#manulele-in-a-mango-tree-caption

#night-fishing-caption

#selafina-caption

#sole-white-sunday-caption

#the-wooden-fish-caption

#my-preschool-caption

#papas-jandals-caption

#legends-of-the-cook-islands-caption

#fishing-with-spider-webs-caption

#when-i-go-to-church-caption

#watercress-tuna-caption

#the-magic-seashell-caption

#the-shark-god-caption

#tane-steals-the-show-caption

#upside-down-face-caption

#the-woven-flax-kit-caption

#maui-and-the-big-fish

#fiapule-caption

#papas-donuts-caption

#turtle-songs-caption

#o-le-faaipoipoga-caption

#maui-and-the-nose-flute-caption

#the-stuck-there-forever-boat-caption

#sina-and-tinilau-caption

#grandad-caption

#my-school-bag-caption

#pacific-lullabies-caption

#siones-talo-caption

#the-pipi-swing-caption

#pou-and-miri-caption

#sole-goes-to-rotorua-caption

#tangaroas-gift-caption

#tulevai-caption

#peace-bird-caption

…learn more Fiapule
Written by Catherine Hannken
Illustrated by Trish Bowles
Publisher Wellington, New Zealand: Mallinson Rendel, 2007

…learn more Fishing with Spider Webs
Written by Lino Nelisi
Illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Ashton Scholastic Ltd, 1994

…learn more Grandad
Written by Janet Pereira
Illustrated by Bruce Potter
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 2006

…learn more Legends of the Cook Islands
Written by Shona Hopkins
Illustrated by Bruce Potter
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Puffin Books, 2010

…learn more Two 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 more Maui and the Big Fish
Written by Barbara Ker Wilson
Illustrated by Franc Lessac
Publisher Great Britain: Frances Lincoln Ltd, 2003

…learn more Ko 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 more O 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 more O 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 more Lama 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 more O le Fa‘aipoipoga
Written by Emma Kruse Vaai
Illustrated by Regina Meredith
Publisher Apia, Samoa: Niu Leaf Publications, 2005

…learn more A Book of Pacific Lullabies
Edited by Tessa Duder
Illustrated by Anton Petrov
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: HarperCollins, 2001

…learn more Pania of the Reef
Written and illustrated by Peter Gossage
Publisher North Shore, New Zealand: Puffin Books, 2008

…learn more Papa’s Donuts
Written by Kate Moetaua
Illustrated by Bruce Potter
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 2006

…learn more Papa’s Jandals
Written by Kate Moetaua
Illustrated by Bruce Potter
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Puffin Books, 2010

…learn more The Peace Bird
Written by Eleitino Paddy Walker
Illustrated by Nanette Lela‘ulu
2011

…learn more Pou and Miri Tackle Climate Change
Written by Dom Sansom
Publisher Fiji: Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2011

…learn more Selafina
Written by Catherine Hannken
Illustrated by Trish Bowles
Publisher Wellington, New Zealand: Mallinson Rendel, 2003

…learn more Sina 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 more Sione’s Talo
Written by Lino Nelisi
Illustrated by Elspeth Williamson
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Ashton Scholastic Ltd, 1993

…learn more Sole! goes to Rotorua
Written by Fata and Paula Letoa
Illustrated by Tony Rush
Publisher New Zealand: Paua Publishing, 2002

…learn more Sole! White Sunday
Written by Fata and Paula Letoa
Illustrated by Tony Rush
Publisher New Zealand: Paua Publishing, 2002

…learn more Talia
Written by Catherine Hannken
Illustrated by Trish Bowles
Publisher Wellington, New Zealand: Mallinson Rendel, 2009

…learn more Tane Te Whetū o te Ra - Tane steals the show
Written by Lino Nelisi
Illustrated by Gus Hunter
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic, 1997

…learn more Tangaroa’s Gift
Written by Mere Whaanga-Schollum
Illustrated by Mere Whaanga-Schollum
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Ashton Scholastic, 1990

…learn more The 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 more The Pipi Swing
Written by Sarona Aiono-Iosefa
Illustrated by Bruce Potter
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 2007

…learn more The Shark God
Written by Rafe Martin
Illustrated by David Shannon
Publisher New York, USA: Scholastic Press, 2001

…learn more The stuck-there-forever boat
Written by Gillian Torckler
Illustrated by Bruce Potter
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Puffin Books, 2008

…learn more The Wooden Fish
Written by Tim Tipene
Illustrated by Jennifer Cooper
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 1999

…learn more Kete Harakeke - Woven Flax Kete
Written by Angie Belcher
Illustrated by Denise Durkin
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Publishing Ltd, 2003

…learn more Tulevai and the Sea
Written by Joy Cowley
Illustrated by Manu Smith
Publisher Auckland, New Zealand: Ashton Scholastic Ltd, 1995

…learn more Turtle 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 more Ulu u I Lalo - Upside-down face
Written by Lemalu Ros. Afamasaga
Illustrated by Donna R. Kamu
Publisher Apia, Samoa: Nui Leaf Publications, 2003

…learn more Watercress Tuna and the Children of Champion Street
Written by Patricia Grace
Illustrated by Robyn Kahukiwa

…learn more Pe‘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

Selafina

Selafina

By Catherine Hannken

Illustrated by Trish Bowles

Wellington, New Zealand: Mallinson Rendel

ISBN: 0908783744/9780908783748

Set in Auckland, New Zealand, this story tells of a young Samoan girl, Selafina, who is about to celebrate her tenth birthday. In honour of her Nana, who is visiting from Samoa especially for the occasion, Selafina learns to dance a siva to perform at her birthday party. This story reinforces the themes of culture and family, as well as promoting the value of fa’a malosi – finding strength in a difficult situation. It is beautifully illustrated in watercolour by Trish Bowles, with images from both Samoa and New Zealand.

This book was nominated because of its focus on the importance of intergenerational links, as well as the value placed on the Samoan siva dance. It was also nominated because of its themes of family and closeness, and for its use of Pasifika themes in the illustrations – such as the frangipani flower on the cover. It was also nominated because it is the story of “a New Zealand Pasifika child who … finds her Samoan culture comes alive in her personal relationships with her grandmother.” (Rob). This book was selected as a Notable Book in the Children’s Literature Foundation of New Zealand Awards, and was shortlisted for Best Picture Book in the New Zealand Post Book Awards (2004).

A New Zealand Curriculum-linked activity for this picture book can be found here.