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.
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Book
Describes the culture behind the Tongan national rugby league team, Kau To'a, Mate Ma'a Tonga, MMT, and features profiles on each of the players. Also tells the fictional story of Toko, who overcomes his fears and grows in self confidence.
"On Sunday 7 December 1941, Japanese fighter planes attacked American ships in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Britain declared war on Japan.And the Pasifika Coastwatchers leaped into action!Their job was to report...
"Mataginifale is a Niue superhero with a difference. She isn't known for her super powers, but for her super creativity. One day she had an argument with a whale that tested her thinking skills too"--Back cover.
"Maui threw his line and hook into the ocean. He felt the hook catch onto something huge and heavy. "Wow, it's beautiful!" Maui said. What amazing sight did Maui see in the ocean that day?"--Publisher description.
"Taro is one of the most popular foods in Samoa. You can bake it and eat it with palusami. You can boil it and eat it with coconut cream. You can even fry it and make taro chips. But how did taro get to Samoa? Find out in Who stole my taro? – a Samoan...
This picture book tells an old Tongan fable about a mischievous mouse and an unwitting octopus. An origin story, its illustrations take the reader from a Tongan forest to the edge of a fringing reef. The story is a parable to teach fishing lure design...
"Rev Siosifa Pole highlights Tongan cultural and social concepts and explores how they relate to his experience as a minister in English language, New Zealand parish settings. He hopes the book will improve the understanding by other people of the Tongan...
Robert Louis Stevenson, long recognized as a master storyteller and essayist, was also a prolific letter writer. His letters, some 2800 pieces of correspondence, have been published in eight volumes. Volume VII covers the period from September 1890 to...
Picture book
An introduction to the alphabet written in Gilbertese and English.
An introduction to numbers written in Gilbertese and English.
An introduction to colours written in Gilbertese and English.
Mouse is tricked out of eating a banana by some ants.
When old enough to fly alone, Kaiana is given a plane ticket by her family to visit her grandmother, Teiti, who lives on a Pacific Island. There, beside a beach full of creatures, her adventures begin, as does her close relationship with Teiti. It's ...
DVD
The world is heating up beyond the capacity of some countries to cope. Entire populations of Pacific islands are threatened, jeopardising the sovereign rights of these countries and the security of the region. This book explores what a just response to...
Walter and his friends collect cacao pods to make koko Samoa, a traditional chocolate-tasting drink for his family.
Fa'afisi is nervous because this is his first time to serve the 'apa fafano (hand washing bowl) to the Women's Committee who have finished lunch after their meeting.
"This book is written with the blessings of my aiga. It is a collection of stories of my late grandfather Tanuvasa Saofa'imatumua Tanuvasa Tofaeono. The stories are the record of his genealogy, adventures and most of all, his tautua to our aiga, vill...
First in a series of books about Pacific Rugby exploring some unique characteristics of Fiji Rugby.
"After completing her studies in New Zealand, Debbie decides to travel back to Samoa to meet her father and for the first time in a long time to meet her mother as well. Upon her arrival she meets her brother Maze, who helped her to find their mother....
The Big O by Patrick Skene is the story of Olsen Filipaina, a New Zealand Hall of Fame rugby league legend who was a pathfinder for the Maori and Pasifika players who today dominate the Australian National Rugby League. In a career that saw him play 29...
"The fantasy creature Tiseniko models safe behaviour in situations where many children are at risk: train crossings, road safety, learning to swim, taking care by BBQ fires etc.
In Tonga families come together to prepare a kaipola or feast to celebrate special occasions. It is their way of expressing love, pride and gratitude to others.
All around the countryside during the summer season in Fiji, mango trees are laden with fruit. Alot of people on islands sell mangoes as their source of income. There are over 400 hundred varieties of fruit all around the world. They grow best in tro...
Breadfruit originated in Papua New Guinea and was brought to the Pacific by voyaging Polynesians 3,000 years ago. Breadfruit trees grow on high islands and low atolls throughout the Pacific.
"For my father's kingdom follows Tongan pensioner Sala Mafile'O and his family as they are stretched to breaking point by the commitment and pasiion to god that has driven Saia's life. This debut feature documentary offers a rich view of how contempo...
