Books Published between April and September 2025

We are excited to share all the books we could find that were written or illustrated by Pacific Islander creators published between April and September 2025. Direct links to buy the books are below. Please also request these books at your local libraries and bookstores. If we are missing any books, please reach out to us so we can add them. If you are a Pacific Islander creator with a book coming out soon, please let us know!

Children's Books

Board Books 

• Tōku Takiwā by Jessica Hita (Māori)

• Aia i Hea Ka Wai a Kāne written by Haunani Miyasato (Kanaka ‘Ōiwi) and illustrated by Kawehi Mahi-Roberts (Kanaka Maoli)

• Mele Wai by Haunani Miyasato (Kanaka ‘Ōiwi)

• Animal Opposites at the Zoo by Taronga Conservation Society Australia, illustrated by Emilie Tavaearii (Tahitian)

• I Mea Aha Ke Kalo by Haunani Miyasato (Kanaka ‘Ōiwi)

• E ʻAi i ka Poi by Haunani Miyasato (Kanaka ‘Ōiwi)

Picture Books

• Hunt for Niu Tupu by Inangaro Vakaafi (Niuean, Cook Islander), Maka Makatoa (Niuean), and Liz Tui Morris (Samoan)

• A Guide to Rocks written by Sasha Cotter and illustrated by Josh Morgan (Māori)

• Alagā’upu Fa’asamoa Ma Uiga Mo Tamaiti: Samoan Proverbs for Children written by Tauanu’u Perenise Tapu Sitagata (Samoan), illustrated  by Ani Huia Ligaliga (Māori)

• Moana 2 Birthday Treasure Hunt by Kamalani Hurley (Kanaka Maoli), illustrated by Disney Storybook Art Team 

• This is Not Yours to Carry written by Sarah Brown (Māori) with Matt Brown (Samoan), illustrated by Oceana Olsen (Māori, Pasifika)

• The Lost Words written by Kim Kearney (Māori), illustrated by Taylor Terewai Tiave (Māori, Tongan) 

• Mother of the Nation: Whina Cooper and the Long Walk for Justice | Te Whaea o te Motu: Whina Cooper me te Hīkoi Roa mō te Manatika written by David Hill, illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse (Māori), and translated by Stacey Morrison (Māori)

• Whenua by Isobel Joy Te Aho White (Māori)

• Going for Pippies by Wilaaran Hunter Laurie, illustrated by Tori-Jay Mordey (Torres Strait Islander)

• My Dream Holiday by Ash Barty and Jasmin McGaughey (Torres Strait Islander), illustrated by Jade Goodwin

• Piafe/New Land written by Innocenta Sound-Kikku (Chuukese), illustrated by Lissette Yamase (Chuukese, Pohnpeian)

• Lien Apinam written by Innocenta Sound-Kikku (Chuukese), illustrated by Lissette Yamase (Chuukese, Pohnpeian)

• The Big Boil-Up/Te Kai Kōhua Nui written by Angie Belcher, illustrated by Zak Ātea (Māori), translated by Pānia Papa (Māori)

• Kaiboia ao Butaritari – Kaiboia and Butaritari by Kiribati Federation Aotearoa, illustrated by Azra Pancho

Middle Grade

• The Last Journey by Stacy Gregg (Māori)

Young Adult

• Moonlight and Dust by Jasmin McGaughey (Torres Strait Islander)

• The Invisible Wild by Nikki Van De Car (Hawaiian)

• How Far I’ll Go by Keala Kendall (Native Hawaiian)

Graphic Novel

• Waikaua written by Keawe Goodhue (Kanaka Maoli) and Pa’ani Kelson (Kanaka Maoli) and illustrated by Solomon Enos (Native Hawaiian) and Alika Spahn Naihe (Kanaka Maoli)

General Fiction

• Kaua’i Storm by Tori Eldridge (Kanaka Maoli)

• A Shipwreck in Fiji by Nilima Rao (Fijian)

• The Pearl of Tagai Town by Lenora Thacker (Torres Strait Islander)

• Masters of Fine Hearts by Krysta Pa’e (Hawaiian)

