorful imagery.
"Children will learn concepts such as big and small, short and tall, hot and cold, clean and dirty, left and right, and so much more with vivid imagery."--Back cover.
Teach Me to Pray in Fijian is a colorfully designed children's Christian prayer book. This interactive softcover title includes the well-known Lord's Prayer, a Prayer Before Meals, a Bedtime Prayer, a Prayer for Mom and Dad, and a Prayer for Grandma ...
"Bilingual language learning is fun when books are designed with effective teaching tools in mind. We do that well with our "Teach me my feelings in Tongan title. This is a unique book that offers children the imagery repetition, and words to recognize...
"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes in Samoan is a cute book that engages children to learn a language in a fun and colorful way. Let Peau and Vasa take you on an adventure through the colorful backdrop of the tropics. From the warm, blue ocean waters to...
Teach Me to Pray in Tongan is a colorfully designed children's Christian prayer book. This interactive softcover title includes the well-known Lord's Prayer, a Prayer Before Meals, a Bedtime Prayer, a Prayer for Mom and Dad, and a Prayer for Grandma ...
"Enter that dreamworld in this whimsical, often funny memoir weaving together essays, diary entries, original song lyrics, and even a novella showing how the author chose to fictionalize the true story she relates to us about her life and loves in the...
"This book is a bit of a new departure for author Tim Rock, who usually produces guides to famous scuba diving destinations. While Tonga does have some amazing scuba diving, in this book, Rock concentrates on viewing and interacting with humpback whales...
"When the Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted on January 15,2022, destruction, death and personal stories of survival filled the news worldwide. Sonic waves from the blast were recorded around the globe. Tonga is known as "The Friendly Islands"...
"This book offers a complete history and culture of the Samoans and Manu'ans, chronicled in a new narrative, thus giving a new perspective on reality. It's an Orator Chief’s treatise covering over 3000 years of history and culture, reimagined through...
"Why can't I break free from my past? From the ashes of destitution rises a story of one man's journey with ferocity and defiance against all odds. Birthed at the heels of the Great Depression on a tiny Pacific island, 'Utili's life was nothing but o...
There's lots of different ways to catch fish. You can use a net, a trap, even your hands. Characters in this story used a magic hook to catch more fish than they'd ever seen. That's when the trouble began ...a Samoan legend retold"--Back cover.
"Fire is one of the most precious elements we know. You can cook with it. You can dry things with it. You can even sit around it and tell stories like this one. But how did fire get to Samoa?"--Back cover.
"Malie was born with deformed feet. Some people might think that's a disability. Not Malie. Find out how his deformed feet become his superpower"--Back cover.
"Naua was an expert fisherman who found an underwater cave. Naua had a feeling his cave would be helpful one day. And so it did. Find out what happened in The Secret Cave - Koe 'Ana Fakapulupuli, a Tongan legend retold by David Riley"--Back cover.
"Stories of buried treasure, ghostly fire, real-life Robinson Crusoes and the Mafia are among the many secrets uncovered as you explore the South Pacific paradise of the Cook Islands through the pages of this book. "Around the corner from nowhere" is...
"Grandpa and Luka share the same birthday and today they get to celebrate it with the whole 'āiga. Grandpa is also a storyteller and surprises his grandchildren with a Samoan Siapo that tells a very special story about Sāmoa's journey to independance...
Jeremy is starting a new school. He's not too sure about how he will fit in. But the other students make him welcome and every time he thinks he can't do something they say "Of course you can!."
Jeremy is starting a new school. He's not too sure about how he will fit in. But the other students make him welcome and every time he thinks he can't do soemthing they say "Of course you can!."
Jeremy, a young boy who uses a wheelchair, is nervous about starting at his new school, but the other children encourage him to take part in their activities.
"First words in English, Maori, Samoan, Fijian, Tongan, Niuean and Cook Islands Maori. With some contrasting black and white baby shapes for new born bubs."--Back cover
"In Navigation: Kupe & Cook, Kingsley Smith traces the beginnings of travel by boat as man migrated out of Africa and arrived in Sahul: Australia-New Guinea, 50,000 years ago. He discusses the role of navigation in Literary societies, up to the voyages...
"Internationally renowned artist Yuki Kihara - the first Fa'afafine and Pacific artist to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the Venice Biennale - reframes history through a contemporary queer, Indigenous lens. Interdisciplinary artist Yuki Kihara is known...