Each Pacific island nation developed their own traditional dishes and they found ways of preserving food for the times when food was short. People in the Pacific cooked their food in pots on open fire or wrapped in leaves to bake in earthern ovens.
"James and Jessie are embarrassed by Uncle Tino’s old car and the way he honks the horn so loudly when he drives them to school. But when the Samoan culture group needs help to prepare for the end of year concert, it turns out that Uncle Tino is full...
"Pasefika Kids in Books aims to encourage the retention of Pasefika languages. Using rhyme, relevance & reading to encourage the use of fa'asamoa in our children's lives."--Publisher description.
Mama Rules was developed from two workshops where participants were encouraged to reflect and dialogue about their stories and experiences of leadership. It is a culmination of experiences, ideas and discussions with various Pacific women in Te Waipounamu...
Music CD
"This singalong book has been written to help children begin to learn Samoan"--Title page verso.
This book is about the Pacific Islanders who migrated to New Zealand. The Polynesian people who journeyed to New Zealand to settle come mainly from Western Samoa, the Tokelau Islands, Niue and the Cook Islands and also from Fiji and Tonga.
A Children's book set in Fiji by Walt Smith. 'The Mysterious Shadow' is Book 1 in an illustrated underwater action adventure series about a group of characters that notice changes taking place on reef where they live. Simeon, their leader, thinks he knows...
"This is a biography of Sir Toke Tufukia Talagi and his life from a small island in the Pacific to a knight of the realm. It covers his life work and his experiences as a businessman and into politics and the premiership. He was a reluctant politician...
"Navigating journeys is a collection of poetry and prose written by local writers from Mana Māngere Writers Collective who have either lived, worked or have studied in the communities of Māngere or Otahuhu." --Back cover.
My Ocean Home Fiji is a beautiful children's book that tells the story of Tui and his Fijian friends, who explore the magical world under the sea.
"Tasi, a young boy growing up in the 1950's in American Samoa, finds an interesting shell while diving on a coral reef. This is the story of Tasi and his family—a peek into the rich culture and traditions of the Samoan people."--Publisher description...
This simple Tongan dictionary was created to help you connect with and understand the Tongan culture through learning some of the basics of the language. Using words and phrases will allow you to pick up on topics of conversations and even piece toge...
"In 1920, David O. McKay visited the Latter-day Saint missions, schools, and branches in the Pacific, solidifying the Church leadership's commitment to global outreach. The trip also later inspired McKay's initiatives when he was Church president. ...
Push, pull and turn mechanisms bring Doctor Dolittle and his menagerie of animals to life as he goes on an adventure to Africa. First Stories: Doctor Dolittle is the perfect introduction for young children to this popular tale.
Two brothers, Alama (Vito Vito) and Popo (Longi Taulafo) arrive for the first time in New Zealand as seasonal workers, making plenty of money to take back home to their family in Samoa. But things take a turn for the worst when Popo steals Alamas' mo...
"The first official book for PKB (Pasefika Kids in Books) written in the Samoan language! Using rhyme, relevance & reading to encourage the use of fa'asamoa in our children's lives."--Publisher description.
"My First Samoan People's Book is the fourth book of the My First Samoan Series. It is perfect for all toddlers and preschoolers of Samoan American descent. It has most of family members and careers in the Samoan and English language. Each page caref...
A retelling of Aesop's most iconic tales. A parade of captivating characters -- tricky foxes, talking trees and ferocious lions -- impart the universal wisdom of this master of the parable.
"Opposites in Tongan with English translations is an educational bilingual language learning resource to help children learn a Polynesian language. Children will learn concepts such as big and small, short and tall, hot and cold, clean and dirty, left...
"Tokelau heroes presents inspirational stories of achievers who have Tokelauan ancestry"--Back cover.
"A missionary family, a violent attack, and one woman's brave determination to break free from trauma. Jadie's story is one of forgiveness, hope, healing, and victory in Christ. When she was a young girl, Jadie (and her missionary family) experienced...
