Previous blog posts: “Benefit from the Exhibition Continues,” published on 12.02.17; “The Legend Abridged,” published on 15.04.17; and “Reviving the Dravuni Dialect,” published on 14.12.17, all referred to the various developmental phases of this book project – in English and in the Dravuni dialect, written for children between 7-10 years old.

The books’ titles are: ‘The Legend of Tanovo and Tautaumolau’ and ‘Ko Tanovo kei Tautaumolau: i Tukuni.’ The book project achieves many firsts, namely:

1. The first books (and children’s books) ever written by the authors;
2. The first books published with the collective support of the Dravuni Village community;
3. The first books illustrated by the children of Dravuni;
4. The Fijian version is the first ever book to be published in the Dravuni dialect;
5. The books will be the first in a series of books that will relate the various legends known to the Dravuni community; and
6. The first books published under the collaboration between the Institute of Education (IOE) of the University of the South Pacific (USP) – the Publisher and a Dravuni team. IOE’s Dr Ruth Toumu’a is the Editor.

The ready-to-print versions of the books have been submitted to the printer and printing is likely to be in January 2018.

The Dravuni team for these publications comprises the following:

Authors: Kaliopate and Ema Tavola.

Illustrators: Diama, Numia, Sereima, Fane, Talica, Nunia, Salaseini, Vika, Panapasa, Tomasa, Jone, Peniasi, Sailasa, Liku, Moli, Tevita, Semisi, Stefani, Diana, Grace, Salote, Finau, Grace, Waisea, Elijah, Ema, Saiasi, Josaia, Vereniki, Fima, Akosita, and Ateca.

Dravuni Dialect Advisors: Iliesa Bula, Maciu Waqanisau Bula

Independent Language Advisor: Dr Paul Geraghty.

The authors wish to record their sincere gratitude to all in the Dravuni team and those in the IOE/USP team for their contributions. The Editor Dr Ruth Toumu’a deserves a special acknowledgement.