Losi the Giant was the greatest fisherman across all the moana. A mischievous and loyal friend to sea creatures and all humans, Losi will always be remembered as the hero who brought taro, the food of the Gods’, to Earth.
How do you contain a fire god? All Leila and Daniel want is their 'happy ever after'. But there's a small problem - Pele isn't dead and gone. She may not be in control of Leila anymore, but she's still a brooding, simmering threat searching for a way...
"After 13 years of professional rugby, it was time to retire and start all over again. Filipo Levi faced the challenge head-on. In this book, TACKLE Your Success, Filipo reveals a powerful new framework for facing your biggest career challenge...change....
"And in the night time we will dance in the moonlight to the quick, steady beats of the pa'u. The pa'u is the pulse of the Cook Islands, a rhythm carrying narratives of a culture to its people. But beyond the reach of its sound, on another shore, a c...
"Love and money" is a cross-cultural love story which begins in the unusual setting of King's College in South Auckland. New Zealand's most eligible bachelor falls in love with a Samoan girl who lives next door to the school. This novel reveals the...
Samoa's first Women's farming calendar, featuring 12 women growers, their stories and the revival of traditional or organic farming.
"Stories that tell Covid how we really feel, where a centipede god watches on with wry humour and wrath, where a sexy Samoan goes on a hot Tinder date in Honolulu, where a New Zealand doctor is horrified to be stuck at her cousin's kava drink up in Fiji,...
"The Whau ArtBOOK features over 50 Artists across all ages and disciplines. Because of the spread of innovative and traditional arts, Whau The People believe it will appeal to the wide-ranging cultural melting pot of Whau residents. The ArtBOOK illum...
"For almost two centuries locked away in its storage net, this ulu cavu is about to feel human hands once more..." Join the (Un) Registered Savages of Aotearoa, as they shine a light on an ancient Fijian practice as they embark on thier journey to bring...
"Ten young people from Pacific Advance Secondary School worked with teacher-author David Riley to share stories of the people, cultures and places that make them who they are, bring them joy and inspire them to be excellent."--Publisher's description...
"The virus has breached the island's borders. Paradise has fallen. The apocalypse is here. From reclusive librarian to warrior guardian... She must safeguard her two nieces as Samoa battles a mutant variant of the deadly virus that's raging across the...
"This delightful Samoan-English word book is ideal for learning simple first words in Samoan. The everyday scenes are filled with detail and will help children build up a basic Samoan vocabulary. Each word has a picture and word label in both English...
This book was created to be fun and exciting to help Tongan children prepare for school every morning. The book is in Lea faka-Tonga. It is aligned with Te Whariki: He Whariki Matauranga mo nga Mokopuna o Aotearoa/Early Childhood Curriculum and with The...
This book was created to be fun and exciting to help Samoan children prepare for school every morning. The book is in Samoan. It is aligned with Te Whariki: He Whariki Matauranga mo nga Mokopuna o Aotearoa/Early Childhood Curriculum and with The New...
This book was created to be fun and exciting to help Samoan children prepare for school every morning. The book is in Samoan. It is aligned with Te Whariki: He Whariki Matauranga mo nga Mokopuna o Aotearoa/Early Childhood Curriculum and with The New ...
This book was created to be fun and exciting to help Niuean children prepare for school every morning. The book is in Niuean. It is aligned with Te Whariki: He Whariki Matauranga mo nga Mokopuna o Aotearoa/Early Childhood Curriculum and with The New...
"On 21 March 2017, associate professor Teresia Kieuea Teaiwa passed away at the age of forty-eight. News of Teaiwa's death precipitated an extraordinary outpouring of grief unmatched in the Pacific studies community since Epeli Hau'ofa's passing in 2...
Sione, Lima, Tavita and Filipo are high school friends, uso or brothers. They are part of a special letter-writing project that helps to start a brave new conversation, an open and honest talanoa with themselves starting with the words, Dear Uso ... Here...
"This wayfinding set of essays, by acclaimed writer and critic Lana Lopesi, explores the overlap of being a woman and Sāmoan. Writing on ancestral ideas of womanhood appears alongside contemporary reflections on women's experiences and the Pacific. T...
"Sonny Bill Williams is a once in a generation athlete – a player with immense sporting talent in rugby league, rugby union and boxing. In his remarkable career, he has won World Cups with the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015 and helped the Kiwis reach the...
The Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau, which make up the Freely Associated States-as well as the broader region of Oceania-have been the subject of increasing Chinese influence and expressions...
Was this page useful?
To ask for help or information, contact us.