By JoAnn Yao
Pacific Islanders or Pasifika are indigenous peoples of the Pacific Islands, which contain a multitude of rich, distinct cultures. During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we honor not only the Native people who hail from the Pacific Islands but folks in the Pacific diaspora as well.
Below is a list of resources that is by no means comprehensive, but which highlights authors, educational tools, and more to help folks begin delving into Pasifika kidlit.
Book Collections and Resources
- Wheelers Books – Pasifika New Releases: New Zealand’s largest online supplier of books and eBooks to Schools, Public Libraries and Educational institutions.
- Pacific Picture Book Collection: “[A] collection of 36 picture books nominated by nine librarians based in New Zealand with specific responsibility for providing library services for Pasifika communities.” (Note: Includes but is not exclusively Own Voices.)
- More about the collection, its inception, and a deeper dive on some of the books it includes here.
- Tales from Pasifika: Blog that reviews and recommends books by Pasifika authors.
- Talk Story’s Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Book Collection: A list of picture books, children’s chapter books, Young Adult books, and more curated by a group of librarians for Talk Story, “a joint family literacy project between the Asian/Pacific American Library Association and the American Indian Library Association.” (Note: Includes but is not exclusively Own Voices.)
- Sarona Meata’a Aiono-Iosefa (NZ – Sāmoan)
- Tusiata Avia (NZ – Sāmoan)
- Zora Feilo (NZ – Niuean)
- Sia Figiel (Samoa – Sāmoan)
- Logo (L.) Filloon (USA/Samoa – Sāmoan)
- Patricia Grace (NZ – Ngati Toa, Ngati Raukawa, & Te Ati Awa)
- Maxine Hemi (NZ – Māori)
- Whiti Hereaka (NZ – Māori/Tūwharetoa & Te Arawa)
- Witi Ihimaera (NZ – Māori/Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki)
- Keala Kendall (USA – Hapa)
- Dahlia Malaeulu (NZ – Sāmoan)
- Lino Nelisi (NZ – Sāmoan/Niuean)
- Pauline Vaeluaga Smith (Samoa/NZ – Sāmoan, Tuvaluan, Scottish, & Irish)
- Tulia Thompson (Fiji – Tongā/Pakeha)
- Lani Wendt Young (Samoa – Sāmoan)
- Waka Story Books: “IOE has been publishing children’s books since 1976, in over 8 Pacific languages. The Institute develops the talents of local writers and artists, and adds the expertise of trained USP educators and linguists to create each of its books. IOE believes it is every Pacific child’s right to read books in languages familiar to them, and enjoy stories which reflect and celebrate their own cultural experiences and values.”
- HUIA: “Since 1991, HUIA has made a commitment to produce wonderful and provocative books and resources allowing an insight into the diversity of Māori and Pacific perspectives, young and old alike. We undertake the challenge of exploring the stories and aspirations of our people of Aotearoa; we aim to provide a mirror for Māori to reflect and interpret their experiences and to open a fascinating window for the rest of the world.”
- Kamehameha Publishing: “Kamehameha Publishing supports Kamehameha Schools’ mission by publishing and distributing Hawaiian language, culture, and community-based materials that engage learners as well as reinforce, and invigorate Hawaiian cultural vitality.”
JoAnn Yao is the Social Media Manager for We Need Diverse Books. Among other things, she has conducted research for the American Film Institute, provided book and script coverage for a Hollywood agency, designed an online narrative game, and written a comic for a New Frontiers anthology. She lives in New York City with her dragon’s hoard of books. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.