In 2022, only 0.4% of children’s books published featured Pacific Islander characters.* When Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian kids open a book, what do they find? Most often, it isn’t themselves.
We Need Diverse Books is partnering with Writers and Artists Across the Country on an exciting project that will send a Kanaka (Native Hawaiian) author to speak with Kanaka students. Originally from Hawaiʻi Island, Malia Maunakea is one of our former mentees and the author of the middle grade novel Lei and the Fire Goddess, published by Penguin Random House. Malia aims to visit up to 15 low income schools and libraries across Hawaiʻi where she will discuss Hawaiian moʻolelo—stories, myths, and legends—and host workshops on storytelling, writing, and why these students’ voices matter. Each school and library will also be provided copies of Malia’s book.
These author visits will impact hundreds of students across Hawaiʻi, and the effects will include:
- helping Hawaiian keiki to see themselves, their histories, and their cultures reflected on the page
- building up the students’ pride in their heritage and increasing their sense of self-worth
- and showing a potential career path in writing and how to get a book published.
Thank you for your support!
*According to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.