• Valley of Spiraling Winds by Peter J. Oluloa Britos (Hawaiian) 

• The Last Living Cannibal by Airana Ngarewa (Māori)

• They Chose Peace by Daniel Kumbon (Papua New Guinean) 

• Resilient Hearts by Glen Kaiposu Faite (Papua New Guinean)

• Dual: Nothing is What it Seems by Marshall Ericho (Papua New Guinean)

Poetry

• AUP New Poets 11 by Xiaole Zhan, Margo Montes de Oca and J. A. Vili (Samoan)

• Mele by Kalehua Kim (Hawaiian) 

• Death Goddess Guide to Self-Love by Carin Smeaton (Māori)

• Overseas Experience by Nicola Andrews (Māori) 

• Mettle Anne-Marie Te Whiu (Māori)

• O Se Paopao I le Aniva: A Canoe in the Constellations by Jasmine C Koria (Samoan) 

• Tusiata by Danielle Kionasina (Samoan)

• Moana: Voices of Our Ocean curated by Danielle Kionasina (Samoan)

Short Story Collections

• Extinction Capital of the World by Mariah Rigg (Samoan)

• Always Never Knowing a short story collection by Georgiana Quintanilla Tyquiengco (CHamoru) 

• Nous Autres by Chantal Spitz (Mā’ohi) (book in French/Tahitian)

Non-Fiction

• Kuleana by Sara Kehaulani Goo (Native Hawaiian)

• Maori Millionaire by Te Kahukura Boynton (Māori)

• This Compulsion in Us by Tina Makereti (Māori)

• Reconnect: Tokelau Tā Tatau by Jack Kirifi (Tokelauan) 

• Full Circle by Jenny-May Clarkson (Māori)

• Eia Au e Laka, Iho Mai e Kapō a collection of essays by the Edith Kanaka’ole Foundation

• Slowing the Sun by Nadine Hura (Māori)

• Whānau: reo Māori phrases to share with the people you love by Donovan Te Ahunui Farnham (Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe), illustrated by Rehua Wilson (Te Aupouri/Te Rarawa)

• Tinanom Åmot Siha: A Guide to Traditional Plants and their Healing Uses by Lourdes Toves Manglona (CHamoru)

• Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America by Jeff Chang (Kanaka Maoli)

• Oceans Between Us by Sereana Naepi (Fijian)

• Ara: A Māori Guidebook of the Mind by Hinemoa Elder (Ngāti Kuri, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngāpuhi nui tonu) 

• Speaking My Language: Te Kōrero I Tōku Reo by Mike McRoberts (Māori)

• Sio FakaTonga ‘ae ‘Aati FakaTonga Tongan Views of Tongan Arts by Professor Hūfanga He-Ako-Moe-Lotu Dr ‘Ōkusitino Māhina (Tongan), Associate Professor Māui-Tava-He-Ako Dr Tēvita Ka‘ili (Tongan), and curator Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai MNZM (Tongan)

• The CHamoru American Warrior by Aaron Quitugua (CHamoru)

• Te Āhua o ngā Kupu Whakaari a Te Kooti by Tā Pou Temara (Māori

• Māori Ora by Nathan Hira (Māori)

  
  

• Pro Wrestling's Pacific Bloodline: Family Over Everything by Ite Lemalu (Samoan)

• Ho’opono: Mutual Emergence by Manulani Aluli Meyer (Hawaiian)

• Mātauranga Māori by Hirini Moko Mead (Māori)

• The Unlikely Doctor by Timoti Tē Moke (Māori)

• Noken / Men: String Bags of the Muyu Tribe of Southern West Papua by Veronika Triariyani Kanem (West Papuan)

• Taimwanuokai: Forget Me Not by Kaetaeta Watson (I-Kiribati), Louisa Humphry MNZM (I-Kiribati)

• Hononga: A guide to a more connected, satisfying and authentic life by Tracy Manu (Māori)

Play

• Matapēhi a Māori translation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth by Te Haumihiata Mason (Māori)

Note: The ethnicities stated on this blog post were from internet sources where the creators self-identified. Only Pacific Islander ethnicities were included.