All of these books were written or illustrated by Pacific Islander creators. Check them out!
Children's Fiction
Picture Books / Board Books
Lea Goddess of Canoe Builders by Gabrielle Ahuli’i (Kanaka Māoli), illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong
Kaiona Guides the Lost by Gabrielle Ahuli’i (Kanaka Māoli), illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong
Ten Nosey Weka by Kat Preece, illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngai Tahu)
An Tåya’ Elektrisidåt by Michael Lujan Bevaqua (CHamoru), and illustrated by Jack Lujan Bevaqua (CHamoru)
The Ever-Standing Tree: Te Rakau Tu Tonu by Tim Tipene (Ngāpuhi)
Titiro Look by Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngati Awa)
The Perfect Bilum by Ranu James (Papua New Guinean) with Connecting the Dots Through Culture and illustrated by Serge Ahwong (Motuan, Kairuku)
Middle Grade
Rimu: The Tree of Time by Lauren Keenan (Te Āti Awa ki Taranaki)
Tennis Camp Diaries: Doubles Disaster by Jasmin McGaughey (Torres Strait Islander), Ash Barty, and Jade Goodwin
Lisa Carrington Chases a Champion by Lisa Carrington (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou), illustrated by Scott Pearson
Whetū and the Secret Spies by Steph Matuku (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Te Atiawa)
General Fiction
Adult Fiction
The Mires by Tina Makereti (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangatahi-Matakore)
The Sunforge by Sascha Stronach (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka Ki Pukiteraki)
17 years later, by J.P. Pomare (Māori)
Prey, Vanda Symon (Fijian)
All that we know by Shilo Kino (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapotoi)
A Bride's Price: Love Story by Arnold Mundua (Papua New Guinean)
Stunned by Light by Richard Napam (Papua New Guinean)
General Non-Fiction
Loud by Drew Afualo (Sāmoan)
Marau Taaroa, dernière reine de Tahiti, by Raanui Danaussans (Mā'ohi)
Always Was, Always Will Be by Thomas Mayo (Torres Strait Islander)
Atua Wahine by Hana Tapiata (Te Arawa, Ngati Awa, Ngati Porou, Waikato, Pakeha)
Ngā Kūaha: Voices and Visions in Maori Healing and Psychiatry, by Wiremu NiaNia (Tuwharetoa, Ngati Kahungunu, Tuhoe), Allister Bush, & David Epston
Honey, by Honey Himere-Smiler (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Haua, Waikato-Tainui)
Nga Hapa Reo: Common Maori Language Errors by Hona Black (Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) and Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Apa)
Whaea Blue by Talia Marshall (Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Takihiku)
A Niu Dawn: Creative Responses to the Dawn Raids, compiled by Linda Va'aelua (Sāmoan)
Story Collections
Pātea Boys by Airana Ngarewa (Ngāti Ruanui, Nga Rauru, Ngāruahine)
First Nations Writers Festival 2024: Short Story Award Winners, with contributors Willy Jnr Fafoi (Solomon Islands), Marlene Dee Gray Potoura (Autonomous Region of Bougainville), Maraea Rakuraku (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Tūhoe), Helen Margaret Waaka (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Torehina), and Papua New Guinean authors Romney Tabara, Geena Iga Kusen, Julie Kondi, Kogara Hale, Baka Bina, Richard Napam, & Arnold Mundua.
Poetry
Kalokalo by Arieta Tegeilolo Talanoa Tora Rika (Tongan, Fijian), illustrated by Elsie Andrewes (Fijian, Pākeha), edited by Emele Ugavule (Tokelauan, Uvean, Fijian) and Losalini Tuwere (Fijian)
Tusitala by Danielle Kionasina Dilys Thomson (Sāmoan)
We the Gathered Heat, an anthology edited by Franny Choi, Bao Phi, No’u Revilla, and Terisa Siagatonu
Koe, an anthology edited by Janet Newman & Robert Sullivan (Ngāpuhi, Kāi Tahu)
Signs of Being by C.T. Perez (CHamoru)
Note: The ethnicities stated on this blog post were from internet sources where the creators self-identified. Only Pacific Islander ethnicities were included.