Mila’s Books was born out of a desire to fill the gap Dahlia saw in the availability of culturally relevant and engaging literature for Pasifika children.
“I was an educator for fifteen years and noticed the lack of books reflecting the diverse experiences and identities of our Pasifika students. Then when I became a mother to my two sons, Mason and Isaia, I wanted to ensure they had stories that helped them explore the beauty of our Pacific cultures, reinforcing the message that who they are and what they are matters.”
I truly believe that our stories have the power to connect, talanoa and heal from years of being invisible in so many spaces across society, including books.
At Mila’s Books, ensuring their stories are authentically Pasifika is not just a goal, it’s a key principle. And they are proud to be the only all-Pasifika publishing team in the world, a position that allows them to apply Pasifika experiences, perspectives, and values to the stories they produce and to support all the storytellers they work with.
Another goal is to foster a love for reading by offering books where Pasifika children can see themselves, their families, and their cultures represented. The team at Mila’s Books aim to empower Pasifika children to embrace their identities and inspire a new generation of readers and storytellers through the stories they produce.
“We are so grateful for our Mila’s Books team and our village of supporters who have helped to bring our stories to life and ensured access to our stories for our tamaiti.”
Mila’s Books has published the voices and stories of over 90 Pasifika tamaiti, educators and parents so far. This would not have been possible without the many schools, teachers, librarians, community leaders, and passionate advocates across Aotearoa who also believe in the power of Pasifika stories, says Dahlia.
A new feature is the Pasifika Book Hub, a much-needed space created to support new Pasifika storytellers, connect people to our beautiful Tagata o le moana stories, and encourage the growth of Pasifika publishing. The Pasifika Book Hub has been warmly received by the book and schooling community, becoming a valuable resource for educators, parents, and children seeking culturally relevant Pacific books by Pasifika authors.
Mila’s Books created the Pasifika Book Hub for two main reasons.
“Firstly, I know what it is like to start and travel this book journey alone and we really want to change this for the next generation of Pasifika publishers and storytellers by creating a space that provides advice and guidance from experienced publishers.”
Secondly, there is a huge hunger and need for these stories. For Mila’s Books to achieve its mission, it needs access to stories from Pasifika storytellers and more support for its growth than ever before. So, the Pasifika Hub is really a go-to space for all of this.
Libraries are crucial in supporting Mila’s Books’ mission by providing access to the books and resources. They can help by featuring Mila’s Books in their collections, hosting author events and readings, and promoting the stories.
“Libraries can also collaborate with us on literacy programs and workshops highlighting Pasifika literature and culture throughout the year, not just during our national Pasifika language weeks.”
But most importantly, says Dahlia, “I believe all library staff should read and experience the power of our stories as Pasifika. We believe books are bridges and windows, and our stories’ impact on people and communities to better connect, understand and develop cultural confidence has been amazing. This is why the work we do at Mila’s Books will always be much more than books and we aim to change the world of readers one book at a time.”
Ultimately, by working together, we can ensure that Pasifika stories are shared widely and that our children see themselves reflected in the books they read.
Recently released is Mataali’i, a story about the Samoan perspective on the Pleiades star cluster. It is in high demand, with over 500 copies sold in the first week of its release. It is dedicated to a founding Mila’s Books member and author, Emeli Sione, who now lives among the stars.