An urgent cry for help brings Poirot to France. He arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies face down in a shallow grave on a golf course. Poirot's investigation is turned upside down by the discovery of a second,...
Following a shipwreck a young naturalist finds himself on an island run by a mad scientist intent on creating a strain of beast men.
"In 1995, the Warriors invaded the Australian Rugby League premiership - the first overseas club to be admitted - in a blaze of publicity and hype the likes of which New Zealand sport had never seen. The Warriors have taken their fans on a wild rolle...
"Unpacking the five main Polynesian styles: Samoan, Marquesan, Tahitian, Hawaiian, Maori. Presenting over 400 symbols and their meanings. Fully illustrated with more than 550 images, with 15 original tattoos deconstructed and explained. This book explains...
"From Avaiki and across the vast Pacific Ocean, the Ariki led the people of the Pacific to new worlds aboard great ocean canoes. The people of modern day Cook Islands were a part of this great voyage. Te Maeva Nui Aotearoa NZ 2019 celebrates the lead...
Tiseniko goes for a ride along the shore in Tonga on a borrowed bike.
"A collection of tales of Pacifika women. Short stories that capture some of the drama, laughter, loves and sorrows in the lives of women of the Pacific. Each tale is unique, life enhancing and totally engrossing." --Back cover.
"The island historiographies presented here are new versions of chapters from our series "Essays on the history of the discovery and exploration of Tonga by the Europeans." They have been improved and enlarged - especially the paper on Niuafo'ou, the...
Provides the Niuean word for a particular colour; then uses the word in a sentence. Colours include red, orange, brown, green, blue, yellow, white, and purple.
Animals of Samoa.
First words for family members, common objects, and animals in Samoan and English.
First words for family members, common objects, and animals in Tongan and English.
Provides the Samoan word for a particular colour; then uses the word in a sentence. Colours include red, orange, brown, green, blue, yellow, white, and purple.
A Tongan language learning resource for pre-school and primary school students. Aimed primarily at children of Tongan descent whose first language is English.
"Widely respected Pacific scholar Janet Davidson details the collection of Māori, Pacific and Native American objects associated with Cook's three voyages of exploration in the Pacific between 1768 and 1779 held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa.....
"I luga o auvai o le Vaitafe o Mississippi, ua sailia e Tom Sawyer ma ana uo le malaga i taimi uma. Ona tasi lea o le po i le tuugamau latou te molimauina se fasioti tagata. E faia e tama se tautoga o le toto e le fa'aalia ai le mealilo, ma latou sosola...
"A moving graphic memoir of growing up Pasifika in New Zealand... At school, Selina is ridiculed for her big, frizzy hair. Kids call her 'mophead'. She ties her hair up this way and that way and tries to fit in. Until one day - Sam Hunt plays a role,...
"Bryan Williams - Pacific Pioneer is the inspirational story of one of the first great Pasifikan All Blacks. Bryan beat his opponents with speed, sidestepping or sometimes just by running over the top of them! He inspired future generations of Pasifikan...
"Grace Brought Me Here gives you a vulnerable and raw insight into Lima's compelling journey of grace. Lima retells her story with a great deal of transparency, authenticity, and courage, revealing some of her darkest and most profoundly heart wrench...
Kaluti is a children’s book that talks about colorism in Fiji and take on a journey of empowerment and self-love. Written and self-published by activist and now author Shazia Usman, Kaluti tells the story of a 10-year-old Indo-Fijian girl living in ...
"Attuned to a world of natural signs-the stars, the winds, the curl of ocean swells-Polynesian explorers navigated for thousands of miles without charts or instruments. They sailed against prevailing winds and currents aboard powerful double canoes to...
Brown Boys is a comedic coming of age film about six Samoan men in South Auckland. Their world is changing and they must move past the stage of going out, drinking and womanising. This is a story of brotherhood, growing up and love. The Brown Boys spend...
Six Nights in May is the narrative of what began on Thursday, 14th May, 1987, in the Parliament of Fiji. It was at 10.10am that a colonel staged the first coup with ten masked gunmen. He was the third-ranked officer in the Fiji Royal Military Forces,...
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