Brainstorming Tuvalu children’s books

Tonight I went to watch Rosalina by the Sau e Siva Creatives at Mangere Arts Centre. The guys adapted the story from a legend in my book, Samoan Heroes. It’s pretty cool seeing the way they took the story from off the page and brought it to life on stage with a celebration of Samoan culture,…

In term 3 I worked with children and families from the wonderful Auckland Tuvalu Community Trust to make a bilingual book celebrating Tuvalu people, history and culture. We launched the book during Tuvalu Language Week. It’s so cool that children of Tuvaluan heritage can see themselves represented in literature. It was also cool to do…

Today we celebrated Tuvalu Independence Day with the launch of 8 new bilingual Tuvaluan children’s books. The books represent each island in Tuvalu and are written by 8 Tuvaluan young women. As well as the writers the team that made these books is Sagaa Malua (project paramount chief), Alamai Sioni (cultural advisor), Chad Robertson (illustrator),…

I’m working with the team at Mahi for Ukraine to make a book of encouraging messages and pictures by Kiwi young people for the Ukrainian young people who will soon be arriving in NZ with their families, fleeing the attacks from Russia. You can read a bit more and see a Seven Sharp report about…

I’ve been working with children from the Hindi College in West Auckland. We’re making a book that teaches children what to do in a flood. It’s been awesome learning Indian culture from these children and teachers and finding fun ways to incorporate their culture into the story. The project is one of four I’m doing…

I’ve received a number of emails from librarians over the years asking if I could make some books for girls. I’m so glad I got to make some books featuring inspirational Kiwi women such as Lisa Carrington, Stacey Fluhler (Waaka) and Kamelia Lino Zarka. Here’s another 3 books to this series of remarkable Wāhine Toa!…