Pauli Wong Chiu Isara is an artist from Vailele Uta whose work is featured in Samoa’s First 10 Book Series for children launching on the 28th of September.  

This initiative is called Tatou Faitau or Let’s Read by Asia Foundation in partnership with Samoa Early Learning Foundation, a local charitable organisation dedicated to enhancing children's learning, especially in literacy and reading.  Tatou Faitau or Let's Read, aims to foster a love for reading among young children while preserving and promoting Samoa’s rich culture.

Samoa’s first book series is part of a 10,000-book electronic library from across Asia and the Pacific, translated into 60 languages.  This collaborative effort brings together the talents of twelve local authors and illustrators. Each book in the series is designed to resonate with Samoan children, featuring stories that reflect their everyday lives, cultural practices and unique environment.

Growing up in Apia, Pauli was surrounded by a vibrant mix of influences. “Growing up in town, I was exposed to a lot of things and attended a school that was far better resourced in comparison to the schools in the rural areas.  Televisions were a luxury afforded by a few back then.  I enjoyed reading books with pictures but I was never sure what I wanted to be.  I wanted to be so many things.  I enjoyed making costumes and things for our school.”

As a pre-schooler at Anglican or Sinave, Pauli was known for his eagerness to be the first at the painting easels and drawing areas, showing an early passion for art. His inspiration came from the popular culture of the time, particularly WWF wrestling, rugby, and black-and-white comic books.

“Book characters and illustrations for a story became the subjects for the artworks. Then there were comic books. These black and white paperback comic books really inspired me. It was the combination of the heroes in the books and the muscles of the rugby players and wrestlers combined. It opened me up to another genre of drawing”,

Pauli illustrated "Tomasi’s Journey," a story about a boy who travels to New Zealand for leukaemia treatment. The project presented a unique challenge for Pauli, as he had to find the right balance between a style that was appropriate for the story's serious themes and one that would resonate with young Samoan readers.

“It was great to be included and see our emerging young artists and how they create the illustrations. I could understand them better just by working with them and being creative. It is good to know that there are still academics who are writing materials intended for kids”.

Although this is not Pauli's first time being published, he recognises the value of each unique experience in his artistic journey. He hopes that his illustrations will enhance the reader's understanding and enjoyment of the stories, complementing the text and making the books more appealing to young readers.

Pauli encourages artists to keep creating, working on their skills and sharing their talents with others. He emphasizes the importance of contributing to educational and entertaining books, ensuring that the next generation of readers have access to high-quality, engaging literature.  

The official launch of the Samoa 10-book series will take place on 28 September, with events scheduled at various schools, early learning centres and community reading programs across the country. More than 2000 copies of the book series will be donated to schools, organizations and groups in Samoa.