Weaving
by Rejieli & To
Suva, Fiji: University of the South Pacific
ISBN:9820101522
Set in Fiji, this is a beautifully crafted story about the Pacific tradition of weaving. Using simple, repetitive language, the story describes how each person weaves for a specific purpose – whether it be a bag, a hat, a mat, a basket. The story presents an interesting slant on the idea of “weaving”, when it tells how “Grandma is weaving a long, long story”, thus highlighting the value placed on oral traditions in Pacific Island cultures as well. The black and white illustrations are detailed and emotive, and draw the reader into the images of the Pacific.
This book was nominated for the collection because it shows Pacific Island tradition and art, and could be used very effectively by teachers in classrooms, to teach weaving as an art / technology topic.
A New Zealand Curriculum-linked activity for this picture book can be found here.