‘Cries from the Moana’ a Pacific children’s book wins international acclaim

An illustrated children’s book highlighting the dangers of seabed mining for the Pacific Ocean, has received international recognition by winning the 2024 UK Rubery Award.

The 122 pages ‘Cries from the Moana’ has won the Children and Young Adult Category and Book of the Year Award for 2024.

The Rubery Prize, which has a top prize of $5,800 and is awarded to the Book of the Year, is selected from a final round of judging all category winners from Fiction, Poetry, Short Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Children/Young Adult.

The story set in the village of Haumana on the mythical island of Tungia in the Pacific is a fantasy book that is enhanced by a treasure trove of over 100 illustrations.

“Cries from the Moana” is the collaboration of a Fiji-Pacific Island family spanning three generations.

Written by Tongan-born ‘Atu Emberson-Bain, with her two adult sons with the late Stephen Vete, Siale and Melino Bain-Vete, the book is illustrated by their daughter artist Anga’aefonu (Fonu) Bain-Vete, with contributions to the artwork from two of their grandchildren Tahi and Mahina Bain-Vete, who are seven and six years respectively.

Celebrated writer and indigenous human rights lawyer from Guam, Julian Aguon, says rarely does a book with this much magic come along.

Aguon says Cries from the Moana is so many things at once: a children’s story, a cautionary tale, a clarion call for justice and it makes one of the strongest cases against deep sea mining Former Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and Pacific Elders Voice, Dame Meg Taylor says she was transported to many different parts of the Pacific as the story and illustrations wove language, custom and journeys together

Dame Meg says she was mesmerised by the captivating illustrations of creatures of the deep and by their conversations with the children.

The book has been selected for Class 6 students at International School Suva in 2024.

Although written for school age children it will be enjoyed by children and adults of any age.

The book is available in Fiji at a number of retail outlets including the University of the South Pacific Book Centre, Fiji Museum, and Baka Books.