…learn moreFiapule Written by Catherine Hannken Illustrated by Trish Bowles Publisher Wellington, New Zealand: Mallinson Rendel, 2007
…learn moreFishing with Spider Webs Written by Lino Nelisi Illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Ashton Scholastic Ltd, 1994
…learn moreGrandad Written by Janet Pereira Illustrated by Bruce Potter Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 2006
…learn moreLegends of the Cook Islands Written by Shona Hopkins Illustrated by Bruce Potter Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Puffin Books, 2010
…learn moreTwo Cans of Corned Beef and a Manulele in a Mango Tree Written by Sarona Aiono-Iosefa Illustrated by Steve Dunn Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 2004
…learn moreMaui and the Big Fish Written by Barbara Ker Wilson Illustrated by Franc Lessac Publisher Great Britain: Frances Lincoln Ltd, 2003
…learn moreKo Maui Mo e Fangufangú - Maui and the Nose Flute Written by Sione Tu‘itahi Illustrated by Henele Vaka Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: PIERC Education, 1998
…learn moreO La‘u Ā‘oga ‘Āmata - My Preschool Written by Tolo Pereira Illustrated by Dwain Aiolupotea Publisher Porirua, New Zealand: Samoana Early Education Development Services Ltd (SEEDS), 2010
…learn moreO La‘u ‘Ato Ā‘oga – My School Bag Written by Tolo Pereira Illustrated by Dwain Aiolupotea Publisher Porirua, New Zealand: Samoana Early Education Development Services Ltd (SEEDS)
…learn moreLama I le Pō - Night Fishing for my Birthday Written by Tuala F. Tiresa Malietoa Illustrated by Vaioleti Samata Uili Publisher Apia, Samoa: Nui Leaf Publications, 2003
…learn moreO le Fa‘aipoipoga Written by Emma Kruse Vaai Illustrated by Regina Meredith Publisher Apia, Samoa: Niu Leaf Publications, 2005
…learn moreA Book of Pacific Lullabies Edited by Tessa Duder Illustrated by Anton Petrov Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: HarperCollins, 2001
…learn morePania of the Reef Written and illustrated by Peter Gossage Publisher North Shore, New Zealand: Puffin Books, 2008
…learn morePapa’s Donuts Written by Kate Moetaua Illustrated by Bruce Potter Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 2006
…learn morePapa’s Jandals Written by Kate Moetaua Illustrated by Bruce Potter Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Puffin Books, 2010
…learn moreThe Peace Bird Written by Eleitino Paddy Walker Illustrated by Nanette Lela‘ulu 2011
…learn morePou and Miri Tackle Climate Change Written by Dom Sansom Publisher Fiji: Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2011
…learn moreSelafina Written by Catherine Hannken Illustrated by Trish Bowles Publisher Wellington, New Zealand: Mallinson Rendel, 2003
…learn moreSina and Tinilau Written by Vilsoni Hereniko Illustrated by Jasper Schreurs Publisher Suva, Fiji: Institute of Pacific Studies, University of South Pacific in association with the Fiji Writers’ Association, 1997
…learn moreSione’s Talo Written by Lino Nelisi Illustrated by Elspeth Williamson Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Ashton Scholastic Ltd, 1993
…learn moreSole! goes to Rotorua Written by Fata and Paula Letoa Illustrated by Tony Rush Publisher New Zealand: Paua Publishing, 2002
…learn moreSole! White Sunday Written by Fata and Paula Letoa Illustrated by Tony Rush Publisher New Zealand: Paua Publishing, 2002
…learn moreTalia Written by Catherine Hannken Illustrated by Trish Bowles Publisher Wellington, New Zealand: Mallinson Rendel, 2009
…learn moreTane Te Whetū o te Ra - Tane steals the show Written by Lino Nelisi Illustrated by Gus Hunter Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic, 1997
…learn moreTangaroa’s Gift Written by Mere Whaanga-Schollum Illustrated by Mere Whaanga-Schollum Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Ashton Scholastic, 1990
…learn moreThe Magic Seashell Written by Makerita Urale Illustrated by Samuel Sakaria Publisher Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts Ltd for the Pacific Education Resources Trust, 1999
…learn moreThe Pipi Swing Written by Sarona Aiono-Iosefa Illustrated by Bruce Potter Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 2007
…learn moreThe Shark God Written by Rafe Martin Illustrated by David Shannon Publisher New York, USA: Scholastic Press, 2001
…learn moreThe stuck-there-forever boat Written by Gillian Torckler Illustrated by Bruce Potter Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Puffin Books, 2008
…learn moreThe Wooden Fish Written by Tim Tipene Illustrated by Jennifer Cooper Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 1999
…learn moreKete Harakeke - Woven Flax Kete Written by Angie Belcher Illustrated by Denise Durkin Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 2003
…learn moreTulevai and the Sea Written by Joy Cowley Illustrated by Manu Smith Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Ashton Scholastic Ltd, 1995
…learn moreTurtle Songs: A Tale for Mothers and Daughters Written by Margaret Olivia Wolfson Illustrated by Karla Sachi Publisher Oregon, USA: Beyond Words Publishing, Inc., 1999
…learn moreUlu u I Lalo - Upside-down face Written by Lemalu Ros. Afamasaga Illustrated by Donna R. Kamu Publisher Apia, Samoa: Nui Leaf Publications, 2003
…learn moreWatercress Tuna and the Children of Champion Street Written by Patricia Grace Illustrated by Robyn Kahukiwa
…learn morePe‘ā ‘ou alu I le Lotu – When I go to church Written by Tolo Pereira Illustrated by Dwain Aiolupotea Publisher Porirua, New Zealand: Samoana Early Education Development Services Ltd (SEEDS), 2010
Purpose of Collection
The creation of the New Zealand Pacific Picture Book Collection is primarily motivated by a strong belief in the power of picturebooks, and their ability to carry knowledge and world views which validate the home culture of some children, and introduce knowledge to others.
The New Zealand Pacific Picture Book Collection is a collection of 36 picture books nominated by nine librarians based in New Zealand with specific responsibility for providing library services for Pasifika communities in New Zealand. It was created in order to make the limited number of books representing Pasifika stories and knowledge easily accessible to classroom teachers, and to provide suggestions for classroom activities linked to the New Zealand curriculum in order to integrate this knowledge into New Zealand classrooms.
Thanks for using this website. You may notice that some of the books mentioned have gone out of print or are difficult to locate, and we apologise for that. The collection was created in 2012 and as time passes more books will go out of print. We hope you may be able to access some of the books through libraries nonetheless, or at least make use of the ideas in the resources. If you wish to find out more about the work of the Waikato Picturebook Research Unit (WaiPRU), please go to our site