Photo-packed introduction to the people, culture and identity of Fiji arrives in new bilingual book

Moana Oceania Series: Fiji - Viti
Tarisi Vunidilo

Despite Fiji being among the largest Pacific Island nations, there is a dearth of good books about the country in print. 

 

This fourth volume in the Moana Oceania Series aims to address that situation with highly illustrated text in English and Fijian.

 

Fijian–New Zealand educator Tarisi Vunidilo introduces the people, culture and identity of her homeland in simple terms in the colourful and informative Moana Oceania: Fiji - Viti.

 

The bilingual text offers insights into society, geography, legends, arts, history and language — outlining the values of Fiji’s people, and how families live and celebrate life. 

 

A section is dedicated to the more than 20,000 Fijians who live in New Zealand and how they remain connected to their culture.

The striking design with info boxes, colour photos, illustrations and maps make Fiji – Viti  fun to read — and it’s easy to relate the English to the Fijian text.

This and other books in the series are contributing to the use of indigenous languages: Fiji – Viti will hit the bookstores just before Fiji Day (the national day, on 10 October) and during Macawa ni Vosa VakaViti – Fijian Language Week, which runs from 6–12 October 2024. 

 

The author

Tarisi Vunidilo is a Fijian-New Zealand archaeologist and curator who specialises in indigenous museum and heritage management. Born in Suva, Fiji she has taught at universities in New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii. She is currently an assistant professor at California State University, Los Angeles, and hosts the Talanoa with Dr T society and culture website.  

Publication Date: 10 October 2024 |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004240-9 |  RRP $29.99

Paperback, 230 x 170 mm portrait, 48 pages, colour

Book giveaway: Food Atlas (2018)

Our final giveaway to celebrate 10 years of publishing is the colourful, visually stunning Food Atlas.

Food Atlas guides young readers and adults on a gastronomic world tour, with a smattering of cultural and geographical information thrown in. Gorgeous maps by renowned illustrator Febe Sillani detail the typical foods of the world, one country at a time. 

First published in 2017 by Dalcò Edizioni of Parma, Italy, this large hardback quickly became an international hit, translated into 18 languages and selling over 150,000 copies worldwide. 

It includes pages on Australia, New Zealand, but was not available here until Oratia published it with some local variations in October 2018.

Anzac biscuits, beech honey, Bluff oysters and boil-ups are the first of the foods on the New Zealand map, while the Australia spread covers a wide range of foods, wines, flora and fauna. Click here to find out more.

Readers of all ages Down Under can savour the tastes of the world through Food Atlas: from avocados to sausage rolls and baklava to pineapple lumps. 

Visit our Fb Page to be in to win a copy of Food Atlas. Prize available to New Zealand residents only. 

Competition closes on Tuesday 6 August, and winner announced on Wednesday 7 August.

Putting food on the map, globally and locally

International bestseller featuring Australia, New Zealand and Fiji comes Down Under through Oratia Books ...

Publishing in Oceania on 3 October, this is a visually stunning, content-rich book that once you pick up, is hard to put down.

Anzac biscuits, beech honey, Bluff oysters and boil-ups are just the first of an array of foods on the New Zealand map inside international bestseller Food Atlas.

The Australia spread covers an array of foods and features, including Granny Smith apples and macadamia nuts, Fairy Bread and the Pie Floater, plus gourmet entries like Australian wine.   

Sampling foods and ingredients around the world, this big, beautiful atlas guides young readers and adults on an illustrated world voyage, with a smattering of cultural and geographical information thrown in.

Hand-illustrated maps show in detail the most typical fruits and vegetables, meat, fish and cheese, cereals, beverages, herbs and spices for each region. 

The contents page of Food Atlas

One country at a time, the world of food takes shape, bringing to life the gastronomical wonders of the Earth while celebrating our different tastes and creations.

First published last year by Dalcò Edizioni – which is appropriately based in the Italian foodie haven Parma —Food Atlas has already been translated into 18 languages and sold over 150,000 copies worldwide.

Peter Dowling, Publisher of Oratia Books, closed the deal for Oceania rights with Paolo Dalcò, Publisher of  Dalcò Edizioni, at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in late March (pictured).

Paolo Dalcò (left) with Peter Dowlng at the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2018

Oratia has checked all the excellent material that the authors researched for Oceania.

Author Giulia Malerba lives in Parma, where she works as an author and editor of food books. Illustrator Febe Sillani is the celebrated author of over 80 children's books, many published internationally; she lives in Trieste, Italy.

Giulia Malerba

Febe Sillani

Now readers Down Under can also savour the tastes of the world: from cloudberries to tomatillos, samosa to quesadilla, and Baklava to Bløtcake. 

Publication Date: 3 October 2018 |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-51-3 |  RRP $39.99

Hardback, 370 x 270 mm, 72 pages colour