Veronica Passi from Taufusi is an emerging author and one of the creatives behind Samoa’s First 10 Book Series for children launching on 28 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 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 12 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.

As a child, she wanted to become a teacher like her father.  She started writing in her second year of study at NUS. “Writing for me, is a way of expressing my feelings, thoughts, experiences, and my creative ideas.  It allows me to explore and voice out my quiet inner child”.

The inspiration behind her writing is her daughter who was born with cerebral palsy.

“Watching her navigate the world with such resilience and joy despite the daily challenges, has been the greatest source of my creative drive. I remember my daughter would longingly watch other kids play freely, running, swinging, and exploring with ease,” said Passi.

“As a mother, my heart would ache knowing there were so many simple childhood experiences she couldn’t fully partake in. That’s what inspired me to put pen to paper”.

My Favourite Things, Passi’s book holds immense significance as it represents a deeply personal and heartfelt mission.  That is to uplift and include children so often marginalised or overlooked in mainstream depictions of childhood.

As the mother of a daughter with cerebral palsy, she’s witnessed firsthand the exclusion and limitations her child faces in experiencing the simple joys that most take for granted.

“My favourite part of working on the book series was the personal connection I felt to this project. Seeing my daughter's eyes light up as I described the adventures of the protagonist.

“It reminded me of the true meaning and impact behind every word I wrote. This book series wasn't just a creative endeavoor - it was a labour of love, born out of my deepest hopes and dreams for my child and all children facing challenges”. This is the first time Veronica’s work has been published.  She hopes to write more books.

Veronica encourages aspiring artists to remember that the ultimate goal is to craft stories that ignite a child's sense of wonder, provide valuable life lessons, and leave a lasting, positive impression.

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, organisations and groups in Samoa.